Big Ambitions factory: Step-by-Step Production Guide

A Big Ambitions factory converts purchased or manufactured inputs into products that can be sold through your own stores. The most important planning decision is choosing the recipe before renting a warehouse. A simple product may need only one machine, while advanced electronics can require several machines, input stations, output stations, storage areas, and a large workforce.

Factories are different from retail businesses because traffic index is not the main factor when choosing the production site. Warehouse layout, floor space, vehicle bays, and delivery access matter more. The warehouse should support the complete production line rather than only the first machine you can afford.

Video Highlights:

• Electronics factories require large production spaces and extensive material handling.
• Factory construction costs can become a late-game investment.
• Store location still affects sales, even when factory location does not depend on traffic.
• Production results improve when machines, workers, storage, and delivery routes are planned together.

The official factory mechanics guide explains the core process, including machine placement, employee scheduling, importer contracts, and delivery routes. Use it alongside the in-game F1 factory recipe list when planning a new production line.

Warehouses are available in districts such as Garment, Lower Manhattan, and Murray Hill. Their traffic index is not the deciding factor for factory selection. Instead, compare warehouse size, interior shape, number of vehicle bays, and the distance between storage, machines, and loading areas.

Once you rent or purchase a warehouse, create a new business and select Factory as the business type. You can then buy machines from the Factory Supply Depot at 57 5th Avenue in Lower Manhattan. Machines may be purchased manually or ordered through the store manager after establishing contact.

The Interior Installation Firm can provide prebuilt factory layouts, but installation is expensive. A template may save construction time, yet it can include more equipment than your current production plan requires. Review the design before committing to a major expense.

Production machines display input arrows and an output arrow. Inputs must reach the correct side of the machine, while the output must connect to storage, another machine, or a suitable station. Complicated recipes can require multiple inputs, so leave enough room for shelves and worker movement.

A factory cannot produce goods without workers assigned to its input and output stations. Recruit factory workers through the Anderson Recruitment agency at 16 5th Avenue, or use a headhunter and the Candidates list in the MyEmployees app. After recruitment, assign workers in BizMan > Schedule.

Factory worker skill does not determine production quality in the available factory guidance. Higher-skilled workers cost more per hour, so staff according to the number of stations and the output target rather than hiring expensive employees without a clear need.

Storage capacity is just as important as machine capacity. Standard shelves hold fewer boxes, while pallet shelves hold substantially more. If incoming materials have nowhere to go, deliveries can fail. If finished goods cannot be stored, the production line may also stop or become inefficient.

To automate supplies, rent an office and create a Headquarters business. Add desks, chairs, and computers for purchase agents and logistics managers. Purchase agents can manage importer contracts, but one agent can handle only one importer contract at a time. Multiple importers therefore require multiple agents.

The main importer options relevant to factory production include:

Importer contracts support one-time purchases and auto-stock schedules. Auto-stock can check inventory every 1, 3, or 7 days. Set a target that covers normal production while leaving room for delivery delays, price increases, or product backorders.

Finished goods must reach your own stores through delivery routes. A delivery driver and vehicle are needed for each active vehicle bay. After purchasing a vehicle, drive it into the factory’s driver bay and exit it so the game can assign the vehicle to that business.

Recruit delivery drivers through the Anderson Recruitment agency or through a headquarters headhunter. In BizMan, open the factory’s Drivers tab and assign a driver to the appropriate vehicle. Vehicle capacity depends on the vehicle type, driver qualifications, and logistics manager skill.

A logistics manager can connect a factory to stores and set minimum stock levels. The route checks store inventory and sends products when stock falls below the selected threshold. Store shelving must also have enough free capacity, or the delivery may not complete as expected.

The logistics manager is assigned through headquarters. Select the manager, connect the correct factory, then choose stores and products for each route. A warehouse can have only one logistics manager connected to it, so plan headquarters staffing around the number of active factories.

A practical route setup follows this order:

1. Confirm finished goods are in factory stock.
2. Check that the target store sells the product.
3. Verify the store has enough shelf capacity.
4. Set a minimum stock target.
5. Assign the product and destination through the logistics manager.
6. Review the route after several in-game days.

If a store receives nothing, inspect the factory stock first. Empty warehouse shelves, missing vehicle assignments, insufficient storage, an inactive route, or an incorrect product selection can all interrupt deliveries.

Production efficiency improves when machine timing is balanced. A simple French fries example uses a Food Cutting Machine to create Raw Fries, followed by an Automated Frying Machine. The intermediate product can feed multiple downstream machines if the output rate is high enough.

The key principle is to compare hourly production and consumption. In the documented example, one Food Cutting Machine creates 24 Raw Fries per hour. Three Automated Frying Machines consume 22.5 Raw Fries per hour, leaving a small buffer that keeps the line supplied. This type of calculation helps identify whether an additional downstream machine can operate without starving the line.

For longer production lines, connect machines only after confirming that workers can access the relevant shelves and stations. Splitters can divide product flow, but an uneven line may still create gaps. Start machines after conveyors are filled when testing a new layout, then observe where products accumulate or disappear.

Electronics factories represent a late-game investment rather than an early expansion. A documented test used an installation cost of roughly $5.8 million, generated about $3.2 million in store revenue over 20 in-game days, and estimated a 37-day payback period based on that specific setup. These figures are test results, not guaranteed returns. Store district, product demand, wages, imports, layout, and installation choices can change the outcome.

The strongest factory strategy is controlled scaling. Build a reliable base of stores first, then add complex manufacturing once your businesses can support high upfront costs and recurring wages. Electronics can produce strong revenue in a suitable market, but the setup requires more planning than a basic consumables line.