Forging is a method of shaping metal by applying pressure. There are various methods of forging but in surgical instruments manufacturing industry drop forging technique is the most commonly used. In this type of forging, stainless steel of various grades is heated to a certain temperature and placed between two dies. One of the dies is dropped on the heated metal with pressure causing the metal to expand into the die cavity that is already precisely carved in the shape of the desired instrument.

After forging, instruments are ground and milled. During milling, excess stainless steel from forging is removed to shape instruments, and special quality (e.g., serrations, teeth, ratchets) are created. This is not a quick, one-step process: to produce good-quality instruments, milling is repeated multiple times to progressively shape instruments into their final form.

Once the instrument has their final shape and characteristic details, tempering is performed to add strength to instruments in this step, instruments are heated to as high as 815.6 Celsius and then cooled under specific conditions to ensure that they develop the ideal hardness.

After tempering, polishing gives instruments a smooth finish, free of microscopic grooves that can retain organic debris. Instruments are given a shiny mirror finish or a duller satin finish.

In this step passivation, the application of nitric acid to instruments physically changes the outer layer of metal removing iron atoms that are prone to oxidation (rusting) and depositing chromium oxide, which resists oxidation and protects instruments from corrosion. with normal use of instruments, the chromium oxide layer becomes more resistant to corrosion.