Manufacturing Facilities are random discoverable planetary locations. Generally, each facility is locked by a reinforced steel door that the player will have to break through, which will alarm sentinels when attempted. Inside the facility is a terminal with which the player may interact. Interacting with the terminal will present a problem, and a list of possible solutions. 

As of version 1.37, the rewards for choosing the right solutions are the same as rewards from Operations Centres, but Manufacturing Facilities have a much higher chance to offer product blueprint rewards (or Nanite Clusters if the player has already learned all product recipes obtainable from either location type).

The Beyond update has provided a new method for unlocking blueprints. When the player solves the puzzle, they will receive Factory Override Unit and immediately a panel will open up. It shows the possible blueprints that can be unlocked, from which the player can freely choose.

Since the Beyond Update, Navigation Data can be exchanged for Planetary Chart at a Cartographer aboard a Space Station. One of the Planetary Chart types may provide directions to secure sites (Manufacturing Facilities, Operations Centres or Depots).