Factories and the military factory

Why a new factory sits idle

The misspelled search “set up factiry” and the “military factory” search are the same stall at two points in the game. Early, any factory needs the three inputs above. Later, the military factory also waits on research. Skipping research and staring at an empty queue is a common mid-game freeze.

I would not demolish a factory that is idle until the three checks pass. Demolition does not create steel.

Start a factory

1. Give it power. An unpowered factory is the “I built it and it does nothing” case.
2. Staff it. The workers error is the same error as on a shop. Housing and water come first.
3. Feed it steel or fuel. Empty inputs look like a broken factory. Check the mine and truck chain.
4. Research before military output. Vehicles and missiles are manufactured after the research step the official text names.