What manufacturing process converts industrial material into a liquid form for molding?

In the context of converting industrial materials into a liquid form for molding, the correct process is melting. Melting involves heating materials, typically metals or plastics, until they reach a temperature where they transition from solid to liquid. This liquid form can then be poured into molds to create various shapes and forms, which is a fundamental aspect of manufacturing.

Molding refers to the process in which the previously melted or liquid material is shaped into a product using a mold. While it is closely related to the process of melting, it does not itself convert the solid material into a liquid.

Forging is a separate manufacturing process that involves shaping material through compressive forces, typically at high temperatures, but it does not involve the material becoming liquid.

Sintering is the process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by heat or pressure without melting it to the point of liquefaction. It is commonly used in powder metallurgy to form solid structures but does not involve the conversion of materials into a liquid state.

Thus, melting is the key process that prepares materials for molding by first transforming them into a pliable liquid form.