The Problem

The Manufacturing security room is locked from the outside, and I burned every tool trying to pry it open.

The Solution

The front door to the Manufacturing West security room is a deliberate trap. It is locked from the inside and cannot be forced open with tools, weapon (see weapon guide)s, or persistence. The correct approach is the rear vent — accessible from the second-floor infirmary area. Here is the route.

Preparation Before leaving for Manufacturing West, craft an Improvised Rope. You will need it to reach the upper level where the infirmary and vent entrance are located. A Gas Mask is recommended if your route passes through the poison gas corridors near the Maintenance Tunnels. Bring a Stun Baton or reliable melee weapon — Manufacturing West has Order soldier patrols that will interrupt you while you navigate.

The Route

1. Enter Manufacturing West from the Office Sector transition.
2. Do not approach the locked security room door. It will not open.
3. Move toward the second-floor area. Use the Improvised Rope at the marked climb point to reach the upper level.
4. Locate the infirmary on the second floor — it is a medical room with beds and cabinets, near the rear of the security room.
5. From the infirmary, find the vent opening. This is the rear entrance to the security room.
6. Enter the vent and navigate through — it leads directly into the security room from behind the locked front door.

Inside the Security Room Once inside:

• Take the Level 2 keycard from the computer desk. This is the primary objective.
• Press the red button on the interior wall before leaving. This releases the physical latch on the front door, allowing you to exit through it normally on future visits. If you skip this step, the door remains locked from both sides and you will be trapped or confused when you try to leave the same way you entered.

The Blacksmith — Keypad Hacker and Tram (see tram guide) Key While you are in Manufacturing West, locate The Blacksmith. He is near the tram station on the right side, next to construction machinery in a labeled building. He provides two critical blueprints:

• Keypad Hacker (Tier 2): Required for mid-tier security doors throughout Manufacturing and early Labs. Higher-tier doors need higher-tier hackers.
• Tram Station Key: Unlocks the Manufacturing West tram station. Once activated, you can tram directly to Manufacturing West from Office Sector instead of walking the full route every time. This is the single biggest time-saver in the mid-game.

Tram Integration After unlocking the Manufacturing West tram station with the key from The Blacksmith, all subsequent trips to this sector are a 10-second safe tram ride instead of a 5-minute walk through hostile corridors. Unlock the tram immediately after securing the Level 2 keycard — the two objectives are in the same sector and the tram makes every future Manufacturing visit trivial.

Step-by-Step

1. Craft an Improvised Rope at base before heading to Manufacturing West.
2. Enter Manufacturing West. Ignore the locked security room front door — it is a trap.
3. Use the Improvised Rope to reach the second-floor area.
4. Locate the infirmary (medical room with beds). Find the vent opening.
5. Enter the vent and navigate into the security room from behind.
6. Collect the Level 2 keycard from the computer desk.
7. Press the red button on the interior wall to release the front door latch.
8. Find The Blacksmith near the tram station. Get the Keypad Hacker (Tier 2) and Tram Station Key blueprints.
9. Activate the Manufacturing West tram station to enable instant travel from Office Sector.

Common Mistakes

• Wasting tool durability and weapon swings on the locked front door — it cannot be forced. Use the vent.
• Taking the keycard and leaving without pressing the red button — the door stays locked and you trap yourself.
• Finding The Blacksmith but ignoring the Tram Station Key blueprint — the tram saves 5 minutes per trip.
• Entering Manufacturing West without an Improvised Rope — the second-floor access point requires one.