It has branches in steel manufacturing (3)
I believe the answer is:
elm
'it has branches' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'in steel manufacturing' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'ELM' is hidden within 'steel manufacturing'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for elm that I've seen before include "Wood in pelmet" , "Tree with a Dutch disease" , "one has a trunk and leaves" , "Deciduous tree with light serrated leaves" , "I branch out" .)