See the above subject; I'd still like it answered as there are a few things I've encountered that have called this into question.
Anyway, manufacturing: The question is do you have to be part of the appropriate faction (ie- ship building faction or weapon making faction) in order to use a factory to manufacture these things (ship faction for building ships at factory, etc.).
THe reason I ask actually comes mostly from something Teniel Djo said, where she'd let members of NFGs use Eidola factories free of charge. I assume this means members of NFGs who are members of another faction too, but is it possible to apply to people who are only members of NFGs?
Yes, the operator must be part of an appropriate production faction, and a production faction has to manage the factory/station. Read the production rules page for more information.