Methods for adjusting the bulk material properties of manufactured components, such as resistors, thermistors, varistors, capacitors, resonators, oscillators, and optical components. Adjustment of the resistance of a resistor can be achieved by directing a high energy beam, such as an ultraviolet beam, onto a resistor formed from a matrix component and an embedded conductive component. The high energy beam adjusts the resistivity of the resistor material substantially without ablating the matrix component by affecting the matrix component, the conductive component, or both. Because of the lack of ablation, the material having a property to be adjusted can be a sub-layer in a laminated structure, with the high energy beam being directed through other layers formed thereon.