The primary alternative method to create vinyl masters is called DMM, which stands for Direct Metal Mastering.
The DMM process is very similar to cutting a lacquer. There is still a lathe and still a master disc that the grooves get etched into. Instead of a lacquer master disc, a copper metal master disc is used.

Once a DMM master is created the stampers can be made straight from the metal master disc that has been cut.
Processing stampers directly from the metal master allows you to skip a step that is otherwise required when stampers are created from lacquer masters.