Welcome first time visitors!

Many of you are probably shopping for countertops and looking for illusive answers. Others of you are likely from the industry seeing what this blog is all about. Whether you are a shopper or a product producer or a countertop retailer, you should find this journal beneficial. For your convenience, I strongly suggest you look down the left column and find the "Must Read Entries" section. Starting there first, then picking up the latest news and information will serve you best. Happy hunting!

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Understanding The Supply Chain

Whether you are a consumer or producer, it is beneficial to understand the supply chain, or the steps a stone goes through to eventually end up in a consumer's home. This post provides a basic and generalized understanding of this supply chain.

For a stone countertop to be delivered and installed in a house, there are several companies directly involved from the point of taking the stone from the ground, in the case of natural stone, or manufacturering the raw material slabs for engineered stone, to the installer who finally puts it in a home. The following diagram represents the companies involved in the producing and selling and installing the final product.




In the future, each of the producers and sellers will be the focus of a new post. Examples of each will be provided and analyzed. One of the goals of this blog is to create as many company profiles as possible, highlighting their role in the supply chain.

Messge to producers: If you disagree with the supply chain diagram or would like to provide more detail about the quarry/processing step or the international distribution step (which was not included in the diagram) I would very much appreciate your input. I'm also identifying companies to profile in future posts. If you would like your company to be included, please comment on this post or email me.

1 comment:

Roy Thompson said...

OK...maybe you noticed I'm having some trouble with the image. I'll get it right soon.