A supply chain starts with the acquisition of raw materials, which may entail sheet metal production, leather drying, or diamond mining.
That is the process’s initial stage. The raw ingredients are then transported to a wholesaler, who sells them to manufacturers in batches. The materials are given to the manufacturer, who uses them to make the product before sending it to a store. It is then sold to a customer.
That’s the large picture, but keep in mind that every step is made more difficult by the requirement to ready, package, ship, and unpack the product at each of its subsequent destinations.