Today we had a site visit to Vassiliko Cement Works, the largest heavy industry in Cyprus. Located in Vassiliko, Cyprus, this company was founded in 1963, and began producing concrete and cement in 1967. Surprisingly enough, cement isn’t that hard to make, just a mixture of limestone and clay heated to 1500 degrees Celsius, and then turned from clinker into cement. (I actually thought it was much harder to do for some odd reason) Vertical integration is a HUGE supply chain concept for Vassiliko since they own and operate much of their own supply chain. To be considered vertically integrated, you may own and operate either the raw materials sources, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, and even the retail parts of their corporation. Plus, all of these must maximize time efficiency. For Vassiliko, they have their own quarries for raw resources, the ability to crush, pre-blend, grind, preheat, store and produce clinker on their own land with their own machines , and grind and store cement for selling to the general public. All of these are done by themselves, including the ability to have their own port to transport their products via the sea or own trucks for road travel. All in all, I would consider Vassiliko to be heavily vertically integrated, and I believe it is one of the best business models that I have been informed about. Additionally, I enjoyed the tour they gave since I was able to channel my true blue collar self, in a hardhat and bright neon.