We started the morning off strong by visiting Vassiliko Cement Company where we learned about various aspects of making concrete. At first, we were given some basic information, such as the fact that concrete is composed of limestone and clay. Following some more basic, yet vital knowledge if you want to truly understand the concrete industry, we learned more about how Vassiliko Cement Company utilizes vertical integration. In simple terms, vertical integration can be defined as when a company owns every aspect of production. What makes Vassiliko Cement Company a great example for vertical integration is, they harvest their own raw materials, which they then use in their own machines, to which they then take the product out from the final machine out of the many used in the process, bag it, and wait for their customers to come pick it up. This was a very brief and broad description of the process that is producing and selling cement, however it does illustrate how they control every aspect of their production. From harvesting the raw materials needed to produce concrete themselves, to putting said raw materials in thier own machines, to then bagging and selling their finished product, they control every aspect of how their cement is made. If I ran a company, it being vertically integrated would be one of my main priorities and goals. This is the case because I would not have to rely on anyone else, besides my company and employees, to get things done. I never thought that the process for making concrete involved so many different machines, resources, and people, however I am glad that I now know just a little bit more about the process, as it gives me a bigger appreciation for those in this industry.
What A Concrete Start to The Day!
