Assembly Line

How is anything made?

Pick any object and walk its factory line, then keep walking upstream until you reach the ground.

Glass

816 lines · 5,146 stations · 3,183 connections

DailyGuess what is on the lineSix stations. One object. New one every day. DailyWalk from a hot dog to a jet engineMoving only through what things are made of. Fewest moves wins. The beltSwipe through the strangest factsEach one links to its line. The mapSee everything at once816 things, from the ground up. Tap one to light up its whole chain. SoftwareSoftware, by what it doesCRMs, ERPs, accounting and more, commercial and open source. Each one judged: when to adopt it and what to watch for.

Being walked now

3D printer filament 6 stations · 13 raw sources AA battery 8 stations · 22 raw sources Vinyl record 9 stations · 24 raw sources Sunglasses 9 stations · 15 raw sources Kevlar 6 stations · 6 raw sources Adhesive bandage 7 stations · 12 raw sources Ballpoint pen 7 stations · 27 raw sources Adhesive 8 stations · 7 raw sources

In your pocket

Smartphone 6 stations · 30 raw sources Coin 6 stations · 9 raw sources Credit card 7 stations · 23 raw sources Banknote 6 stations · 20 raw sources Ballpoint pen 7 stations · 27 raw sources Sunglasses 9 stations · 15 raw sources Chewing gum 8 stations · 13 raw sources Padlock 7 stations · 25 raw sources

On the breakfast table

Roasted coffee 8 stations · 2 raw sources Bread 7 stations · 11 raw sources Butter 7 stations · 3 raw sources Orange juice 8 stations · 2 raw sources Corn flakes 8 stations · 19 raw sources Honey 7 stations · 1 raw source Bacon 7 stations · 7 raw sources Eggs 3 stations Maple syrup 7 stations · 1 raw source

In the bathroom

Toothpaste 7 stations · 20 raw sources Toilet paper 6 stations · 9 raw sources Soap 8 stations · 19 raw sources Shampoo 8 stations · 20 raw sources Mirror 5 stations · 28 raw sources Toilet 7 stations · 5 raw sources Razor blade 6 stations · 16 raw sources Deodorant 7 stations · 23 raw sources

In your closet

Jeans 7 stations · 18 raw sources Sneaker 6 stations · 13 raw sources Hoodie 6 stations · 9 raw sources Down jacket 6 stations · 17 raw sources Tailored suit 7 stations · 12 raw sources High heels 8 stations · 23 raw sources Leather belt 10 stations · 28 raw sources Backpack 6 stations · 16 raw sources

On your desk

Fountain pen 6 stations · 20 raw sources Wireless earbuds 9 stations · 34 raw sources Video game console 7 stations · 29 raw sources Microphone 8 stations · 19 raw sources Printer toner 7 stations · 9 raw sources Super glue 6 stations · 7 raw sources Office chair 7 stations · 17 raw sources Graphics card 7 stations · 26 raw sources

In the kitchen

Toaster 6 stations · 17 raw sources Blender 7 stations · 30 raw sources Dishwasher 11 stations · 27 raw sources Pressure cooker 8 stations · 18 raw sources Kitchen knife 6 stations · 16 raw sources Cast iron pan 6 stations · 11 raw sources Glass jar 5 stations · 10 raw sources Vacuum flask 6 stations · 19 raw sources

Holding up the city

Concrete 6 stations · 18 raw sources Steel I-beam 6 stations · 12 raw sources Rebar 6 stations · 14 raw sources Window glass 7 stations · 13 raw sources Elevator 8 stations · 26 raw sources Asphalt road 6 stations · 2 raw sources Skyscraper 6 stations · 29 raw sources Brick 7 stations · 2 raw sources

Friday night

Beer 8 stations · 22 raw sources Whiskey 7 stations · 13 raw sources Potato chips 7 stations · 10 raw sources Ice cream 7 stations · 9 raw sources Chocolate 8 stations · 7 raw sources Wine 8 stations · 21 raw sources Frozen pizza 8 stations · 16 raw sources Television 6 stations · 26 raw sources

Game on

Tennis racket 9 stations · 25 raw sources Bowling ball 8 stations · 23 raw sources American football 7 stations · 18 raw sources Chess set 9 stations · 13 raw sources Board game 6 stations · 18 raw sources Trading cards 6 stations · 17 raw sources Saxophone 9 stations · 25 raw sources Pinball machine 7 stations · 21 raw sources

Odder than you think

Hockey puck 8 stations · 5 raw sources Cotton candy 9 stations · 17 raw sources Fireworks 6 stations · 18 raw sources Rubik's Cube 7 stations · 21 raw sources Cultured pearl 6 stations · 2 raw sources Gummy bears 6 stations · 7 raw sources Imitation crab 7 stations · 9 raw sources Slinky 5 stations · 12 raw sources

Numbers from the graph

130things upstream of a single electric car566things here start, somewhere, with natural gas11steps separate chainsaw from the ground12stations on the line for washing machine

Today's random dozen

Baby formula 6 stations · 22 raw sources Microchip 8 stations · 15 raw sources Nori 6 stations · 1 raw source Port wine 6 stations · 19 raw sources Tin can 9 stations · 21 raw sources Electric motor 6 stations · 15 raw sources Bleach 7 stations · 10 raw sources Window glass 7 stations · 13 raw sources Wallpaper 7 stations · 22 raw sources Adhesive bandage 7 stations · 12 raw sources Sofa 7 stations · 17 raw sources Highlighter 6 stations · 16 raw sources

Browse by kind

Plastics and fibers51Electronics61Body and health50Chemicals and fuels66Sport, music and toys63From the ground46Machines and vehicles44Food111From farms and the sea60Metals41Metal goods49Clothes and textiles62Glass, stone and ceramics37Wood and paper41Drinks34