ABSTRACT
To begin to draw a real VSM, we will examine a synthetic fiber making process in Riverside, North Carolina owned by the Carolina Fiber Company. This process makes fibers in two forms-very short filaments (1/2 to 2 in., sometimes called staple) sold to customers who manufacture high-end carpets, military garments, and high-end sporting apparel, and as thick ropes (thousands of feet long, often referred to as tow) sold to customers who do their own processing before blending and weaving. The short filament product, the staple, is sold in large bales, similar to cotton bales, and comprises about 80% of the total sales volume. The long rope product, the tow, is sold in large cardboard boxes called Gaylords, and represents about 20% of sales.
