Most consumer goods go through a series of stages before they emerge as finished products ready for sale. This diagram illustrates the major stages of consumer goods` production and the flow of information feedback which influences certain stages in the overall manufacturing process.

First of all, raw material and manufactured components comprise the initial physical input in the manufacturing process. Once obtained, these are stored for later assembly. But assembly first depends on the production planning stage. The production planning stage itself follows the requirements of the goods` design stage that proceeds from extensive product research work. It also provides feedback to the storage stage. After the assembly stage, the products are inspected and tested before they are packed and dispatched for sales.

Second, sales, which is the end point of the manufacturing process, supplies feedback information to market research and further to the stage of design which is based on product research.

Third, a product`s design is not the only result of product research, It is also influenced by the testing stage and market research. Similarly, market research also has the role of guiding packing and advertising to play.

To sum up, the production of consumer goods follows a much more complicated process than a mere linear one. Among other things, the stage of production planning, product design, as well as market research obviously assumes more important roles in the entire production chain.