Pencil

Product Lifecycle of the Pencil

By alexanderl14526

  • Raise and Extract

    Raise and Extract
    Graphite is mined from the earth. Wood (usually California cedar) is harvested from trees.

  • Process

    Process
    The wood is cut into slats half as thick as the pencils and just as long. The graphite is mixed with clay and water to produce pencil lead.

  • Manufacture

    Manufacture
    Channels are cut in the slats to put the graphite/clay mixture. The mixture is sandwiched between two slats and glued together. Blades cut notches in the top and bottom of the sandwich, forming the hexagonal shape we know and love.

  • Use

    Use
    The pencil is packaged, sharpened, and used.

  • Dispose

    Dispose
    The remains of the pencil are usually lost or misplaced. A pencil that is no longer useful, it can be recycled (although it usually is not, due to public ignorance).