# Why one blocked ship or factory raises prices everywhere

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv21nvqt002pl206feb4uf06
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 11 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: Factory, Shipping line, Ports and trucks, Retailers, Shoppers

## Pain points

Where this process hurts, worst first:

- **Build backup suppliers and spare stock** (Why one blocked ship or factory raises prices everywhere; painful): Spare stock costs money, so firms avoid it until things break

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## Why one blocked ship or factory raises prices everywhere

Lanes:
- Factory: person / role (id `maker`)
- Shipping line: person / role (id `ship`)
- Ports and trucks: person / role (id `port`)
- Retailers: person / role (id `store`)
- Shoppers: person / role (id `buyer`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Factory makes goods and ships them** [start; Factory; id `c1`]
   - then Cargo crosses the ocean on a few key routes
2. **Cargo crosses the ocean on a few key routes** [task; Shipping line; id `c2`]
   - then A ship blocks a canal, or a factory shuts down
3. **A ship blocks a canal, or a factory shuts down** [task; Shipping line; id `c3`]
   - then Containers pile up in the wrong places
4. **Containers pile up in the wrong places** [task; Ports and trucks; id `c4`]
   - then Shipping prices jump
5. **Shipping prices jump** [task; Shipping line; id `c5`]
   - then Shelves run low
6. **Shelves run low** [task; Retailers; id `c6`]
   - then Do shoppers still want it?
7. **Do shoppers still want it?** [decision; Retailers; id `c7`]
   - if "Yes" go to Raise prices and wait longer for stock; if "No" go to Mark down and discount
8. **Raise prices and wait longer for stock** [subprocess; Retailers; id `c8`], links to the published process "How a tariff ends up in a price tag" (https://forks.world/p/cmv0kplxp002kjn0662p2ydgs; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv0kplxp002kjn0662p2ydgs/export)
   - then Build backup suppliers and spare stock
9. **Build backup suppliers and spare stock** [task; Factory; id `c10`] ⚠ PAIN POINT (painful): Spare stock costs money, so firms avoid it until things break
   - then Prices settle as routes reopen
10. **Prices settle as routes reopen** [end; Shoppers; id `c11`]
11. **Mark down and discount** [task; Retailers; id `c9`]
   - then Build backup suppliers and spare stock

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_maker["Factory"]
    n_c1(["Factory makes goods and ships them"])
    n_c10["Build backup suppliers and spare stock"]
  end
  subgraph l_ship["Shipping line"]
    n_c2["Cargo crosses the ocean on a few key routes"]
    n_c3["A ship blocks a canal, or a factory shuts down"]
    n_c5["Shipping prices jump"]
  end
  subgraph l_port["Ports and trucks"]
    n_c4["Containers pile up in the wrong places"]
  end
  subgraph l_store["Retailers"]
    n_c6["Shelves run low"]
    n_c7{"Do shoppers still want it?"}
    n_c8[["Raise prices and wait longer for stock"]]
    n_c9["Mark down and discount"]
  end
  subgraph l_buyer["Shoppers"]
    n_c11(["Prices settle as routes reopen"])
  end
  n_c1 --> n_c2
  n_c2 --> n_c3
  n_c3 --> n_c4
  n_c4 --> n_c5
  n_c5 --> n_c6
  n_c6 --> n_c7
  n_c7 -->|"Yes"| n_c8
  n_c7 -->|"No"| n_c9
  n_c8 --> n_c10
  n_c9 --> n_c10
  n_c10 --> n_c11
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "Why one blocked ship or factory raises prices everywhere",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "maker",
          "name": "Factory",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "ship",
          "name": "Shipping line",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "port",
          "name": "Ports and trucks",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "store",
          "name": "Retailers",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "buyer",
          "name": "Shoppers",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "c1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "maker",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Factory makes goods and ships them"
        },
        {
          "id": "c2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "ship",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Cargo crosses the ocean on a few key routes"
        },
        {
          "id": "c3",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "ship",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "A ship blocks a canal, or a factory shuts down"
        },
        {
          "id": "c4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "port",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Containers pile up in the wrong places"
        },
        {
          "id": "c5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "ship",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Shipping prices jump"
        },
        {
          "id": "c6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "store",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Shelves run low"
        },
        {
          "id": "c7",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "store",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c8",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "c9",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Do shoppers still want it?"
        },
        {
          "id": "c8",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "store",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv0kplxp002kjn0662p2ydgs",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a tariff ends up in a price tag"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Raise prices and wait longer for stock"
        },
        {
          "id": "c9",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "store",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Mark down and discount"
        },
        {
          "id": "c10",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "maker",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "c11"
            }
          ],
          "pain": {
            "note": "Spare stock costs money, so firms avoid it until things break",
            "level": 2
          },
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Build backup suppliers and spare stock"
        },
        {
          "id": "c11",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "buyer",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Prices settle as routes reopen"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Why one blocked ship or factory raises prices everywhere",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```