The process of building a stringed instrument by hand includes hundreds of steps, each executed to the best ability of the builder. Grouping these many steps, we can break the work up into a simplified process which lays out the entire arc of the construction.

1. Wood choice/Rough preparation
2. Joinery/Rib structure
3. Carving/Graduation
4. Assembly
5. Details/Scraping
6. Varnish
7. Setup/Sound Adjustment

In fact, each step has it's own arc;  materials and tools selection, preparation and execution (often gluing or clamping), and resting (drying)...A key to shop efficiency is to always have an idea of "what's next", and a sense of what tasks must be done by day's end.