Well since you mine "for the corp" the corp makes isk with "free" minerals. But if you count the minerals free, you are actually generating most of your profits from the mining, and not actually manufacturing, your "manufacturing division" is just adding a bit of value to your "mining divisions" work.

Interesting thread, you got the spirit to play the game and do something your way. There is nothing wrong with that. As long as you realize you might be losing isk from manufacturing.

You could be earning more just selling the minerals!

It also helps because at some point you will never be able to mine enough to keep up with your production.

Like a lot of us, you're not always playing solely for the ISK, and you're enjoying the RP side of the game etc.. That perspective and play style is very healthy and good for long-term success and happiness in this game I think. "Success" as an industrialist can be rather subjective in this respect.

Where things get sticky with this perspective however is when looking for advice on forums, comparing notes, or bragging to others about recent exploits in chat, etc.. In these situations objectivity rules, and we need to describe activities with more detail and accuracy in order for them to be meaningful. This is where the Opportunity Cost must always be accounted for to some reasonable degree of precision (no need to get too crazy tracking costs).

When talking about the profitability of any manufacturing activities with others, you really must account for the cost of materials that went into the product, regardless of how you came by the materials. Whether you mined them yourself with the intention of just having fun out under the virtual stars while watching a movie, or Santa gave them to you, they're cost must be accounted for in some objective fashion when discussing profitability with others.

Very glad you are enjoying EVE and I think your blog is great and helpful to others.

PI: I can safely say 'ur doin it rong'.

Of COURSE selling to buy orders is making a loss due to taxes and materials. Either stick it up on sell orders, or make PoS fuel blocks with the stuff.

I've done the maths. I know that, with my PI setup, my BPOs, and buying basic materials and ice products off the market, I can make a profit with PoS fuel blocks, and get a quick sale with little market games.
Even just buying the components for the stuff off sell orders, I get a profit margin.
I don't get what you're doing wrong. Maybe you're just using the wrong system?

Mind you, I got a bunch of help with my fuel block setup. The BPOs were a CCP gift, circumstances in lowsec mean a relatively low tax rate with little risk, and someone in my alliance swapped their researched BPOs for my fresh ones for a decent price.

On marketing: They're not buying from the other guy's order because they think you're a jerk; they're doing it because the other guy has more stuff up, and they want to save clicks. At least, that's what I do when buying off sell orders in bulk.

Also, train up trade skills! Tax reduction is a thing.