A system for manufacturing a granule covered roofing shingle includes establishing at least two sources of granules. A standardized process for manufacturing granules having a standardized appearance is then established, wherein a color of the granules from one of the sources of granules is substantially identical to the color of the granules from the others of the sources of granules, thereby defining at least one standardized granule color. Granules of the standardized granule color are then manufactured according to the standardized process. The manufactured granules are transported to at least one shingle manufacturing facility, and granule covered roofing shingles are then manufactured using the manufactured granules of the standardized granule color.