The Assembly Line Essay

Ford hired Fredrick Taylor, a motion study expert, to evaluate and refine the efficiency of his factories after years of trying to find ways himself (History.com, 2009). Taylor took what he saw in the factories to make a more efficient workforce while Henry Ford developed tools and equipment to help with a better flow of the workforce. Together, they realized four distinct things from other smaller businesses that they wanted to immolate and bring to the big stage. These four principles were the use of interchangeable parts, division of labor, continuous flow, and reduced wasted effort (Science Odyssey, 1998). With these four principles in mind and the dream to produce a more cost efficient vehicle, Henry Ford and Fredrick Taylor created the first large scale assembly line in 1913 (Goss, 2014). This assembly line was able to transfer the time it took to build a single Model T from twelve hours to a mere two hours and thirty minutes (History.com, 2009). With its eighty-four distinct steps in the flow of the assembly line, a division of labor was created where a worker could be trained to do one specific task making him more efficient at that task and able to do a much better job (History.com, 2009). Secondly, having interchangeable parts that would could be used between any model of Ford allowed Henry to focus on machinery that would produce these

He had his workers work less, with more breaks, and he also payed them almost twice as much as other jobs. As Eric Foner states, “Ford paid the assembly line workers $5 a day when prevailing wages were about $2.50...he also reduced working hours to 8.” With this, workers were more likely to work harder and better, which led to more productivity. The productivity was not done alone, the infrastructure of the assembly line is very critical to the production process. This was done by, as Robert Sobel states,” ...conveyor belts in the assembly line that brought parts to the workers to perform their specific task.” All this improved the production rate and it satisfied the workers. Many may say the assembly line removed individuality, however it brought faster, better, and cheaper production to the Ford Motor Company.

The automobile industry put American citizens into action. Mass production was a big component in the success of automobiles. Although successful, it became very repetitive. Skilled workers who were once worshipped, were no longer needed. Henry Ford was described as racist, bitter, but he brought success to citizens in the 1920s. Ford started the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with the help of a limited amount of workers in a shed. It was not until 1914 where custom-made cars turned into many cars, such as the Model T, moving down an assembly line. The Model T was a very popular car that benefitted cheap labor and easy mobility for its owners. Ford became a billionaire from the help of the federal government’s actions. At this point, the government decided that funds should be spent more on roads. Automobiles introduced

     When you think about Ford, an automobile will usually come to mind. Most people don’t think about the man behind that name, Henry Ford. Henry Ford was the man responsible for the Ford Motor Company (FMC). He was also the creator of the invention that changed the mass production industry, the assembly line. As you read on you will learn about Henry Ford’s life, the FMC, and the assembly line.

The automobile industry made owning an automobile more available to the public. Factories began producing cars in higher numbers than one craftsman would ever be able to. “The first automotive production on a commercial scale began in France in 1980, but the United States in the 1900’s became equal to the European automobile factories. The Europeans used engineering and handcraft methods, while the U.S. had plants that used the assembly line” (The History). Frank Duryea of Springfield, Massachusetts developed the first gasoline powered automobile in the United States, and over the next twenty years 8 million cars were manufactured and sold (Clayton 501). On the other hand, Henry Ford’s first working gasoline engine was completed at the end of 1843, and “by 1896, he had completed his first horseless carriage, the Quadricycle, so called because the chassis of the four- horsepower vehicle was a buggy frame mounted on four bicycle wheels” (Curley 165). Ford revolutionized factory production with his assembly line methods (Curly 163). The assembly line remained hard on laborers, required them to perform routinely repetitive tasks for hours on end. To retain workers, Henry Ford paid workers five dollars a day, and employees only work eight hour days. Mass production techniques rapidly increased worker productivity and output, allowing more cars to be made and to sell for less money. By the 1920’s, the number of registered vehicles rose over fifteen million, because of Henry Ford’s assembly line, which made manufacturing automobiles more time efficient and less costly, making automobiles less expensive. In 1929, Ford, who was one of Thomas Edison’s greatest admirers, asked him to design a battery for a self-starter, to be introduced on the Model T, which was Ford’s car for the common man (Curley 139). At the time of his death in 1947, Henry Ford’s

The 1920 's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and

Machines running, hammers dropping, and drills drilling are the sounds of Henry Ford’s revolutionary assembly line. Henry Ford grew up in the late eighteenth century during the industrial revolution. There were no electric lights, only gas lamps and candles. Horses and trains were the only cost effective way of transportation for the public. When Henry Ford was a child, he saw a steam driven car on the road and was mesmerized. At this point, he knew he longed to become a mechanic that works on cars. At the age of sixteen, Henry Ford got a job as an apprentice machinist in Detroit at the Detroit Dry Dock Company. Three years later he returned to work on the family farm, and became adept at operating the

In 1908 Henry Ford had constructed the Model T; the time it took him to create this automobile was 13 days. Now eager to achieve more, Ford knew that he needed a place to construct these cars. He also knew that to sell mass amounts he would have to sell cheap, and buy parts and supplies even cheaper (Douglas, 25). The construction of the first Ford Motor plant used the world’s only conveyer belt. This was part of the Fords plan to build fast, when he constructed the assembly line cars were pumped out in as fast as 15 minuets, this was down from 19 days. Ford was able to make the automobile a car for everyman, a working man with a family.

The assembly line is the most significant industry boom of the 20th century. Henry Ford is credited with the explosion of the assembly line. The assembly line has greatly transformed daily life in the 20th century. Ford’s assembly line was the beginning of an expanding industry that is still used today. The assembly line is the most significant creation because it helps make things in more quantities, it makes thing faster, and it lead to many companies using it, which they still use it today.

Before 1913, all products were created by experts who used unique parts with each of their designs. Although this made it easier to have custom products made, it was not feasible for mass production due primarily to the time required and cost of the products. Since there were few experts, even if they worked 12 hour days it would still be impossible build enough products for the general public and they could also charge their employer as much money as they wanted for there services since they were the only ones with the knowledge to do the job. This all changed in 1913, once Henry Ford introduced universal parts, treated his employees properly and most importantly included the moving assembly line into his factory. These new features are what made is

Henry Ford had a vision to make the automobile so affordable that nearly every household would have one parked out front. His largest leap towards this goal was the introduction of the assembly line in 1913 (Brinkley, 2003). What I found even more interesting is the manner in which the idea had come about. There were a few individuals that claim

Fordism, it refers to the mass production of standardized goods using assembly line technology, involving few skills and repetitive work by employees. ‘Each company was composed of many different specialized departments, each producing components and parts that were eventually channeled towards the moving line for final assembly.’(Cohen & Kennedy 2007: 95 ) For instance, in 1900, there were 18 million horses, but only 8,000 cars in America. For local people, car just was a bulky and expensive “stupid bug”, after Henry Ford brought Fordism in manufacturing, the cars of Ford’s company had become a culture and can be seen at everywhere, such as movies and songs. This essay will describe the main characteristics and history of Fordism,

Founded in 1903, Henry Ford managed to get investor support to open the first manufacturing automobile company in Detroit, Michigan. Ford Motor Company has been known for its mass production of vehicles using a perfected assembly line method and its innovations in the automobile industry. Ford’s famous Model-T was developed as an innovative automobile that could be produced quickly, while keeping the cost to a minimum. This allowed people with a lower income the opportunity to afford an automobile. One of the biggest changes in the automobile industry occurred in 1913 with the introduction of a perfected assembly line method. This assembly line method was the one of the main reasons Ford Motor Company was able to keep the cost of vehicles and the production time to a minimum. Ford also took the first step to increase wages of their employees above the industry standard. Although it was still a very low value, Ford offered $5 per day which was a huge improvement from the $2.34 per day that most companies offered.

Henry Ford once said, “ I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed or the best materials, by the best men to be hired” (New York Times Par 3). That statement is definitely true because Henry Ford built the Ford Model T which was one of most popular automobile in the 18th century. Henry Ford created one of the biggest car brands in the world. Ford helped Carroll Shelby to construct the Shelby Cobra as well as the Shelby mustang. The most recognizable automotive vehicles manufactured by Ford include the Ford Raptor, GT, Mustang, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-550, Focus, Fiesta, Transit, Taurus, Explorer, Edge, Fusion, Escape, and many more. Many other automotive companies have come and gone, but Ford seems to stay one of the most in demand companies in history.

Modification in production: In early 20th century, Henry Ford formed a business partnership with Alexander Malcomson, and launched an organization with the end goal of assembling cars under the name 'The Ford Motor Company '. Every car was assembled by groups of skillful workers, and, cooperating, these groups aggregately spent more than 12 hours assembling every car (EyeWitness to History, 2005). This procedure was exceptionally costly and tedious, subsequently making it unimaginable for Ford to mass-deliver his cars at moderate costs. To streamline this procedure and produce a bigger volume of vehicles in a shorter measure of time.