When- December 1, 1913, June 4, 1924 Where- Highland Park Ford Plant, Highland Park, Michigan Why- Henry Ford created the assembly line to increase productivity and reduce the time of the creation of the automobile. Theme- WXT H.S.-
The Assembly Line: Getting Things Moving It was once said by Henry Ford that, “there is one rule for the industrialist and that is: make the best quality goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible”. This quote is quite fitting for the man that invented the first moving assembly line; which allowed products to be created more efficiently and cheaper. The assembly line was a significantly important invention because it enhanced previous technology to create a positive impact in factory operation, improved the everyday lives of Americans, and inspired modern day inventions based on the assembly line.
The invention of the assembly line made it faster and easier to complete the build which made the cars more affordable. “Ford's greatest contribution to the automobile industry was the development of the moving assembly line” (Ricci Paragraph 7). Before the assembly line, it took 14 hours to complete one Model T but with his new invention, it took only 1 hour and 33 minutes. This eventually led to prices overall Model T prices lowering to only 360 dollars. Henry Ford also paid his workers better wages, more than twice as much as other car manufacturers.
This simple idea allows for many parts to be mass produced at a fast rate. Assembly line workers did not have to have much experience to successfully complete their task. This would allow for a much more broader area of selection for labor workers. Around 1000 Model T’s were produced per day due to this simple, yet efficient system. The concept of the assembly
Another important system was the assembly line, which was introduced into the automotive industry by Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. The assembly line was a much more productive way of manufacturing automobiles, as the workers continuously did the same task to construct the vehicle, and then passed it on to the next worker. This method, “…Allowed cars to be driven out of factories at the rate of about one every three minutes. It also made car ownership more accessible to many more people” (Colyer et al. 203).
A graphic submits the idea of the assembly line. (The assembly line created more jobs for people and produced more automobiles. Because it took less time to make five than it did to make one, many were being created, demand was higher and the prices lowered enough that middle-class people could purchase them) (Document 4). The assembly line was a new idea that increased labor, producing more machines.
The industrialists often worked in the factories owned by large corporations, the first example of innovation found in factories is Henry Ford’s assembly line. The creation of the assembly line initiated quick mass production of products such as cars. Another example of industrial innovation is the Edison Electric Light Company, the ability to have light after sundown was a new concept for factory workers. This innovation lead to longer work days and larger production rates. A final example of industrially used innovation was the concept of Taylorism.
Mark Miller Professor Karin Hooks Comp. ELA 162, 22, April 2023 A “True” War Story Tim O’Brien creates a feeling of confusion for his readers by creating fictional characters that do obscure things during the war. Rat Kiley shoots down a water buffalo for his kicks. “He stepped back and shot it through the knee, he put the muzzle up against his mouth and shot away. Nobody said much.
Ford is known for his assembly line methods (“Henry Ford”). Henry left home when he was 16 to find machine jobs in Detroit (“Henry Ford”). Ford liked working on some engines at home when he wasn’t farming with his dad (“Henry Ford”). He was determined to make a gasoline engine, his first one he made toward the end of 1893 and that's really where it all started (“Henry Ford”). He first introduced the assembly line idea to the Ford Motor Company in Highland Park, Michigan in 1913(“Who invented the assembly line?”).
In the late 1800s, the blueprint for automobile was perfected in Germany and France, America then dominated the industry during the first half of twentieth century. During the first few years in the twentieth century, automobiles had a limited audience because automobile were expensive and time consuming to produce and most cars are too costly for the public. Although the automobile was to have its greatest social and economic impact in the United States, it was initially perfected in Germany and France towards the end of the nineteenth century by Nicolaus Otto, Gottlieb Daimler, Carl Benz and Emile Levassor. Henry Ford invented mass production techniques that became standard with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler emerged as the “Big Three:
Henry Ford was one of the factory owners to perfect the assembly line. In february 1914, he added the mechanized belt. “Ford installs the first moving assembly line for the mass production of an entire automobile.” Henry Ford’s assembly line reduced the amount of time it took to build an automobile. Conveyor belt delivered small parts to workers, each worker
(History) Now with the help of the assembly line Henry Ford could assemble nearly 8 cars in the amount of time to assemble one without the assembly line. With the assembly line becoming popular, it heavily increased the amount of goods that was created and available to buy. This new invention encourages people to buy more goods and spend more
During the scientific revolution of the eighteenth century, many scientists tried to fully understand what made an industry productive, and how to make them even more productive (Beetz, K. H.). “The goal was to create an industry that functioned without human labor” (Beetz, K. H.). Henry Ford ultimately came up with the best solution to this problem (Henry Ford). This solution was the assembly line. The assembly line is basically a process that uses a machine (or more) to transport materials from one location to another, and at these locations, the material may be added to or assembled to create a final product (Beetz, K. H.).
This model was the first vehicle that saw the steering wheel placed on the left side of the car, to give easy access to the cars. Although Henry Ford didn’t invent the very first automobile, he was the first person to find a more efficient way for manufacturing a large number of vehicles at a time. This new method was called the moving assembly line. An assembly line was used mainly in other industries like slaughterhouses, seeming efficient. So when Ford Motor Company decided to implement an assembly line, they were able to efficiently produce mass amounts of cars.
Most famous for the founding of the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford was a great thinker and entrepreneur of his day whole contributions to the manufacturing world, the automobile industry and society have had the lasting effects of a truly great American. The well-known industrialist was born on a farm in Greenfield Township, Michigan, where he lived with his mother, father, two brothers, and two sisters. Ford’s mother passed away in 1876. After his mother’s death, instead of continuing farm work, Ford became an apprentice machinist.
