The Invention of the Assembly Line:
After the announcement in 1907 and the first Model T in 1908, Henry Ford realized he needed a more efficient way to construct automobiles. He had the idea of construction that would cause a continuous flow, a division of labor, interchangeable parts, and reduction of wasted effort.
Interchangeable parts meant making each part the same way every time. It would mean changing some of the machinery but if he could do it right, production would rise tremendously. Each person would be an expert at one part of the process. If each person did their part correctly, the job would be faster and more efficient. Materials would come to them and reduce time spent walking back and forth. The idea came from meat-packing houses and grain mill conveyor belts he had seen.
With the help of Frederick Taylor, the creator of "scientific management”, Henry learned that production of one car by hand took about 12 hours however when the assembly line was installed it cut the production time to about two and a half hours.
This was a process of over 5 years and in 1913, the first moving assembly line was installed. Production was at record setting highs and they were still making a large profit. Large enough to give all the workers a raise, their incomes became $5 a day which was amazing at the time.
With production so high and sales sky-rocketing Henry Ford blew the competition away. His expectations of making "a motor car for the great multitude" had been exceeded. New the average citizen could afford to buy and use a car. Henry ford had changed production forever.
Caption: Picture of Model-T's that just came of the assembly line.