Henry Ford Assembly Line

The Henry Ford assembly line idea changed the whole auto industry in America. The Henry Ford assembly line idea  greatly improved Ford Motor Company production. The Henry Ford assembly line idea was one of the biggest ideas contributed by Henry Ford.

The idea of a The Henry Ford assembly line

Five years after he built his first Ford Model T, Henry Ford had an idea on how to increase his car production. It was one of the biggest ideas in the history of American auto industry - the Assembly Line. Henry Ford installed conveyor belts so that auto parts could be delivered right to the factory workers.

At Ford Motor Company, as the car moved along the conveyor, some workers put on wheels, some put on doors, and others installed the engines. Each worker handled only one part. The modern assembly line had been born, and with it the most cost effective and efficient means of producing products for mass consumption.

The new age of automobile industry, thanks to Henry Ford & his assembly line idea

In two years, Henry Ford reduced the time it took to assemble one of his automobiles from 12 1/2 hours to 1 1/2 hours. Millions of Ford Model T's were sold throughout the world. Millions of roads and highways were built to accommodate these Ford Model T cars. Cities and towns and people were brought closer together, and goods and services flowed across state and national borders in record time. The automobile age had arrived, thanks to the discovery and invention by Henry Ford of the Assembly line.

What were the drawbacks of Henry Ford assembly line?

The assembly line which Henry Ford invented was fast and productive. But even the Henry Ford assembly line had its drawbacks. Henry Ford saw early on that his workers became bored with their repetitive, menial tasks. As they became bored, their work slowed. To keep his workers motivated, Henry Ford shortened the workday from ten hours to eight. Then he doubled his workers' salaries. When Henry Ford raised the salary of an eight-hour workday to five dollars a day, it made headlines throughout America.