Final answer:
Mass production revolutionized industrial manufacturing through assembly lines, leading to greater efficiency and more goods produced. Workers experienced increased productivity but also alienation and difficult conditions, while businesses profited, and consumers enjoyed lower-priced goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mass production refers to the large-scale, industrial manufacturing of standardized products, usually on assembly lines, which allowed for more goods to be produced with greater efficiency and speed. For workers, this shift meant jobs became highly specialized; they often performed repetitive, monotonous tasks, leading to increased productivity. However, this also resulted in a disconnection from the end product and, frequently, difficult and hazardous working conditions. For businesses, mass production meant lower production costs and higher volume of goods, translating into considerable profit margins. The change in worker productivity benefited businesses by allowing them to produce goods at a lower cost and in greater quantities. And for consumers, mass production brought a wider availability of goods at more affordable prices, enabling more people to purchase items that were previously considered luxury items. This greater consumption, however, was contrasted by the alienation workers felt from the products they made, often being unable to afford them, contributing to economic disparities and challenging labor conditions.