Final answer:
The implementation of the assembly line empowered lower-level employees to make key decisions and helped Ford reverse its fortunes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that empowered lower-level employees to make key decisions and helped Ford reverse its fortunes was the implementation of the assembly line. Henry Ford applied assembly line techniques to the production of automobiles, which significantly increased efficiency and reduced costs. By breaking down the production process into simple tasks, lower-level employees could easily perform their assigned tasks, empowering them to make key decisions within their scope of work. This not only improved productivity but also allowed Ford to produce automobiles at a lower cost, enabling him to offer better wages to his workers and make cars more affordable for the masses.