Question

Identify the improvement that Henry Ford made to his method of mass production and its resulting efficiencies, which led to automobiles being within reach of ordinary Americans.

A. Ford developed the ""single-point"" assembly method in which the car frames were "parked," and workers brought all the necessary parts to the vehicle being built, consequently reducing the amount of time it took to build each car.
B. Ford's factory adopted the moving assembly line, by which car frames were brought to workers on a continuously moving conveyer belt, consequently reducing the amount of time it took to build each car.
C. Ford implemented a robotic steam-driven assembly system that drastically reduced the
number of employees necessary to build a car.

Answer 1

Henry Ford improved mass production by adopting the moving assembly line, which reduced production times by having car frames pass stationary workers on a conveyor belt. This efficiency led to reduced automobile prices, making them accessible to average Americans. Ford's focus on efficiency over craftsmanship revolutionized industrial manufacturing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Henry Ford's Assembly Line Innovation

Henry Ford is widely recognized for his revolutionary improvement in mass production techniques. The key advancement Ford made was B. Ford's factory adopted the moving assembly line, by which car frames were brought to workers on a continuously moving conveyor belt, consequently reducing the amount of time it took to build each car. Before this, workers had to move around to assemble parts, but with Ford's moving assembly line, the car frames passed by stationary workers who each performed a single task repeatedly. This significant increase in production efficiency led to reduced labor costs and helped lower the prices of automobiles, such as the Model T, from $850 in 1908 to $300 in 1924.

This method contrasted with the previous "single-point" assembly, where car frames were static, and workers transported parts to the vehicle for assembly. Ford's approach was not entirely without precedent; Ransom E. Olds had used assembly line techniques for automotive production but on a smaller scale and without the same efficiency. Ford perfected this process with heavy steel rails and conveyor belts, enabling swift mass production and making the automobile affordable to the average American. Ford's implementation of the moving assembly line is emblematic of his focus on efficiency over craftsmanship, changing the industrial landscape forever.

Moreover, this method allowed Ford to hire unskilled workers at higher wages and shorter workdays, which contributed to a booming economy in Detroit as millions sought these jobs. The assembly line proved so effective that it eventually became a staple of industrial manufacturing processes worldwide.