Final answer:
The statement is true; unitization refers to all forms of product grouping, which includes the impactful adoption of intermodal containers. These containers contributed to a significant change in shipping logistics, leading to lower transportation costs and overseas manufacturing becoming economically viable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'The unitization includes all forms of product grouping, from taping two master cartons together to the use of specialized transportation equipment.' is true. Unitization refers to the consolidation of various items into a single, larger unit, which is often easier to handle, transport, and store as compared to individual, smaller items. This concept became particularly revolutionary with the adoption of the intermodal container in the mid-20th century, which drastically improved the efficiency of shipping and logistics. The use of standardized parts and specialized labor, as seen in the assembly of the Model T, parallels the principles of unitization where repetitive systems and uniformity lead to speed and cost-efficiency. However, the intermodal container's impact on shipping was so profound that it led to the restructuring of entire industries, as transportation costs were slashed to the point where it became economically feasible to manufacture goods overseas and ship them to consumer markets such as the United States. Although this automotive-style design lead to a mechanized work environment and a focus on producing identical products in every location, the widespread loss of manufacturing and dockworker jobs in the United States also highlighted the double-edged nature of such mass-production and logistics advancements.