Final answer:
The assembly line was effective because it simplified tasks, allowing workers to become highly proficient, minimized production time and costs, and eased the replacement of workers, ensuring a continuous production flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assembly line was so effective during the Industrial Revolution because it allowed for mass production at unprecedented speeds and efficiencies. Workers were positioned along a conveyor belt, each trained to perform a specific task which, when combined, would result in a finished product. This specialization meant that each worker could become highly proficient at their task, reducing the time and cost associated with manufacturing products like automobiles.
For example, Henry Ford's implementation of the assembly line permitted a car to be produced in significantly less time, which, in turn, lowered labor costs and the final price of the car to the consumer. Moreover, the simplicity of tasks on the assembly line meant that workers could easily be replaced, minimizing downtime and maintaining continuous production flow.