Final answer:
Henry Ford was well-known for perfecting the assembly line technique in the early automotive industry, leading to mass production and reduced costs, which made cars more affordable. He did not pioneer just-in-time manufacturing, which became popular in the 1980s among American car manufacturers. The correct option is D. Just-in-time manufacturing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry Ford's Contribution to Manufacturing
Henry Ford was an early pioneer in the use of assembly line techniques for the mass production of automobiles. His innovative approach revolutionized industrial work by streamlining the production process and significantly reducing costs.
While Ford did not invent the automobile or the assembly line, he was highly successful at combining these technologies to increase efficiency, making car ownership accessible to a broader segment of the population. Ford's Model T price dropped from $850 in 1908 to $300 in 1924, facilitating widespread car ownership.
On the other hand, just-in-time manufacturing, another production strategy, was not the method employed by Henry Ford; it was adopted later by American car manufacturers in the 1980s. Ford's manufacturing philosophy centered on the moving assembly line and scientific management, not the just-in-time approach.
Therefore, answering the student's question, Henry Ford was an early pioneer in the use of:
- D. Just-in-time manufacturing.
However, this answer is incorrect because while Henry Ford optimized the assembly line for mass production, he did not pioneer just-in-time manufacturing, which became prominent in the automotive industry much later. The correct option is D. Just-in-time manufacturing.