Final answer:
Henry Ford popularized the moving assembly line in the automobile industry, revolutionizing the production process and making cars more affordable. Ford's implementation of scientific management principles led to increased efficiency and cost reductions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who popularized the moving assembly line was Henry Ford. Ford's assembly line innovation was crucial in revolutionizing the automobile industry, allowing for the mass production of vehicles. This efficiency breakthrough significantly reduced production time and costs, making cars affordable to a broader public. By establishing repetitive tasks for workers, automobiles could be assembled quickly, and the increased production led to the reduction of prices. Such jobs, although unskilled, drew millions to Detroit in search of employment. Eli Whitney's introduction of interchangeable parts played a foundational role in manufacturing, making it easier to replace broken parts without the need for custom fittings. However, it was Ford who brought the concept to new heights in the auto industry.
Henry Ford was not only an entrepreneur but also an influential figure in industrial manufacturing. By combining scientific management principles, including those endorsed by Frederick W. Taylor, with his assembly line, Ford emphasized efficiency over craftsmanship in routine, simplified tasks for production workers. His approach to business also included paying his employees a more substantial wage to ensure loyalty and develop a consumer base for his automobiles.