Subcontracting was used in both Fordist and Post-Fordist times, but increased during Post-Fordism. In the past, big companies like Ford did most of their own manufacturing. However, as things changed and the economy became more global, subcontracting, outsourcing, and offshoring became important strategies for remaining competitive. The Post-Fordist era shifted from mass production to more flexible systems, where subcontracting and outsourcing helped create agile and affordable supply chains.