Overview
This lecture traces the transition from handcrafted car manufacturing to mass production, focusing on Henry Ford's assembly line, its impact on workers, and the rise of consumer society.
Early Car Manufacturing
- Before WWI, British car companies like Vulcan Motor Company built cars by hand, employing skilled craftsmen for specialized tasks.
- Car bodies were assembled with wood framing and panel beating, taking weeks to finish each car.
- Craftsmen had autonomy and took pride in their unique contributions to each vehicle.
- Cars were rare and seen as luxury items for the wealthy.
Ford and the Birth of Mass Production
- The gap between car makers and buyers began to close as demand grew.
- Henry Ford aimed to create a simple, affordable car (the Model T) for rural Americans.
- Inspired by efficiency expert Frederick Taylor, Ford broke down manufacturing into simple, repetitive tasks for unskilled workers.
- Taylorism involved timing worker movements and maximizing output, increasing productivity dramatically.
The Assembly Line Revolution
- Initially, cars were assembled on stationary platforms, limiting output.
- Ford introduced the moving assembly line, where cars moved past stationary workers.
- Conveyor belts delivered parts directly to workers, integrating them into the mechanized process.
- Management controlled the speed of production, and workers needed to keep pace or quit.
- Ford doubled wages to $5 a day to retain workers and attract new applicants.
Impact on Workers and Society
- Ford’s methods led to higher pay, mass employment, and made car ownership accessible to ordinary people.
- Detroit’s population boomed as workers flocked to new jobs, with large numbers of recent immigrants.
- Strict discipline was enforced by Ford’s private security; union activity was suppressed.
- Workers were encouraged to save for their own cars, fostering a culture of consumption.
- By 1924, millions of Model Ts had been produced, symbolizing the shift to mass consumerism.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Craftsmen — Skilled manual workers specializing in particular aspects of car construction.
- Taylorism — A system of scientific management aimed at improving industrial efficiency through task breakdown and timing.
- Assembly Line — A manufacturing process where a product moves past a line of workers, each doing a specific task.
- Mass Production — Manufacturing large quantities of standardized products efficiently and cheaply.
- Consumer Society — A society where buying and owning goods is a primary economic and cultural activity.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the impact of Ford's assembly line on global industry.
- Prepare for discussion on how mass production influenced 20th-century consumer culture.