Modern Americans know Henry Ford as the man behind Ford Motor Company, and most would probably credit him with the invention of the modern assembly line. Fordâ??s contribution to (and effect upon) American manufacturing in general is much more grand and goes beyond the mechanics of assembly. His vision, and the manner in which he approached achieving it, is truly his legacy.
Like most new technologies, automobiles were initially built and sold as dalliances or even appliances for the wealthy. Today, we recognize how so-called early adopters pay more to be the first to have the latest high-tech gadgetry. Things werenâ??t so different 100 years ago when â??horseless carriagesâ? first appeared. However, Fordâ??s entire approach, from the companyâ??s method of manufacture to the eventual reductions in the price of his products, was part of an overall effort to sell to the masses.
Ford recognized that the ability to sell great quantities would multiply the profits they were capable of generating. His constant quest for manufacturing efficiency would also contribute directly to the bottom line, and this driven desire would rival his engineering acumen. One of the better-known examples of this does not even relate to the assembly-line process as we know it, but rather to Fordâ??s interest in the materials of which his vehicles were made.
Naturally, Ford relied upon subcontractors to supply some of the components used in his new cars. As part of their contractual agreement, Ford specified the dimensions and even the type of wood to be used in the crates in which these parts were to be shipped. Once the crates arrived at the assembly plant, Ford forbade the use of crowbars to open them. Rather, he insisted they be carefully disassembled.
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