Henry Ford: Assembly Line

25 artifacts in this set

Henry Ford combined interchangeable parts with subdivided labor and fluid movement of materials to create his moving assembly line in 1913. The resulting productivity gains and price cuts led manufacturers of every type to adopt Ford’s innovative production methods. This Expert Set was compiled in 2013 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Henry Ford’s birth.

Detailed Description

Workers Installing Tires on Ford Model T Assembly Line at Highland Park Plant, circa 1925

Photographic print

Ford constantly tweaked Model T assembly lines at its Highland Park plant for efficiency. In 1914, wheels and radiators were conveyed to a platform and slid down ramps for installation on the same line. By 1925, wheels (with tires already mounted and inflated) were conveyed directly to workers, who installed them on both sides of the chassis at once.