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Assembly lines and interchangeable parts are different concepts.
An assembly line is a way of making things in which the operations are arranged sequentially and each operation in the line does part of the work. This allows each operation to specialize. See "division of labor" and Adam Smith.
Henry Ford did not invent the assembly line. He invented the *moving* assembly line in which conveyors brought the work to the operators.
Interchangeable parts are parts that are sufficiently alike that any one picked from a bin, for example, can be used essentially as is. It can be put in the assembly quickly and easily and it will work. The operator does not have to try different ones until a suitable one is found, and the part does not have to be modified in order to make it work.
It is not necessary that parts be interchangeable in order that the assembly process be divided into a series of separate sequential operations. Before it was possible to make parts accurately enough that they were interchangeable, expert operators called "fitters" made the necessary adjustments before assembling them. Henry Ford realized that mass production was impossible if every part had to be adjusted manually by experts because a) there were not enough experts, and b) it took too long to do the adjustments.
Similarly, it is not necessary that operations with interchangeable parts be arranged in a sequential line. One person can assemble them all. This was the way Volvo made cars in several factories in the 1970s and 80s and the way Ford did it before he developed the moving assembly line.
A good book on this subject is Hounshell, D. (1985): "From the American System to Mass Production, 1800-1932: The development of manufacturing technology in the United States." Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.169.34.90 ( talk) 14:37, 9 July 2004 (UTC)
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Didn't Henry Ford only invent the moving assembly line? Computerwiz908 | Talk 12:35, 30 April 2007 (UTC)
It is mentioned in the Soho Manufactory article that there was an assembly line there, which would surely have been before Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In fact this article seems to be very sketchy indeed on the long history of the assembly line prior to Ford. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.225.139.136 ( talk) 13:22, 19 August 2007 (UTC)
The assembly line allegedly caused so much turnover, Ford had to double wages (to $5/day in 1914) to retain workers, as well as cut the workday (10hr to 8); coincidentally, the pay increase (says Georgano) also boosted sales... By 1925, companies had to have assembly lines or risk going broke. Trekphiler 04:13, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
After a great deal of searching, I was unable to obtain any evidence of an Olds patent on the assembly line. While Olds and Olds Motor Works held a number of automobile-related patents, it appears that an assembly line patent may not be among them (although many sources mention Olds's use/invention of the assembly line to produce the Curved Dash Olds, which is still well in advance of Ford's adoption in 1913). It would be very helpful if an expert could weigh in with evidence around this topic. 99.233.75.228 ( talk) 15:55, 13 September 2008 (UTC)
References
The recent addition of Chicago meatpacking was correct in its idea but inaccurate in its scholarship. It presented a quote within quote marks and attributed it (without page number) to Ford's 1922 memoir My Life and Work. You can search the text of that book using the search box at Google Book Search and not find that quote or anything worded similarly to it. The closest quote I find (closest in concept, not words) is a very different quote at page 81, which is already cited in this article in the section on FMC, as is Charles Sorensen's substantial critique of it. I deleted the misattributed quote and referred the reader to the FMC section using an anchor link. — ¾-10 23:07, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
The recent removal of these quotes was on target—they are highly relevant, but too voluminous and repetitive of the simple theme that they are illustrating, which is that Henry Ford as one man should not be conflated with the entire group of people at Ford Motor Company that was engaged in what we would later call industrial engineering. They are sequestered below. (show/hide) — ¾-10 17:41, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
As a source for the influence of William Klann, I suggest Vincent Curcio Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius p.205 ISBN 978-0195147056 see page 205 via Google Books Muijz ( talk) 19:31, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
According to Hounsell's book From the American System to Mass Production, Whitney did not produce guns with interchangeable parts. Hounsell verified this by direct examination of surviving pieces. Whitney produced an interchangeable sub-assembly, the gun lock, which could be interchanged with locks of other guns, but the components of each lock were hand fitted.
At the least, the beginning of the article needs a complete rewrite by someone with better knowledge. Saintonge235 ( talk) 12:23, 11 July 2013 (UTC)
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The functionality of an assembly line differs from how the line is constructed, but it is a popular technical term in mass media. Our knowledge of assembly lines is usually first inherited through its presence in media. Many movies have this technical function since it is a popular mechanism and is still used to this day. It is also important to note that these assembly lines also produced products for media. For example, there is an assembly line for televisions that are produced for entertainment purposes in mass media standards. [1]
The presence of assembly lines in media is the most common way of learning exactly what the process is. An assembly line was used in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is a young children's movie. [2] This early example and reference in a movie for younger audiences go to show them what an assembly line looks like for the first time. The process of this line was used in many other movies as well since it is a big technical term in mass media.
Henry Ford is not mentioned when it comes to these appearances in mass media. Unless the line was specific in detail to the movie then there would be no reason to even bring the creator up. Somebody should add into the talk the mention of Henry Ford in any mass media aspect and his detail to the assembly line he constructed. Other than the founder and history behind the technical term, the assembly line has no great means of movies or television shows about it. We just have the presence of the process in regular media that is usually overlooked. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Annafavor ( talk • contribs) 02:28, 22 September 2022 (UTC)
References
{{
cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(
help)
Historic assembly line of the electronics (~1955):
General Electric's
Automatic Component Assembly System (ACAS), Computers and Automation, 1955-02: Vol 4 Iss 2, p. 34.
Punched Cards Control Job-Lot Assembly System, Electronics, Nov 1955, p. 122-128? (pdf: 130-).
MarMi wiki (
talk) 22:41, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
This
level-4 vital article is rated C-class on Wikipedia's
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A fact from this article was featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the On this day section on December 1, 2005, December 1, 2011, December 1, 2013, and December 1, 2014. |
Assembly lines and interchangeable parts are different concepts.
An assembly line is a way of making things in which the operations are arranged sequentially and each operation in the line does part of the work. This allows each operation to specialize. See "division of labor" and Adam Smith.
Henry Ford did not invent the assembly line. He invented the *moving* assembly line in which conveyors brought the work to the operators.
Interchangeable parts are parts that are sufficiently alike that any one picked from a bin, for example, can be used essentially as is. It can be put in the assembly quickly and easily and it will work. The operator does not have to try different ones until a suitable one is found, and the part does not have to be modified in order to make it work.
It is not necessary that parts be interchangeable in order that the assembly process be divided into a series of separate sequential operations. Before it was possible to make parts accurately enough that they were interchangeable, expert operators called "fitters" made the necessary adjustments before assembling them. Henry Ford realized that mass production was impossible if every part had to be adjusted manually by experts because a) there were not enough experts, and b) it took too long to do the adjustments.
Similarly, it is not necessary that operations with interchangeable parts be arranged in a sequential line. One person can assemble them all. This was the way Volvo made cars in several factories in the 1970s and 80s and the way Ford did it before he developed the moving assembly line.
A good book on this subject is Hounshell, D. (1985): "From the American System to Mass Production, 1800-1932: The development of manufacturing technology in the United States." Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.169.34.90 ( talk) 14:37, 9 July 2004 (UTC)
An
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Assembly_line article, and they have been placed on
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Tip: Some people find it helpful if these suggestions are shown on this talk page, rather than on another page. To do this, just add {{User:LinkBot/suggestions/Assembly_line}} to this page. —
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Didn't Henry Ford only invent the moving assembly line? Computerwiz908 | Talk 12:35, 30 April 2007 (UTC)
It is mentioned in the Soho Manufactory article that there was an assembly line there, which would surely have been before Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In fact this article seems to be very sketchy indeed on the long history of the assembly line prior to Ford. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.225.139.136 ( talk) 13:22, 19 August 2007 (UTC)
The assembly line allegedly caused so much turnover, Ford had to double wages (to $5/day in 1914) to retain workers, as well as cut the workday (10hr to 8); coincidentally, the pay increase (says Georgano) also boosted sales... By 1925, companies had to have assembly lines or risk going broke. Trekphiler 04:13, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
After a great deal of searching, I was unable to obtain any evidence of an Olds patent on the assembly line. While Olds and Olds Motor Works held a number of automobile-related patents, it appears that an assembly line patent may not be among them (although many sources mention Olds's use/invention of the assembly line to produce the Curved Dash Olds, which is still well in advance of Ford's adoption in 1913). It would be very helpful if an expert could weigh in with evidence around this topic. 99.233.75.228 ( talk) 15:55, 13 September 2008 (UTC)
References
The recent addition of Chicago meatpacking was correct in its idea but inaccurate in its scholarship. It presented a quote within quote marks and attributed it (without page number) to Ford's 1922 memoir My Life and Work. You can search the text of that book using the search box at Google Book Search and not find that quote or anything worded similarly to it. The closest quote I find (closest in concept, not words) is a very different quote at page 81, which is already cited in this article in the section on FMC, as is Charles Sorensen's substantial critique of it. I deleted the misattributed quote and referred the reader to the FMC section using an anchor link. — ¾-10 23:07, 10 March 2009 (UTC)
The recent removal of these quotes was on target—they are highly relevant, but too voluminous and repetitive of the simple theme that they are illustrating, which is that Henry Ford as one man should not be conflated with the entire group of people at Ford Motor Company that was engaged in what we would later call industrial engineering. They are sequestered below. (show/hide) — ¾-10 17:41, 4 April 2009 (UTC)
As a source for the influence of William Klann, I suggest Vincent Curcio Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius p.205 ISBN 978-0195147056 see page 205 via Google Books Muijz ( talk) 19:31, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
According to Hounsell's book From the American System to Mass Production, Whitney did not produce guns with interchangeable parts. Hounsell verified this by direct examination of surviving pieces. Whitney produced an interchangeable sub-assembly, the gun lock, which could be interchanged with locks of other guns, but the components of each lock were hand fitted.
At the least, the beginning of the article needs a complete rewrite by someone with better knowledge. Saintonge235 ( talk) 12:23, 11 July 2013 (UTC)
Hello fellow Wikipedians,
I have just added archive links to one external link on
Assembly line. Please take a moment to review
my edit. If necessary, add {{
cbignore}}
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nobots|deny=InternetArchiveBot}}
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Cheers.— cyberbot II Talk to my owner:Online 18:37, 13 July 2015 (UTC)
Hello fellow Wikipedians,
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The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:
Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. — Community Tech bot ( talk) 17:37, 26 January 2019 (UTC)
The functionality of an assembly line differs from how the line is constructed, but it is a popular technical term in mass media. Our knowledge of assembly lines is usually first inherited through its presence in media. Many movies have this technical function since it is a popular mechanism and is still used to this day. It is also important to note that these assembly lines also produced products for media. For example, there is an assembly line for televisions that are produced for entertainment purposes in mass media standards. [1]
The presence of assembly lines in media is the most common way of learning exactly what the process is. An assembly line was used in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is a young children's movie. [2] This early example and reference in a movie for younger audiences go to show them what an assembly line looks like for the first time. The process of this line was used in many other movies as well since it is a big technical term in mass media.
Henry Ford is not mentioned when it comes to these appearances in mass media. Unless the line was specific in detail to the movie then there would be no reason to even bring the creator up. Somebody should add into the talk the mention of Henry Ford in any mass media aspect and his detail to the assembly line he constructed. Other than the founder and history behind the technical term, the assembly line has no great means of movies or television shows about it. We just have the presence of the process in regular media that is usually overlooked. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Annafavor ( talk • contribs) 02:28, 22 September 2022 (UTC)
References
{{
cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(
help)
Historic assembly line of the electronics (~1955):
General Electric's
Automatic Component Assembly System (ACAS), Computers and Automation, 1955-02: Vol 4 Iss 2, p. 34.
Punched Cards Control Job-Lot Assembly System, Electronics, Nov 1955, p. 122-128? (pdf: 130-).
MarMi wiki (
talk) 22:41, 11 July 2023 (UTC)