Mass Production

Assemblies pass by on a conveyor

Complex products sub lines feed to the main line

Simple: Linear / Complex: Fish bone

Mass Production

Standardized Process

Large amount to products

Ford Model T (early 1900)

Mass Production

High Rate of Production per worker

Lower cost to operate

Expensive to set up

Assembly Line

Video1

Video2

Assembly Line

Same task repeated over time

Reduction of labor cost

Tools and parts always at hand

Reduction of variation and human error

Reduction of non-productive efforts

Increase production

Mass Production

Inflexible. Same product over and over.

Model T

First affordable automobile

Any color you want…

Craft / Custom / Artisan

Parts

were not available off the shelf (custom made)

serving the same function were different

Time consuming and expensive (and sometimes impossible)

Interchangeable parts

Components designed to specifications

Prior each product was unique

Replaceable

Started with

Wheels, Tires, RAM, etc…

Interchangeable parts

Credit for the idea of interchangeable parts generally goes to the French gunsmith Honore Le Blanc.

In the mid 18th century he proposed making gun parts from standardized patterns.

Broken parts could be replaced by an identical one

Rejected by France, Imported by Thomas Jefferson. US Ambassador to France.

Mass Production in History

What / Product / Historical relevance / more…

The Venice Arsenal

Johannes Gutenberg

Springfield Armory