Henry FordHenry FordBy: Paul YamaneBy: Paul Yamane

Why is Henry Ford is one of the most Why is Henry Ford is one of the most important Americans of the 20important Americans of the 20thth century? century?

He did not . . .He did not . . .

Invent the “horseless carriage” or Invent the “horseless carriage” or automobile (Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot automobile (Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot did in 1769)did in 1769)Invent the internal combustion engine Invent the internal combustion engine (Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoire (Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoire patented it in 1860)patented it in 1860)Invent the mass production of Invent the mass production of commodities through specialization commodities through specialization and division of labor (see Adam and division of labor (see Adam Smith’s Smith’s Wealth of NationsWealth of Nations in 1776) in 1776)Invent the automobile industry Invent the automobile industry (Daimler and Benz did in 1885)(Daimler and Benz did in 1885)Invent the mass production of cars Invent the mass production of cars (Oldsmobile did in 1901)(Oldsmobile did in 1901)Invent the use of interchangeable parts Invent the use of interchangeable parts in the car assembly process (Cadillac in the car assembly process (Cadillac did in 1904)did in 1904)

Henry Ford was an inventor . . .Henry Ford was an inventor . . .

Was inducted into the Was inducted into the National Inventors National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1982 Hall of Fame in 1982 for his invention of the for his invention of the “transmission “transmission mechanism”mechanism”Google Patent Search Google Patent Search finds 50 patents finds 50 patents under his nameunder his name

. . . but he is not best known for any . . . but he is not best known for any particular invention.particular invention.

Why Henry Ford Is ImportantWhy Henry Ford Is Important

He revolutionized He revolutionized production by production by implementing the implementing the moving assembly moving assembly linelineIn doing so he In doing so he made a car for made a car for the masses: the the masses: the Model TModel T

““I will build a motor car for I will build a motor car for the great multitude.  It will the great multitude.  It will be so low in price that no be so low in price that no man making a good salary man making a good salary will be unable to own one – will be unable to own one – and enjoy with his family the and enjoy with his family the blessings of hours of blessings of hours of pleasure in God’s greatest pleasure in God’s greatest open spaces.” open spaces.” 

--Henry Ford upon founding --Henry Ford upon founding Ford Motor Company c. Ford Motor Company c. 19031903

BackgroundBackground

Born July 30, 1863Born July 30, 1863Loved tinkering with Loved tinkering with things as a kidthings as a kidIdol was Thomas Idol was Thomas EdisonEdisonDid not go to collegeDid not go to collegeMarried Clara Bryant Married Clara Bryant in 1888in 1888Died April 7, 1947Died April 7, 1947

Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFounded June 17, 1903Founded June 17, 1903Founded in Dearborn, Founded in Dearborn, MichiganMichiganWas Henry Ford’s third Was Henry Ford’s third companycompanyCurrent President/CEO is Alan Current President/CEO is Alan MulallyMulallyCurrent Chairman is William Current Chairman is William Clay Ford, Jr., Henry Ford’s Clay Ford, Jr., Henry Ford’s great-grandsongreat-grandsonIn 2007, sold 2.4 million cars In 2007, sold 2.4 million cars Started making the Model T in Started making the Model T in 19081908First moving assembly line First moving assembly line was at Highland Park was at Highland Park Assembly Plant (1913)Assembly Plant (1913)

Assembly Line BasicsAssembly Line BasicsBasic principle: the work moves Basic principle: the work moves and the workers stay putand the workers stay putIt is based on a division of labor It is based on a division of labor and specialization: many people and specialization: many people work on a product and each work on a product and each person does a small task at a person does a small task at a stationstationParts must be standardized Parts must be standardized (interchangeable)(interchangeable)When a product reaches the end When a product reaches the end of the line it has gone through of the line it has gone through every station and is now a finished every station and is now a finished productproductThis is an old idea: perhaps used This is an old idea: perhaps used by Egyptians building pyramids, by Egyptians building pyramids, famous example of “pin factory” in famous example of “pin factory” in Adam Smith’s Adam Smith’s The Wealth of The Wealth of Nations Nations (published 1776)(published 1776)

Moving Assembly Line (Idea)Moving Assembly Line (Idea)Ford’s innovation was not the Ford’s innovation was not the assembly line, but the assembly line, but the MOVING assembly lineMOVING assembly lineIdea of the moving assembly Idea of the moving assembly line is typically credited to a line is typically credited to a trip Ford employees made to trip Ford employees made to the Swift meatpacking plant in the Swift meatpacking plant in Chicago, where they saw pigs Chicago, where they saw pigs being conveyed through a being conveyed through a “disassembly” line of stations“disassembly” line of stations

““Why don’t we assemble motors Why don’t we assemble motors like they kill hogs in Chicago?” like they kill hogs in Chicago?” 

-- C. Harold Wills, Chief -- C. Harold Wills, Chief Engineering Assistant, Ford Engineering Assistant, Ford Motor Company, 1912Motor Company, 1912

Moving Assembly Line Moving Assembly Line ImplementationImplementation

First moving assembly First moving assembly line at Ford Motor Co. line at Ford Motor Co. produced magneto coilsproduced magneto coilsLater, entire vehicles Later, entire vehicles were assembled at were assembled at Highland Park plant, Highland Park plant, beginning in 1913beginning in 1913Moving assembly line Moving assembly line was so efficient that was so efficient that Ford could only use type Ford could only use type of paint (one that would of paint (one that would dry fast enough), which dry fast enough), which only came in blackonly came in black

Assembly Line EfficiencyAssembly Line EfficiencyOne man hour with One man hour with moving assembly line moving assembly line equaled four man hours equaled four man hours without moving without moving assembly lineassembly lineThough it had 1,500 Though it had 1,500 parts, one Model T parts, one Model T could be assembled could be assembled every three minutesevery three minutesMade it possible for Made it possible for Ford to make lots of Ford to make lots of cars much more cars much more cheaplycheaply

Model T FactsModel T FactsPredated the moving Predated the moving assembly line at Fordassembly line at FordFirst introduced First introduced September 27, 1908September 27, 1908Was $850 when Was $850 when introducedintroducedWas produced until 1927Was produced until 1927Was the bestselling car Was the bestselling car for 20 yearsfor 20 yearsNicknamed the “Tin Nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie”Lizzie”

Model T Cost: Pre- and Post-Model T Cost: Pre- and Post-Moving Assembly LineMoving Assembly Line

1908-$8501908-$8501913-$850 (pre-)1913-$850 (pre-)1915-$440 (post-)1915-$440 (post-)1916-$3601916-$3601924-$2901924-$290A Ford worker could A Ford worker could buy a Model T with buy a Model T with four months of wagefour months of wage

Model T InnovationsModel T Innovations

Had the steering Had the steering wheel on the leftwheel on the leftEngine and Engine and transmission were transmission were entirely enclosedentirely enclosedCylinders were in a Cylinders were in a blockblockSuspension use two Suspension use two semi-elliptic springssemi-elliptic springs

Model T FeaturesModel T Features

Had a topHad a topHad a windshieldHad a windshieldHad a speedometerHad a speedometerHad headlampsHad headlampsHad a generator for Had a generator for the headlampsthe headlampsEngine was front Engine was front mountedmounted

Model T Features (cont.)Model T Features (cont.)Had a 2.9L engineHad a 2.9L engineEngine had 4 Engine had 4 cylinderscylindersHad 20 horsepowerHad 20 horsepowerTank held 10 gallonsTank held 10 gallonsHad rear wheel driveHad rear wheel driveTop speed was 40-45 Top speed was 40-45 miles/hourmiles/hourGot 13-21 Got 13-21 miles/gallonmiles/gallonRan on gas or ethanolRan on gas or ethanol

FordismFordismHenry Ford’s success Henry Ford’s success implementing the moving implementing the moving assembly line at Ford assembly line at Ford Motor Co. became a Motor Co. became a model for production model for production generally.generally.This style of production This style of production became known as became known as “Fordism” and spread “Fordism” and spread throughout different throughout different industries and the world.industries and the world.

Significance of the AutomobileSignificance of the AutomobileBy making the “horseless carriage” By making the “horseless carriage” available to the average person, Henry available to the average person, Henry Ford transformed American society Ford transformed American society (arguably) more than any other person (arguably) more than any other person in the 20in the 20thth century century

80% of all U.S. households own at 80% of all U.S. households own at least one car and 30% own at least 2least one car and 30% own at least 280% of all U.S. vacations are by car80% of all U.S. vacations are by carAmericans drive 2.66 trillion miles per Americans drive 2.66 trillion miles per yearyear

Also, makes suburbanization, fast Also, makes suburbanization, fast food, and strip shopping malls possiblefood, and strip shopping malls possibleRepresents freedom and individuality – Represents freedom and individuality – core American valuescore American values

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