Life and Work of Henry Ford Essay Example

to enhancing the product's quality.

(Ford) Ford Motor Company was established by Henry Ford, Alexander Malcolmson, Dodge brothers, John Gray, and himself as initial investors after Ford had a falling out with the stakeholders of Detroit Company. In 1908, the company unveiled the Model T vehicle, which was both affordable and easy to drive while also being inexpensive to repair. The market's positive response to this vehicle resulted in a surge in demand, prompting Henry Ford to expand production. He implemented assembly line techniques and identified mass production methods in order to meet this growing demand.

(Smith) Strong demand for the Model T led to high levels of production for it.

Henry appointed his son as the chairman of the company but still maintained control. In 1927, he relocated his production line to a newly constructed industrial complex in River Rouge. This complex included a steel mill, assembly line, and glass factory, all of which produced vehicle components. In the same year, Henry introduced a new and improved Model of automobile with better features, including increased horsepower and improved brakes. He proceeded to produce millions of Model A automobiles and initiated the opening of manufacturing plants worldwide.

Henry Ford was motivated by his vision of mass production to create simple and efficient methods of production. Together with his staff, they identified four principles of mass production: interchangeable parts, division of labor, continuous flow, and waste reduction. The use of interchangeable parts involved making different parts of the car simultaneously and then assembling them together. By improving machines and cutting tools, semi-skilled workers were able to easily operate the machines. Ford introduced the concept of task arrangement, where one task

seamlessly transitions into the next, reducing setup time and improving workflow. To divide labor, he divided the assembly of an automobile into 84 stages, with one skilled worker responsible for each stage.

Henry Ford invited Frederick Taylor, the father of scientific management, to analyze time and movement and determine the optimal work velocity and employee speed in order to minimize wastage of efforts. By implementing this principle, Ford successfully reduced the price of automobiles and increased sales within five years. This revolutionary manufacturing process led to the adoption of Ford's principles by numerous corporations and industries. As a result, Henry Ford's automobile company made significant contributions to the country and continues to impact our lives today. It was the first company to produce affordable cars that were both user-friendly and repairable.

Henry Ford's efforts resulted in the ownership of cars by both middle and lower classes. The revolutionary principles he employed in automobile manufacturing were widely imitated by other industries. Today, production and manufacturing companies still use the mass production guidelines that Ford introduced. These guidelines have led to reduced wastage, increased efficiency, and enhanced worker effectiveness through division of labor and specialization.

And the utilization of a continual stream of work guarantees that a task is entirely finished even with limited abilities.

Work Cited

1. Beth, B. T. (2012). The Making of Detroit and Ford Motor in the Age of Henry Ford. In B. T. Beth, the Making of Black Detroit (pp. 160-180). Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
2. Ford, H.

(2014). My Life & Work: An Autobiography of Henry Ford. In H. Ford, MY Life and Work (pp. 50-100). New

York: Create Space Independent Publishing Platform. Mira, W.

(2003). Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company and Century of Progress. Business History Review, 725-730.

I Invented The Modern Age: The Rise of Henry Ford. In S. Richard, I Invented The Modern Age (pp. 200-250). New York: Scriber, Reprint Edition. Smith, W.

(1943). Henry Ford: His Life, His Work, and Genius. Journal of American History, 288-298.