Ford introduced the assembly line, which apparently cut production cost drastically.
Interestingly, though, I heard that years ago, the Hasselblad camera factory in Sweden experimented, and they found that by having workers compile a bigger part of a camera instead of repeating the same tiny action again and again, things were more efficient and people made fewer mistakes.
(Isn't it amazing to see that fragile-looking car handling terrain like a hummer?)
I love the model T. For me it has (along with other cars of that time) a presence which modern cars just don't have. I don't know why. (I can say the same about airplanes.)
I once sandblasted the body of a Ford Model A. Try doing that to a modern car, and you'll have the plates curled up like wet cardboard.
Jay Leno is a car buff. Here he talks about how good the model T is to use even today.
I think you mean "FORD" not "FOR." Nice post at any rate!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, though, I heard that years ago, the Hasselblad camera factory in Sweden experimented, and they found that by having workers compile a bigger part of a camera instead of repeating the same tiny action again and again, things were more efficient and people made fewer mistakes.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense for a camera, where you can have many parts at hand in quantity at any time.
The real challenge of car assembly lines is moving the right parts to the right stations at the right time.
Ah, yes.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Volvo or Saab do a similar experiment, getting a team of about half a dozen people to do more-or-less the complete assembly on a single car at a time? Also with improved productivity and quality as I recall.
ReplyDeleteThe Model T handled bad roads, or NO roads, so well partially because it was so light. Today's "Sport" Utility Vehicle is so grotesquely overweight, it struggles just to haul it's own bulk (the opposite of true sport cars).
ReplyDeleteModel T now on my to buy list.
ReplyDeletecaptcha: thlow
As in "do I need to thlow money at it"?