Ford celebrates 100th anniversary of the assembly line

Today, Ford builds vehicles on 15 platforms and has the one of the freshest line-up in the industry. It owes this success to its most important contribution to automobile manufacturing- the moving assembly line. October 8 marks the 100th anniversary of their development. On this special day, the company has also announced its plans to usher in the next generation of manufacturing.

Invented by Ford Motor Company under the leadership of Henry Ford, the company is building on its legacy of innovation by expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities and introducing groundbreaking technologies that could revolutionise mass production for decades to come.

In 1913 was launched the moving assembly line by Ford pioneer Henry Ford and his team at the Highland Park Assembly Plant. It simplified the assembly of the Ford Model T’s 3,000 parts by breaking it into 84 distinct steps performed by groups of workers as a rope pulled the vehicle chassis down the line. The new process revolutionised production and dropped the assembly time for a single vehicle from 12 hours to about 90 minutes.

By reducing the amount of energy which included money, time and manpower, Henry Ford continued whittling down the process till he refined it. This was the reason why quality vehicles became affordable for the masses. The idea was soon implemented by manufacturers of phonographs, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators and other consumer goods. It soon became America’s mode of production. 

In Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford’s words, ““One hundred years ago, my great-grandfather had a vision to build safe and efficient transportation for everyone,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “I am proud he was able to bring the freedom of mobility to millions by making cars affordable to families and that his vision of serving people still drives everything we do today.”