Chapter 7

Henry Ford was Born on July 30th 1863, he died on April 7 1947. Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of Mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry. As owner of the Ford Motor Company, he became one of the richest and best-known people in the world. He is credited with "Fordism": mass production of inexpensive goods coupled with high wages for workers. Ford had a global vision, with consumerism as the key to peace. His intense commitment to systematically lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a Franchise system that put dealerships throughout most of North America and in major cities on six continents.

Ford rethought the location of parts and sequence of operations in manufacturing and eventually developed the moving assembly line. Ford factories were known for a rapid pace and high rates of production. The rapid pace led many workers to quit after just a few weeks on the job. Ford responded by doubling the rate of pay. Ford developed an assembly-line method reducing production time from 12 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours, and the car price from $900 to $440. When Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, it was available at $845 in black only (similar cars cost $2,000 to $3,000). It was said to be "stronger than a horse and easier to maintain."