During the Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1914), one new method of production that emerged was the assembly line. The assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner as it moves along a conveyor belt or passes from one workstation to the next. This method revolutionized production by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and allowing for mass production of goods.
The assembly line was famously implemented by Henry Ford in the early 20th century to manufacture automobiles. By breaking down the production of a car into smaller, repetitive tasks performed by specialized workers at different stations along the assembly line, Ford was able to drastically increase the speed of production and reduce the cost of manufacturing cars. This innovation played a significant role in the rapid industrialization and economic growth of the time period.
In contrast, while the factory system, steam power, and interchangeable parts were all important advancements during the Industrial Revolution, the assembly line specifically revolutionized production methods during the Second Industrial Revolution by introducing a more efficient and organized way of manufacturing products.
