The flow of materials and components through a linear path is integral to producing a uniform product. This is why the production line process has remained such a tried and true concept in manufacturing.
Many people are familiar with the basic concept of the factory line—a phrase that conjures up images of assembly line robots welding cars or cans and boxes being automatically filled with precise quantities of processed food.
Although it’s a common notion that modern assembly lines started with the Ford Motor Company, few people realize that manufacturing line concepts predate the Industrial Revolution. Just where did the production line start?
Origins Of Modern Assembly Lines
Even the most complex automated assembly lines start with a concept known as division of labor. Unlike a traditional crafting process, which is usually contained to one or a small number of workers creating a product from start to finish, division of labor separates an assembly process into distinct tasks.
Each task is performed by a worker specializing in that one aspect of assembly. This means they don’t need to learn nearly as many aspects of creating a product, the use of additional tools, or experience working with as many materials. magoda