Henry Ford ModelT The Cycle of Prosperity Debrief
Henry Ford Model-T & The Cycle of Prosperity
Debrief Assembly Line Simulation n n How did you feel designing/making your own car at the beginning of the activity compared with working in the assembly line? What factors made producing the drawing on the assembly line difficult or frustrating? How did members of your group cope with the stress or monotony? What made you want to work hard? What made you not want to work hard? How did you feel about Ms. Daniel as the factory manager?
Comparing the simulation to history In-class experience n n n n Did your best work on your own car Created one part of the drawing Most did not see finished product Work was monotonous and fast-paced Low light, recording of loud noise Little choice about which part to draw Little control over job Assembly Line work n n n n n Craftspersons work on product from start to finish Much more efficient… produced more cars in short period of time More standardized products Assembly line workers complete only one part of a product Monotonous work Physical strain and injuries from repetitive work Poor factory conditions High competition and high turnover for jobs Machine-like tasks with no creativity and little thought
Ford Model-T n n In 1908, Henry Ford built a car which everyone could afford to buy. It was slow, ugly and difficult to drive, and was nicknamed “Tin Lizzie” by the American people.
The Ford Model-T n n The attraction of the Ford Model-T was that its price continually decreased. By 1929 Ford was producing more than one car per minute.
Mass Production n Ford was able to sell cars at a low cost because they were mass-produced and every part was Standardized (only one color and one engine size were available). n By producing a large number of cars on an Assembly Line Ford needed fewer skilled workers, and that cut the cost of salary. n Cut unnecessary motion to a minimum, speeding up production
Mass Production In 1913, Ford invented the Assembly Line to speed up production.
Key Quote – Henry Ford «A customer can have any color he likes for his car as long as it's black. » How would this have helped to cut production costs?
Assembly Lines ‘… each man and each machine do only one thing. . . the thing is to keep everything in motion and take the work to the man, not the man to the work’ The way an assembly line works is: a car frame is put on a conveyer belt and each person puts one piece on every car that comes down the line. Henry Ford 1925
Car Industry More jobs are created in other industries. Steel More Standardized parts are needed The Cycle of Prosperity! Mass productions & Standardization lead to increased car sales. Jobs in Diners, Motels & Gas Stations. Glass More oil is used Rubber Leather More people with jobs means that they can afford to buy a car! More roads are built
Car Industry More jobs are created in other industries. Steel Glass Rubber Leather More Standardized parts are needed In other words, the car The Cycle of industry stimulated other parts Prosperity! of the American economy, creating a boom for all types of industries and thus creating more customers for itself. More people with jobs means that they can afford to buy a car! Mass productions & Standardization lead to increased car sales. Jobs in Diners, Motels & Gas Stations. More oil is used More roads are built
Aerial view of the Rouge Plant in 1930 In 1929, there were 81 000 men working in this factory.
“Welfare Capitalism” n Employers realize that they have to improve working and living conditions during Progressive Era n n Ford’s $5 Day – a very high wage for the time, but. . . Sociological Department of Ford Motor Co. made sure workers followed rules for “living right”: n n n Trying to stop unions from forming Stopping turnover rates by creating happier, healthier employees Clean, healthy home environment No alcohol, no renters (multiple families in one home) Save money in “Ford” bank (so you could buy a Ford one day!) If you didn’t do these things, you would get the base pay of $2. 34 Generous or creepy/intrusive? ?
Debrief Assembly Line Simulation n n How did you feel designing/making your own car at the beginning of the activity compared with working in the assembly line? What factors made producing the drawing on the assembly line difficult or frustrating? How did members of your group cope with the stress or monotony? What made you want to work hard? What made you not want to work hard? How did you feel about Ms. Daniel as the factory manager?
Comparing the simulation to history In-class experience n n n n Did your best work on your own car Created one part of the drawing Most did not see finished product Work was monotonous and fast-paced Low light, recording of loud noise Little choice about which part to draw Little control over job Assembly Line work n n n n n Craftspersons work on product from start to finish Much more efficient… produced more cars in short period of time More standardized products Assembly line workers complete only one part of a product Monotonous work Physical strain and injuries from repetitive work Poor factory conditions High competition and high turnover for jobs Machine-like tasks with no creativity and little thought
Let’s Roll Away! Instructions n Answer the questions on page 3 of your Student Booklet n Pair up to discuss and to compare your answers. You will be evaluated for Competency 1 here so let’s speak English Teacher: press PAUSE!!
ROLL AWAY ! Question 1 : n When did Henry Ford make his first Model-T? In 1908 Question 2: n What was its selling price? (before the assembly line) 1 200 $
ROLL AWAY ! One per minute In 1913 Ford invented the idea of using an Assembly Line to speed up production. Question 3 : n How many Model-T cars were built? Question 4 : n When did Henry Ford start the assembly line? Question 5 : n Why did Henry Ford start the assembly line?
ALMOST THERE ! A car frame is put on a conveyer belt and as the car moves, each person adds a part. He invented the assembly line which helped lower the prices, he created jobs, he made cars more accessible. Question 6 : n How does an assembly line work? Question 7 : n What are some things Henry Ford did that helped society?
HERE, WE ARE ! Question 8 : n How can we use Henry Ford's idea in our lives? If we work together, we can get the job done more quickly.
- Slides: 21