Fordist Assembly Line - Essay Example

Running Head: Fordist Assembly Line Fordist Assembly Line [Institute’s ‘Fordism’, a term given to the assembly line methods favored by Henry Ford, was an outgrowth of Taylor’s scientific management ideas. Both suggested mass production techniques and standardization of products. Hence, in this essay, I will describe the development and operations of Fordist assembly Line and discuss how Taylorism/Scientific management influenced it. Besides assembly line, the other aspect of Fordism will also be addressed. Books and various other sources will be used to gather information, which will then be analyzed. Books which will be used are ‘From Taylorism to Fordism’, by Joyce p Jacobsen, Gilbert L, Skillman (Jacobsen et.al 2004: 282) and ‘Did Fordism Take up Taylorism?’ by Takayuki Miura. Fordist Assembly Line Introduction Ford’s revolution has two aspects which helped transform the industry. First was the assembly line system, second being the loyalty of workers. Assembly line can be best described as a method of industrial management based on assembly line production of cheap, standardized products in high volume. Efficiency wages, on the other hand, are used to motivate employees and winning there loyalty. Taylorism has influenced Fordism to a great extent. Mass production, for example, was an idea Ford adopted from Taylor’s scientific management. In other words, it can also be said that Fordism was an outgrowth of Taylorism (Jacobsen & Skillman, 2004: 282). Development and operation of Fordist Assembly Line Instead of inventing a car, Ford developed a system to produce cheap and standardized cars. When other manufacturers in 1910 were only targeting a well-to-do market, Ford developed assembly line and hence improved mass market methods. However, Ford did not invent assembly line, as the idea has originated in the meat packing industry in Chicago. Mass production of absolutely uniform products too originated in Colt gun factory. The word ‘automation’ was, however, invented by Ford, while assembly line and mass production were developed by him. As Williams et. al (1994, chap 7) describe, Ford gradually developed a series of innovations in technology, process, and work organization which enabled his company to increase productivity and move in to mass production of cars. Fordist Assembly Line operates in such a way that just a single, and a simple task is the responsibility of each point along the line. Each worker performed a specific and individual task at the point assigned to him. Hence, the product came to the employees, instead of employee wasting time in getting the product and moving it to the next stage of production. Workers then perform the same task over and over again, thus learning to perform it perfectly. The development of assembly line has increased the efficiency and productivity of manufacture while decreasing its cost. This method also saves on costs associated with wastage of time, raw-material, labor training and factory floor space. The practice of Fordism began in the United States. During the period of depression, Fordism was still practiced. Although depression extended for some time, Fordism eventually pulled America out of it. This was because wages were high while the prices were low due to the standardization of assembly line method. Soon after, Fordism was adopted by other countries. Influence of Scientific management/ Taylorism on the development of Fordism Before Western Europe adopted Fordism to help their manufacturing they practiced Taylorism, which has greatly influenced and in a way, led to Fordism. “Some economists… combine Taylorism as a piece base wage system and Fordism as a capital accumulation system” (Miura, n.d.: 51). However, during the late 19th and early 20th century, Ford introduced time-base wage system, which was almost like Taylor’s piece-rate. Hence, Taylor’s ideas influence Ford in such a way that he further developed them. That is, as a worker only does one continuous job at a particular point of assembly line, he is paid for the amount of time he spends working. Assembly line can be said to be the crucial new element to the concept of Taylorism. Influenced by Taylor’s ideas of mass production, Ford developed assembly line, which eliminates the need of foremen as required in Taylor’s system. Assembly line was, in itself, a control mechanism. As Taylor had done, Ford sharply increased the intensity of labor and systematically compressed wasted time in a working day (Miura, n.d.: 52). The obvious result, as was in Taylor’s scientific management, was increased boredom and exhaustion of labor power in the labor process. The alienating nature of the working method, and the fatigue developed regarding the noise, simplicity of task and relentless speed resulted in a de motivated workforce. Hence, instead of getting motivated to do the work, employees are only motivated enough to come to work and get paid. The hierarchical controlled structure and detailed task specialization of Taylorism was combined by Fordist methods with the use of specialized, single use machinery favoring mass production of standardized goods (Jacobsen & Skillman, 2004: 282). Fordist assembly line leads to specialization of workers at a single point along the line. This results in mass production of standardized products through single use of machinery. Conclusion Increased production and profitability and reduced costs of the assembly line led to the expansion of car manufacture in US and UK. Being the predominant model of production, this system was highly productive and effective. However, higher wages were continuously demanded, while time was wasted in monitoring, controlling and bargaining the pay rates. As new production systems developed in countries like Japan and Germany, American and British companies found it difficult to stay competitive. Due to changing market conditions and co operation and flexibility of workers in the new system, UK and U.S. companies changed their mass production techniques. This suggests that Fordist Assembly Line was a production technique which suited well to the market conditions and demand of that time. Its success was also proven by the fact that it pulled America out of great depression. It was indeed due to Fordist assembly line that mass production gained such popularity and success. Reference Jacobsen, J., & Skillman, G. (2004). Labor Markets and Employment Relationships: A Comprehensive Approach. London: Wiley-Blackwell. Miura, T. (n.d.). Did Fordism Take up Taylorism?: A Critique of Regulation Theory. p.143-164. [Online] Available at: http://www.adm.fukuoka-u.ac.jp/fu844/home2/Ronso/Shogaku/C50-2+3/C5023_0143.pdf [Accessed 1 December 2009]. Williams, K., Haslam, C., Johal, S., & Williams, J. (1994). Cars: Analysis, history, cases. Berghahn Books. Read More