Assembly Line Video
Chapter 1, Principles of Operations Management
Questions/Facts
1.Explain the terms “progressive production” and “work-in-motion”.
2.Who said “Speed is the motto of the top assemblers” and what did he mean?
3.Work-in-motion originated in what industry?
4.What does the phrase “taylorizing the work” mean?
5.The production time for a Model T went from 728 hours to 90 minutes with the introduction of the moving assembly line. Total production increased from 82,000 vehicles in 1912 to 267,000 in 1914. What did the assembly line achieve in regard to productivity? How?
6.Ford had 380% turnover in 1913. Why?
7.Henry Ford’s goal was to constantly improve production, in order to drive prices down, and in turn, then drive up demand. Do you understand that cycle?
8.What were some of the “cruel” management practices of the past you observed in the video? Did business deserve unions?
9.Impressive stats. from the River Rouge Plant in Dearborn Michigan in 1918:
- 75,000 workers
- 30 miles of conveyers
-produced glass, steel, etc. to create parts
-by 1928, it took 4 days to go from raw materials to a finished good (car)
10. After Ford mastered the assembly line and production of the Model T (and hence, the development of the River Rouge facility), what were Ford’s problems with their master plan for efficiency?
11. Why was it difficult for Ford to switch production from the Model T to the Model A?
12. How did GM “beat” Ford, even though Ford was far more efficient in its production of the Model T?
13.What percent of the of the world’s goods were produced in the US by the late 1920’s?
14.“Toyota perfected the assembly line”. How so?
15.After World War II, the US produced 8 times the quantity of Japan. In what year did production of Japan exceed that of the US?
16.Toyota had far different demand requirements from Ford. Compare and contrast demand at Ford and Toyota in the early stages of each company.
17.The Japanese recognized that the most flexible resource is ______.
18. What is lean manufacturing? Where was the concept developed?
19. What is “kaizan”?
20.Today, in the US, fewer employees are assembling more cars than ever. How? How have the automakers reduced input (labor) and increased output (autos)? The ratio of inputs to outputs is called ______.
21.Management concerns today in the auto industry:
Virtual Assembly/ E-building
Environmental issues (50,000 lbs of raw material to make one 3, 000lb car)
Globalization: Ford has 150 plants in 26 countries