Jan 28/22

Understanding How the Automotive Assembly Line Works: A Closer Look

automotive assembly line
Did you know that when Henry Ford introduced the automotive assembly line in 1913, the time it took to produce a car was slashed from 12 hours to 93 minutes?

This ingenious revolution changed the world, as it transformed how people worked and lived their lives.

But you may be wondering to yourself: how does an assembly line actually work? If you’re curious to learn about its functions, keep reading.

Because in this article, we’ll explore how this groundbreaking piece of machinery operates.

Origins Of The Automotive Assembly Line

Many people carry the notion that Henery Ford was the inventor of the assembly line. This is inaccurate.

While Ford certainly enhanced its efficiency, Ramson Eli Olds was the actual creator of the assembly line.

After spending a great deal of time working on vehicles, Olds produced the very first assembly line in 1901. And this set the stage for him to dominate the auto manufacturing industry in America from 1901 to 1904.

Ramson Eli Olds was the first car mass-producer in the country. Therefore, olds was the originator, Ford was the innovator.

Present-Day Automotive Production

An interesting fact about present-day automotive assembly lines is that very little has changed from the foundational system popularized by Ford over one hundred years ago. The general process remains the same.

The vehicle arrives at the station of each worker, they perform their jobs, and when it’s all said and done, a newly assembled vehicle arrives at the end of the line; ready for shipment.

With the present-day lines, numerous parts are not produced onsite. Therefore, companies purchase parts from other companies — also known as suppliers.

A crucial component of car manufacturing is the uniformity of the vehicle. Since every stage is interconnected with every other stage in order to produce the automobile, altering a single step means changing all of the rest.

Consequently, this would slow the system and result in inefficient processing.

Assembly Line Methodologies

There are a few systems in regards to assembly lines. Below, you will find a list of the various methods and their processes:

Modular Assembly

A modern and up-to-date assembly line method. This option enhances throughput by strengthening the efficiency of aligned subassembly lines.

Team Production

This is another evolution in assembly-line systems. Employees used to be at 1 or 2 person stations to do their jobs, but now teams of employees can accompany a job throughout the assembly line to its last quality inspection.

Cell Manufacturing

This system of production developed out of the enhanced capacity of mechanisms to execute several jobs. Therefore, cell operators can manage three or even four jobs, and machines are utilized for such functions as materials.

Understanding The Automotive Assembly Line

A truly amazing concept that has genuinely revolutionized all of our lives, the automotive assembly line will forever hold its place in the history books. And by understanding how it came to be, we can better innovate and improve where it’s going.

Mayco is a tier-one automotive supplier, situated in Michigan with international affiliates and the recipient of numerous awards for quality and innovation.

Above all, we look forward to using our expertise and experience to help reach your goals, contact us today to learn more.