The Role of Workers
Machines alone do not give us mass production. Mass
production is achieved by both machines AND men.
And while we have gone a long way toward perfect-
ing our mechanical operations, we have not success-
fully written into our equations whatever complex
factors represent Man, the human element.
- Henry Ford II.
production is achieved by both machines AND men.
And while we have gone a long way toward perfect-
ing our mechanical operations, we have not success-
fully written into our equations whatever complex
factors represent Man, the human element.
- Henry Ford II.
Female auto workers on an assembly line.
Workers in a factory working.
The concept of "division of labor" allowed a worker to perform their specific task. This method weakened the activeness of the workers, often leading to physical and mental difficulties. When these difficulties were noticed, people watching over the workers pushed them forward, telling them to keep working at the pace of the machines. However, this resulted in a decrease in quality of the products. It was after World War II that industries started to make greater efforts to improve the aspects of machines suitable to the abilities of human beings. The logical development of the innovation of assembly line has advanced to a system that is fully automated. Today, the mechanical system of the assembly line requires highly trained and educated supervisiors to overlook the atuomated equipments.
