Back to Show
American Experience
The Ford Assembly Line
Inspired by the moving lines used at meat-packing plants, Ford’s factory tested an assembly line in the flywheel magneto department. Rather than having one person build a coil at a time, the supervisor broke down the individual tasks into a sequence driven by a conveyor. The new system reduced the time it took to make a magneto from twenty minutes to thirteen minutes, ten seconds.
Support Provided By
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:52:37
Part of the award-winning "The Presidents" collection.
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:53:50
Ronald Reagan left the White House one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century.
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:50:17
A biography from American Experience's collection of presidential portraits.
Unlock with PBS Passport
2:16:40
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:44:52
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:50:24
Follow LBJ from rural Texas to his ascendancy to the presidency after the assassination of JFK.
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:50:37
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
Unlock with PBS Passport
2:47:05
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.