Assembly Line
Definition
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to create a finished product more quickly and efficiently.
Analogy
Think of an assembly line like preparing food at a fast-food restaurant. Each worker has a specific task, such as adding lettuce, tomatoes, or sauce. The burger (or product) moves from one worker to the next until it's complete.
Related terms
Mass Production: This refers to the manufacture of large quantities of standardized products often using assembly lines or automated technology.
Interchangeable Parts: These are identical components that can be substituted one for another, particularly important in the history of manufacturing.
Industrial Revolution: A period from 1750 to 1850 where changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions starting in the United Kingdom then subsequently spreading throughout Europe.
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