Assembly lines use specific and efficient steps to create a finished product, reducing skill requirements for workers and increasing efficiency. They also offer better uniformity and potential for higher wages, but lower skilled workers may earn less. Assembly lines allow for easy transition from unskilled to skilled labor.
An assembly line is a form of mass production where components are added in a specific and efficient order to create a finished product at the end of a line. In contrast to handcrafted manufacturing, which requires workers with a wide range of skills working to complete a product simultaneously, assembly lines isolate the addition of each component and create the finished piece through a series of orderly and specific steps. While not universally popular, the benefits of an assembly line can be significant and can include increased job opportunities, more uniform products, increased efficiency, and even the potential for higher labor wages.
One of the biggest benefits of assembly line manufacturing is that it reduces the skill requirements for line workers. When making a doll, a craftsman may need to know how to shape the body, attach hair, paint the face, and sew clothes. Assembly manufacturing, however, isolates a specific task or set of tasks for each worker, meaning it is easier to train new workers and mastery of the skill can be quicker. Furthermore, automated assembly lines may be easier to create than handcrafted versions, because the machines may only be able to perform a limited number of specific tasks.
An advantage of the principle of task isolation is that it makes it easier to understand where efficiency failures occur. If the products move according to schedule until they reach a certain point on the line, it is easy to see that the speed reduction occurs at a specific point. This can make efficiency issues easier to address, as problems can be immediately apparent and have specific solutions that can be applied quickly.
Increased production and better uniformity are two other benefits of the assembly methods. Because the line is optimized for speed and efficiency, and operations are limited, most lines can produce products much faster than traditional manufacturing methods. Since every product is assembled in the same order, at the same speed, by the same technicians, quality variations are also less likely. With products that need to be manufactured in large quantities at a rapid pace, assembly lines can be the most efficient choice of manufacturing facility.
In terms of wages, assembly lines have both advantages and disadvantages. Since employees on a line are typically less skilled and educated, their salary range is generally lower than that of educated craftsmen with more skills. On the other hand, the savings created by efficiency, fast production and automation may mean that unskilled or semi-skilled workers are paid higher than their counterparts in non-assembly-based manufacturing jobs.
A final benefit of an assembly line is the ease of transition from unskilled to skilled labor. Manufacturing plants can start new workers in jobs that require fewer skills, but when a worker masters their particular job, they can get opportunities for more highly skilled positions that build directly on the job’s basic skills. This means that there may be a high possibility of career advancement within an assembly line.
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