Ford’s status as a large-volume car producer began with the predecessor to the Model T, Brian Potter notes, the Model N, a four-cylinder, two-seater car initially priced at $500:
Many of the Model N’s parts were made of vanadium steel, a strong, lightweight, durable steel alloy. Vanadium steel allowed for a lighter car (the Model N weighed only 1,050 pounds), and was “machined readily.” This was important because Ford also made increasing use of advanced machine tools that allowed it to produce highly accurate interchangeable parts. In 1906, Ford advertised that it was “making 40,000 cylinders, 10,000 engines, 40,000 wheels, 20,000 axles, 10,000 bodies, 10,000 of every part that goes into the car…all exactly alike.” Only by producing interchangeable parts, Ford determined, could the company achieve high production volumes and low prices. Furthermore, Ford’s machine tools were arranged in order of assembly operations rather than by type, allowing parts to move from machine to machine with minimal handling and travel distance. It also made extensive use of production aids such as jigs, fixtures, and templates. These “farmer tools” — so called because they supposedly made it possible for unskilled farmers to do machining work — greatly simplified Ford’s machining operations.
The Model N was so popular that demand exceeded capacity, which allowed Ford to plan production far in advance. This meant Ford could purchase parts and materials in large quantities at better prices and schedule regular deliveries, ensuring a steady, reliable delivery of material, which allowed it to maintain just a 10-day supply of parts on hand.
Parts “all exactly alike.”
Some allowance must be made for salesman’s puffery. Firearm parts “exactly alike” were claimed since the 1790s, but Roy Dunlap reported searching through bags of parts for one close enough to hammer and file.
Maybe the simplest internal combustion engines need the least precision.
Maybe there’s less salesman’s puffery in cars than in guns.
The early Ford system is eerily reminiscent of the Toyota Production System. What is old is now new again.
Bruce, I am interested in Roy Dunlap’s story but I don’t know it. Is this book link relevant?
https://dokumen.pub/ordnance-went-up-front.html
Manufacturing supply chains are theoretically of great interest to me but I seldom yap about them because I suspect most readers of this blog know much more than I do. But if anyone can tell me, I would be honored to learn from you.
Gailkoku, yes, that’s the one. There was a thread on it here a few years back.
Yes, if you search for Roy Dunlap, you’ll find that we discussed his book Ordnance Went Up Front quite a bit, starting with The rifleman who went to war — to fix ‘em: