Negative Impact
The impact of the moving assembly line was mostly favorable for everybody. However, as events unfolded it became clear that there were a few downsides. These drawbacks were mainly the consequences to the factory workers. The pay was very high, but the hours were long and work became a chore. The employees had to perform the same mindless job over and over and over again throughout the entire day. In addition, work on the assembly line was often dangerous and many suffered injuries.
Mindless jobs left many workers feeling worthless and unappreciated
In this sampling of the hundreds of letters the Ford Motor Company received, disgruntled workers or worried family members expressed their emotions about the moving assembly line.
“The negative effects of the assembly line were minimal but apparent. Although the workers were paid well for their labor, they worked long days… Many factories required the workers to work for hours without stop and many tired out quickly. Many workers faded mentally on the assembly line because the workplace allowed for no individuality or change. It was the same schedule everyday with little to no difference in what tasks the workers performed. The hard work required in the factories also sidelined many workers who either got hurt by machines or just developed injuries that were life lasting.”
~socyberty.com "The Ford factories were often subjected to strikes and other union activity. Ford employees sometimes used brutal methods to suppress them."
~Steven Watts |
Amanda Ross, an employee at The Henry Ford Museum, talks about the negative impact of the moving assembly line in a personal interview.
"Each task was timed to determine how long it should take. The assembly line was set to move at that pace. Speed was the key. If a worker had 6 seconds to complete a task, then he had to get it done on time every time. Whether he was ready or not, the next car chassis would be in front of him in 6 seconds."
~michigan.gov "Hours upon hours of performing the same, mindless task was very difficult for the workers to accept. Morale was often low. Also, line work-due to its quick pace and repetitive nature-was dangerous. In 1916, the Ford Highland Park plant recorded almost 200 severed fingers and over 75,000 cuts, burns and puncture wounds."
~michigan.gov Workers were slaves to the pace determined by the foremen
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