Henry Ford's assembly line - changed the industrial philosophy in America

Henry Ford was 40 years old when he founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with $28,000 in cash from twelve investors. During its early years, the company produced just a few cars a day at its factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit. In 1908, the Ford company released the Ford Model T. and moved production to the much larger Highland Park Plant to keep up with the demand. By 1913 Ford introduced the world's first moving assembly line, which reduced chassis assembly time from 12 hours to 2 hours, 40 minutes. These innovations were not popular and turnover of workers was very high. Because of this, Ford Motor Company pioneered the minimum wage and the 40 hour work week in the United States. Ford also invented the system of franchised dealers who were loyal to his brand name.