American industrialist who introduced the moving assembly line to automobile production at his Highland Park plant in 1913, reducing the time to build a Model T from 12.5 hours to 93 minutes. By continuously reducing cost through mass production, Ford brought car ownership within reach of working-class Americans. The $5 workday (double the prevailing wage) set a template for high-wage mass consumption. Ford's methods — Fordism — reshaped manufacturing, supply chains, and urban geography worldwide.

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