assembly line

Definition

A manufacturing tool, first made popular by Henry Ford in his manufacturing of automobiles. The principle of an assembly line is that each worker is assigned one very specific task, which he or she simply repeats, and then the process moves to the next worker who does his or her task, until the task is completed and the product is made. It is a way to mass produce goods quickly and efficiently. All workers do not have to be human; robotic workers can make up an assembly line as well.