Mass Production Pros and Cons: How Assembly Lines Work

Mass production (or flow production) is a style of product manufacturing that relies on the quick assembly of uniform parts on a production line. In this sense, it differs from individualized or batch production in that it emphasizes a greater quantity of similar products rather than a smaller quantity of specialized ones.

In a system of mass production, workers stand at an assembly line to perform a specific task—for example, screwing in a part or lining up different elements of product design. So long as each worker performs their task on the line, a replica of the same product will appear in rapid time once it reaches the end of the assembly line over and over again.

The concept of mass production stretches back to the era of movable type, if not even further back. Mass-production techniques developed in earnest at the start of the Industrial Revolution: Early nineteenth-century inventors—such as Eli Whitney, Henry Maudslay, and others—began to develop machine tools to create interchangeable parts for cotton gins, muskets, and other goods. This sped up production significantly, laying the groundwork for what mass production would become in the early twentieth century.

Henry Ford expanded upon the ideas of Whitney, Maudslay, and other forebears by combining interchangeable parts with moving assembly line techniques for Ford Motor Company, which he founded in 1903. This soon led to the adoption of mass-production techniques by General Motors and other automotive competitors, as well as the spread of the manufacturing style to other industries. To this day, mass production—with some innovations and changes along the way—remains the primary mode of production for many different types of products.

This manufacturing process comes with plenty of pros. Here are just three advantages of the mass production system:

• Increased efficiency: From its earliest days, mass production has given a competitive advantage to companies because of its ability to mix substantial quality control with the continuous production of goods. This increased efficiency means products can fly off the assembly lines into the hands of consumers faster than they ever could in an individualized or batch-production style.
• Lower consumer costs: There are lower costs of labor involved in producing something on a mass scale. Each new product resulting from a mass-production system will invariably have a lower unit cost than a similar product an individual skilled craftsman has developed. These low costs to consumers often still lead to high profits for mass producers—the sheer quantity of sales brings in plenty of revenue.
• Opportunities for those without specialized skills: A wider division of labor in a mass-producing company signals less specialization, which means it’s easier for a worker to get a job even if they lack experience. Consider the development of a car. It would take an almost unimaginable amount of know-how to build an entire car on your own. In contrast, performing one task on an assembly line is easier to learn, by comparison, leading to a lower barrier of entry for laborers.

Despite its benefits, the mass-production process also has quite a few cons. Consider these three:

• Decreased customization: Large-scale standardization means far less customization. The point of mass production is to produce the same product over and over again. In recent years, the definition of mass production has expanded to allow for a more customized approach, thanks to sophisticated technologies and supply chains. But the possibilities for customization are still far lower than you might see with small-batch production.
• Higher initial costs: Even as mass production develops into an economy of scale—one in which the increase in production leads to savings over time—starting an assembly line still requires a large amount of capital. This makes it hard to start a business that can mass-produce goods if you are a fledgling entrepreneur.
• Widespread job losses: The mechanization of mass production decreased the need for specialized workers and, over time, fewer workers period. As the manufacturing style evolved, it also led to the development of more and more automation technology. This means machines can perform many of the same tasks assembly line workers used to perform. The result has been the displacement of many hardworking laborers.

This style of manufacturing helped build the economic landscape of the modern world. Here are three examples of mass production you’re likely to encounter in your day-to-day life:

1. 1. Cars: From its Ford Model T automobile to the electric vehicles of today, the automobile industry deserves attribution for pioneering the mass-production system as we know it. To this day, assembly lines—albeit more automated ones—make cars for mass consumption.
2. 2. Pharmaceuticals: Many medicine companies use mass-production methods to develop pharmaceuticals in large quantities at lower prices. They source and combine the raw materials for these drugs to develop a finished product in rapid time.
3. 3. Toys: Plenty of toys come from companies that use mass production. Since children are sometimes rough with their toys, this production style likely takes durability into account.

Get the MasterClass Annual Membership for exclusive access to video lessons taught by business luminaries, including Howard Schultz, Chris Voss, Robin Roberts, Sara Blakely, Daniel Pink, Bob Iger, Anna Wintour, and more.