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From the arsenal to the factory: How does the American manufacturing system affect the global economy?
The American manufacturing system is a set of manufacturing methods developed in the 19th century with two notable characteristics: the extensive use of interchangeable parts and the mechanization of production. The system was originally called "ordnance practice" because it was first developed in several ordnance factories in the United States, especially in Springfield, Massachusetts and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. These arsenals mainly provide equipment for the US military, and in addition, some private arsenals are also involved. While the origin of the name "American System" is not particularly American, it is strongly associated with the American companies that first successfully implemented the system in the 19th century.
"The use of machinery, wherever it may be used as a substitute for manual labour, is universal and voluntary."
By the 1850s, the "American system" stood in stark contrast to the British factory system. After decades of technological evolution, this manufacturing concept has been widely adopted around the world, and today's manufacturing industry has become globalized in both methods and scope, and the original differences almost no longer exist.
The heart of the American system is the use of machine tools and fixtures to produce standardized, identical, interchangeable parts that are manufactured to such controlled tolerances that they can be assembled quickly and easily with little need for adjustment. Due to the interchangeability of parts, production, assembly and repair can be effectively separated, which is an excellent example of division of labor. This allows all three functions to be performed by semi-skilled workers: production in smaller factories along the supply chain, assembly in major factories, and repairs in small specialty shops or on-site. The end result is that more high-quality products can be manufactured more cheaply, and those products can last longer because they are cheaper to repair.
"By replacing hand tools with specialized machinery, interchangeability of parts is finally possible."
These innovations mainly stem from the development of new machine tools and fixtures used in fiber machinery production. Joseph Whitworth, a British machine tool maker, inspected American manufacturers as the British commissioner for the New York International Exposition and published an influential report that identified the unique features of American manufacturing. Whitworth's observations highlighted the characteristics of the labor market and its desire for the use of machinery, which directly contributed to the prosperity of the American economy.
In the history of American manufacturing, French general Jean-Baptiste Griboire first proposed in the late 18th century that if the manufacturing process is designed as a whole with interchangeable parts, both production speed and economy can be improved. Get promoted. However, both in design and implementation, the manufacture of non-standard, one-of-a-kind parts under the British factory system still required skilled craftsmen.
"This system makes it easier to carry out on-site repairs during combat."
In fact, in 1803, Marc Isambard Brunel first worked with Henry Maudsley and Simon Goodrich to achieve the first large-scale interchange for the British Royal Navy. Parts production. Although this measure was not widely used in the general manufacturing industry in the UK at that time, its subsequent successful practice in the United States led to its rapid adoption and development into the American manufacturing system.
Thus, in the mid-19th century, the American manufacturing system historically not only impacted the U.S. economy, but also changed the way manufacturing was done around the world. Especially as product scale expands and division of labor is further optimized, the manufacturing process becomes more efficient. The widespread participation of women and children also marks an important shift in the labor market, especially in the production of furniture and clothing.
With the advancement of production technology, the system inevitably ushered in a new era. The concept of mass production became a reality when Henry Ford put interchangeable parts on a production line in 1913. This made cars no longer a luxury but a product that the middle class could afford, driving another leap forward in the U.S. economy.
Finally, we can't help but ask, can the evolution of this manufacturing system serve as a guide for our future innovation and economic development?