American system of manufacturing

The American system of manufacturing, developed by Eli Whitney in 1799, involves semi-skilled labour using machine tools and templates (or jigs) to make standardized, identical, interchangeable parts, manufactured to a tolerance.

Related Topics:
Manufacturing - Eli Whitney - 1799 - Machine tool - Template - Jig - Interchangeable parts - Tolerance

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Since parts are interchangeable, it is also possible to separate manufacture from assembly, and assembly may be carried out by semi-skilled labour on an assembly line - an example of the division of labour.

Related Topics:
Assembly line - Division of labour

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In order to eliminate hand tools, Whitney invented new machines to eliminate all skilled operations - introducing a kind of router to replace the chisel, for example.

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