Willow Run factory
Definition
The Willow Run factory was an American manufacturing complex located between Ypsilanti and Belleville, Michigan. It was constructed by the Ford Motor Company for the mass production of aircraft, especially the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.
Analogy
Think of Willow Run Factory as a bakery that specializes in making one type of cake (B-24 bombers) on a large scale. Just like this bakery would have all the ingredients, tools, and workers needed to make lots of cakes quickly, Willow Run had everything needed to produce lots of planes efficiently.
Related terms
Assembly Line Production: A manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally planned logistics to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods.
Mass Production: The manufacture of large quantities of standardized products often using assembly lines or automated technology.
Rosie the Riveter: Cultural icon representing American women who worked in factories during World War II, many at places like Willow Run factory.
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