Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to create a finished product efficiently. It's commonly used in mass production settings where the same item is being produced repeatedly.
The ability to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort; in manufacturing, it often involves optimizing processes to produce more with less resources.
Sequential Production: A method of production where operations on goods are performed in a fixed sequence; this contrasts with custom or bespoke production where each item may require different operations