Henry Ford, born in 1863, was the first of six children born to William and Mary Ford.  He was born near Dearborn Michigan, just west of Detroit and grew up on a prosperous family farm.  He enjoyed mechanical things and disliked farm work.  By 1879 Ford left home to work as an apprentice machinist in Detroit.  He worked a variety of jobs, eventually landing an engineer position with the Edison Illuminating Company.  His heart was in industrial pursuits and his promotion to Chief Engineer in 1893 gave him the opportunity to experiment on internal combustion engines.  Ford was inspired by Thomas Edison and Edison blessed Ford’s pursuit of an efficient gas-powered car.

 

            The Ford Motor Company was incorporated in 1903 after Ford failed at two other attempts to start and automobile company.  Ford was vice-president and chief engineer of this start up car company that produced several cars a day.  But inside Ford had a dream to produce a reliable automobile that every man could afford, not just the rich.  That dream brought about his idea to perfect his design and the manufacturing process. 

 

            Ford’s dream took shape in 1908 when he introduced the Model T, a revolutionary vehicle of it’s time.  It was efficient and easy to operate, making it a huge success.  To meet the demand a new factory was built in 1910 in Highland Park, Michigan.  It was here that Ford combined precision manufacturing, standardized and interchangeable parts, and a continuous moving assembly line.  This new method of manufacturing revolutionized automobile production and gave America’s Industrial Revolution a powerful new tool.  By 1914 the world’s first automatic conveyor belt could produce a car every 93 minutes.

 

            Ford is also credited for inventing the dealer-franchise system to sell and service cars.  By 1912 there were 7,000 Ford dealers across the country.  Ford encouraged the opening of gas stations nationwide to fuel his cars and campaigned for better roads which eventually led to an interstate-highway across the nation.  He also instituted higher wages for workers understanding that workers who were paid well, would work harder and buy his affordable cars.  By 1918 Ford Motor Company was the largest in America.  Henry Ford’s drive to create a mass market for cars not only made him a wealthy man, but it actually helped create the American Middle class. 

 

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.  Proverbs 24:3 and 4

 

CATCH THE DREAM

Henry Ford had great vision to see all the aspects of accomplishing his goals.  He used his time wisely and considered others in his planning.  Evaluate your goals and consider your time spent in planning.  Are you seeing your dreams from all sides?  Does your vision affect others?