The labor practices of the fast food industry
have their origins in the assembly line
systems adopted by American manufacturers
in the early twentieth century. Business
historian Alfred D. Chandler has argued that
a high rate of “throughput" was the most
important aspect of these mass production
systems. A factory's throughput is the speed
and volume of its flow - a much more crucial
measurement, according to Chandler, than
the number of workers it employs or the
value of its machinery. With innovative
technology and the proper organization, a
small number of workers can produce an
Which three reasons does Schlosser give to
support his claim that the fast-food industry
resembles the manufacturing business? Check
the box next to each correct answer.
0 Both industries promote "throughput."
O Both industries value teenage workers
Both industries stress consistency and
standardization.
Workers are interchangeable.
McDonald's was based on the idea of
"throughput" since its business began.