Cinematic Meditation
ENGR3000 Modern Technology, Home work for Week 2
Modern Times: Charlie Chaplin
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course Title
Date
Charlie Chaplin modern times film
Film context, actors, and activities
The setting of this film
is in an antique car manufacturing industry. The actors include a supervisor,
chief engineer, and factory workers. The chief engineer instructs the
supervisor to start the production engine, which involves a fast-moving
conveyer belt. Several workers are engaged in stationary workstations crafting
different car parts. Simple tools like the chisel and harmer are used. one
worker is screwing nuts; he loses concentration and falls into the belt through
the gears. His colleagues alert the supervisor to stop the machine. The
supervisor reverses the engine, and he manages to get out.
How cars were made before the assembly line
Before the assembly
line, most of the handwork was manually done. It required many workers, each
focusing on crafting different parts using simple tools in a stationary
workstation. After the crafting, all components were assembled to finalize the
end product. The process looks long, and a single car’s production timeline
could be quite lengthier and laborious.
How to make car manufacturing more efficient
Efficiency in car
manufacturing requires automation. Not only does automation increase
productivity, it also eliminates human errors that slow down the production
process. Additionally, the concept of using interchangeable parts makes the car
manufacturing process efficient. Semi-finished products are moved from one
workstation to another as interchangeable parts are added sequentially until
the final product assembly is formed. This way, a complete product is assembled
quicker with less effort than carrying parts to stationary workstations for
assembly.
Role, advantages, and drawbacks of working in teams
Teams enhance
collaboration through differentiation and specialization. In the film, the
process looks quite easy and professional because of the supervisors and the
workers’ collaborative efforts. However, a single mistake could cost the whole
process. Charlie Chaplin’s mistake halts the process as others tend to wait
before commencing. This slows down production and can easily lead to faulty
products, therefore jeopardizing a company’s reputation.
Reference
Chaplin, C. (Director). (1936). Factory Scene-Modern times. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n9ESFJTnHs