What did the development of replaceable parts facilitate in manufacturing processes?

The development of replaceable parts significantly facilitated efficient mass production in manufacturing processes. This innovation allowed manufacturers to standardize components, meaning that each part of a product could be made identically, regardless of who or where it was manufactured. This standardization not only simplified assembly but also streamlined repairs and maintenance, as parts could easily be swapped out without needing to rebuild the entire item.

With interchangeable parts, the workflow became more efficient, enabling factories to produce larger quantities of goods in a shorter time frame. This approach dramatically reduced the time and labor required for production, making it feasible to scale up manufacturing efforts and lead to lower costs per unit. The overall impact was a transformation in the manufacturing landscape that allowed for the rise of large-scale production systems, which are foundational to modern industrial methods.