Charles Emil Sorensen (1881–1968) was a Danish-American industrial engineer and Ford Motor Company executive, instrumental in advancing mass production.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sorensen immigrated to the U.S. at four. He apprenticed as a patternmaker and worked in foundries before joining Ford in 1905. His ability to translate Henry Ford’s ideas into manufacturing processes made him indispensable. By 1910, he helped implement the moving assembly line, revolutionizing automobile production and making the Model T affordable.
Sorensen oversaw Ford’s expansion, managing production at Highland Park and River Rouge. During World War II, he led the Willow Run Bomber Plant, which produced thousands of B-24 bombers. His expertise in large-scale manufacturing strengthened Ford’s industry dominance.
In 1956, Sorensen published My Forty Years with Ford, a memoir detailing his role in Ford’s operations and modern manufacturing evolution.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Charles E. Sorensen
It isn’t the incompetent who destroy an organization. It is those who have achieved something and want to rest upon their achievements who are forever clogging things up.
—Charles E. Sorensen
Topics: Organization
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