<P> Mass production is capital intensive and energy intensive, as it uses a high proportion of machinery and energy in relation to workers . It is also usually automated while total expenditure per unit of product is decreased . However, the machinery that is needed to set up a mass production line (such as robots and machine presses) is so expensive that there must be some assurance that the product is to be successful to attain profits . </P> <P> One of the descriptions of mass production is that "the skill is built into the tool", which means that the worker using the tool may not need the skill . For example, in the 19th or early 20th century, this could be expressed as "the craftsmanship is in the workbench itself" (not the training of the worker). Rather than having a skilled worker measure every dimension of each part of the product against the plans or the other parts as it is being formed, there were jigs ready at hand to ensure that the part was made to fit this set - up . It had already been checked that the finished part would be to specifications to fit all the other finished parts--and it would be made more quickly, with no time spent on finishing the parts to fit one another . Later, once computerized control came about (for example, CNC), jigs were obviated, but it remained true that the skill (or knowledge) was built into the tool (or process, or documentation) rather than residing in the worker's head . This is the specialized capital required for mass production; each workbench and set of tools (or each CNC cell, or each fractionating column) is different (fine - tuned to its task). </P> <P> Standardized parts and sizes and factory production techniques were developed in pre-industrial times; however, before the invention of machine tools the manufacture of precision parts, especially metal ones, was very labor - intensive . </P> <P> Crossbows made with bronze parts were produced in China during the Warring States period . The Qin Emperor unified China at least in part by equipping large armies with these weapons, which were equipped with a sophisticated trigger mechanism made of interchangeable parts . Ships of war were produced on a large scale at a moderate cost by the Carthaginians in their excellent harbors, allowing them to efficiently maintain their control of the Mediterranean . The Venetians themselves also produced ships using prefabricated parts and assembly lines many centuries later . The Venetian Arsenal apparently produced nearly one ship every day, in what was effectively the world's first factory which, at its height, employed 16,000 people . Mass production in the publishing industry has been commonplace since the Gutenberg Bible was published using a printing press in the mid-15th century . </P>

Which product was the first to be produced on a mass scale using machines