Which Ford plant opened in 1917 as one of the world’s largest integrated factories?

The Ford River Rouge Complex opened in 1917 as one of the world’s largest integrated factories. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the site was designed to bring many stages of industrial production together in one huge manufacturing complex.

The Rouge received raw materials such as iron ore and coal through its river and shipping connections. Ford developed facilities there for producing steel, glass, power, and automobiles, reducing dependence on outside suppliers.

Architect Albert Kahn designed major parts of the complex, including its famous glass-enclosed production buildings. The Rouge became closely associated with Ford’s vision of vertical integration and large-scale industrial control.

The site is sometimes confused with Ford’s Highland Park Plant, where the moving automobile assembly line became famous in 1913. Highland Park was crucial to Model T production methods, while the Rouge represented a much broader integrated industrial system. The complex remains an important Ford manufacturing site.