William S. Knudsen
Encyclopedia
William Signius Knudsen (March 25, 1879 – April 27, 1948) was a leading automotive industry
executive. His experience and success as a key senior manager
in the operations
sides of Ford Motor Company
and later General Motors
led the Franklin Roosevelt Administration
to commission him as a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
to help lead the United States
' war materiel
production efforts for World War II
.
arriving in New York in February 1900.
when the Ford Motor Company
bought it in 1911 for its steel-stamping experience and tooling. Knudsen worked for Ford from 1911 to 1921, a decade that saw the formative development of the modern assembly line
and true mass production
. Working first for the Ford Motor Company
and later for General Motors
, Knudsen became an expert on mass production and a skilled manager. Knudsen was president of the Chevrolet
Division of General Motors
from 1924 to 1937, and was president of General Motors from 1937 to 1940. He was awarded the Vermilye Medal in 1941.
In 1940, President Roosevelt
asked Knudsen to come to Washington to help with war production. In January 1942, Knudsen was commissioned a Lieutenant General
in the U.S. Army, the only civilian ever to join the Army at such a high initial rank. He worked as a consultant and troubleshooter for the War Department. He served in the Army until June 1, 1945.
in 1944 and again in 1945. He was also appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
by the nation of Denmark in 1930 and was promoted Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1946. Knudsen was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
during 1968. Knudsen was the father of Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen who also became a prominent automobile industry executive.
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
executive. His experience and success as a key senior manager
Senior management
Senior management, executive management, or management team is generally a team of individuals at the highest level of organizational management who have the day-to-day responsibilities of managing a company or corporation, they hold specific executive powers conferred onto them with and by...
in the operations
Business operations
Business operations are those ongoing recurring activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders...
sides of Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and later General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
led the Franklin Roosevelt Administration
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to commission him as a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
to help lead the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' war materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
production efforts for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Background
Knudsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. His name was originally Signius Wilhelm Poul Knudsen. He immigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
arriving in New York in February 1900.
Career
Knudsen was working for the John R. Keim Company of Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
when the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
bought it in 1911 for its steel-stamping experience and tooling. Knudsen worked for Ford from 1911 to 1921, a decade that saw the formative development of the modern assembly line
Assembly line
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner using optimally planned logistics to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods...
and true mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
. Working first for the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and later for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, Knudsen became an expert on mass production and a skilled manager. Knudsen was president of the Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Division of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
from 1924 to 1937, and was president of General Motors from 1937 to 1940. He was awarded the Vermilye Medal in 1941.
In 1940, President Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
asked Knudsen to come to Washington to help with war production. In January 1942, Knudsen was commissioned a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the U.S. Army, the only civilian ever to join the Army at such a high initial rank. He worked as a consultant and troubleshooter for the War Department. He served in the Army until June 1, 1945.
Personal life
Knudsen was awarded the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
in 1944 and again in 1945. He was also appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
by the nation of Denmark in 1930 and was promoted Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1946. Knudsen was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
during 1968. Knudsen was the father of Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen who also became a prominent automobile industry executive.
Other sources
- Beasley, Norman. Knudsen: a Biography (New York: Whittlesey House, 1947)
- Knudsen, William S. (Current Biography, 1940:464-466)
- Knudsen, William Signius (American National Biographny, 12:843-844)
- William Signius Knudsen (Encyclopedia of American Business History and Biography: The Automobile Industry, 1920-1980. Pages 265-283)