The first assembly operation was performed many thousands of years ago when some stone age man fitted a stone to a wooden handle by means of some crude rope to make the first axe. Manufacturing in ancient times and up until less than two centuries ago was on a custom basis. One could not drive in at the corner service station to get a new wheel if he broke one on his wagon. A new one would have to be made and fitted in place. One of the biggest improvements in manufacturing practice was made just before 1800,when Eli Whitney made some parts for guns which were interchangeable. It was the common thing during this period for one man to make his own tools,make the parts, inspect them, and them assemble them. Today, workmen usually perform very specialized functions. One of these specialized functions in a manufacturing plant is Quality control.