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From the First Industrial Revolution to Modern Technology

The

History

Of

Industry

Our Motivation

Industry has evolved countless times over history, and it's going to keep going for a long time

From the creation of the steam engine to the innovation of modern cloud computing, industry has gone through 4 major revolutions, along with many smaller innovations to keep up with and produce new technologies.

As we are moving into unprecedented levels of mechanization in our modern society, it only makes sense that we take a look back to see where, how, and why these innovations came about.

Some of the recognizable innovations from past Industrial Revolutions

Steam Engine

The steam engine, developed in the 18th century, was the cornerstone of the First Industrial Revolution. It allowed for consistent power to come into the first factories, creating a consistent source of power needed for the large amount of new machines that would soon be developed.

Assembly Line

The assembly line, designed in 1901, was a revolutionary new way to create large amounts of one thing very quickly, on an easily replicable scale. One of the main developments of the Second Industrial Revolution, it mainly mandated a long line staffed by workers whose jobs were to do one task over and over, churning out thousands of products in the time it used to produce tens.

Lean Manufacturing

A mindset pioneered by Toyota in 1948, it embodied the idea that you shouls only produce “what is needed, when it is needed and in the amount needed”. This mindset was the main product of the Third Industrial Revolution, and reveals a shift in the intentions of factory owners: instead of as many as possible in hopes of saturation, only produce what you need to save on material and worker costs.

The best place to learn more about how our modern industries came to be

Industries This History Touched

Travel and Aerospace

From the development of the steam engine and locomotive to the modern aircraft, the travel and aerospace industries have always been some of the industries affected by advances through each of these revolutions.

Computing Industry

Computing takes a center stage in the Third, and especially Fourth, Industrial Revolutions. The creation of the modern computer, along productions of its components and materials, have been frontrunners in developing new technology to take advantage of lean manufacturing and the increasing amount of business and innovation that happens relative to the Internet and its expansion.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry took center stage in the Second Industrial Revolution with the creation of the assembly line, but has been a large beneficiary of the advances made by innovations since then, leading to a sharp increase in production in cars worldwide.