The History of Manufacturing

The history of manufacturing can be traced back to the times of the first came man who produced a spear for hunting and war. Since then, manufacturing has come a long way, passing through numerous stages of development.

Manufacturing has always been conducted through the skilled work of a craftsman and in some cases this remains true today. In the early eighteenth century, most component goods were produced by skilled craftsmen. Manufacturing back then was slow and expensive, due to the rigor of production and everything had to be done by hand. However, the emergence of the industrial revolution in the late eighteenth century brought a great change in the manufacturing industries with the invention of three powerful technologies: coal-fired furnaces to convert iron ore to finished metals, the steam engine and steam driven machines. As these technologies increased in number, the demand for iron also increased, and these demands helped turn the iron mills into a major industry.

These technologies led to the production of high capacity industrial machines that could run all day, processing raw materials and producing finished goods. Manufacturing is the bedrock of human and industrial development. It evolved all facets of our development. Manufacturing even led to the development of our modern transportation system, including our electrical and communication systems. There are also great names in the history of manufacturing who have contributed to the manufacturing industry. For example, Henry Ford, Frederick W. Taylor, Eli Whitney, Taichii Ohno and Shigeo Shingo, and all of these great men contributed to the development of manufacturing industries.

Manufacturing has greatly impacted human and industrial development, almost everything around us is the work of manufacturing.