

The late 1940s saw the invention of the first electronic computers, followed by integrated circuits in the 1960s that allowed for device miniaturization. More goods were produced by factories instead of cottage industries, and more jobs were available for people in urban areas. Previously they had been powered by things like waterwheels, which required them to be near a water source. With steam engines running their equipment, factories could be built anywhere. Combined with the other technological innovations of the period, this development enabled the rise of factory dominance. With the invention of the steam engine, factories suddenly became much more prominent. The Industrial Revolution was where automation truly took off and where the manufacturing industry entered the picture. Following that, additional inventions like windmills and the printing press continued the trend. It arguably began as far back as prehistoric times, with the invention of basic tools like wheels and levers. Harder, the engineering manager at Ford in 1946.

But what has automation’s role been in manufacturing, and what is it doing now? History of Automation in Manufacturingīroadly speaking, automation is the application of machines to perform previously human-done or impossible tasks. Others point to how automation will allow for a higher quantity and quality of products.Īs the debate goes on, the manufacturing industry has repeatedly been upheld as an example of how automation could affect the workforce and the economy. As technology continues to develop at a rapid pace, some have suggested that automation will end up replacing a significant portion of the workforce in certain industries, keeping people out of jobs. One of the big conversations in the United States the past few years has been about the impact of automation. The Effects of Automation in Manufacturing
