The History of Industrial Revolutions

I recently updated my company website to explain the term industry 4.0. As I started to write I realized it is important to know where we come from to know where we are going. Where did the term "Industry 4.0" come from? Industry 4.0 alludes to the fourth industrial revolution as the latest era of technological advancements that will soon transform our lives - so let's take an objective look at where this idea comes from by understanding some history first!

The First Industrial Revolution

The first industrial revolution started in the second half of 18th century in Britain when textile production began using mechanized equipment powered by water and steam. Historians seem to disagree as to the exact date of the start of the industrial revolution, but we know this period lasted over a hundred years, and it took generations to fully develop.  Major advancements in steam power, iron production, chemicals, and machining equipment occurred during this time. The industrial revolution brought about a period of immense growth and change, and many companies were founded, and factories were built during this time. One such company is DuPont, which started as a gunpowder mill in Delaware in 1802. Another company that got its start during the industrial revolution is Colgate. In 1820, founder William Colgate built a factory in New Jersey to manufacture starch, a common laundry product at the time. With the first industrial revolution changed production from handcraft to factory.

The Second Industrial Revolution

The late 19th century marked the Second Industrial Revolution, the second period of rapid industrial development. The immense growth in mass production occurred due to the electrification of factories with electric motors and light bulbs and eventually assembly lines. Technological advancements during this period include automobiles, telegraphs, telephones, and the petroleum industry.   This time is associated with the rise of titans in various industries, such as oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Among these icons were Karl Benz and Henry Ford, both of whom revolutionized transportation with their ideas and inventions. In 1886, Benz unveiled his three-wheeled Motor Car, often considered to be the first practical automobile available for production. Meanwhile, Ford introduced his Model T in 1908 and continued to improve upon its design in the following years, introducing assembly line production that greatly increased efficiency and lowered the cost of owning a car for the average person. These men were true pioneers in their field, forever changing how we travel and transport goods. The second industrial revolution ushered in the modern era.

The Third Industrial Revolution.

The Third Industrial Revolution began after World War II and the Great Depression which were both catalysts for technological advancement and innovation in manufacturing processes. This period, also known as the Digital Revolution, marked a shift in manufacturing towards electronics and automation. Factories saw the introduction of program logic controllers, robotics, and computers, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.  The third industrial revolution gave birth to many new management philosophies that helped companies respond more quickly and effectively to changing industries. Some notable examples of this include Total Quality Management, Lean Manufacturing techniques like Just-in-Time (JIT), or 6 sigma process improvement models for reducing costs while increasing productivity at the same time. At last, the modern factory was born, and alongside it a rise of notable technology companies such as Sony and Apple. The Third Industrial Revolution not only revolutionized the manufacturing industry, but it also had a significant impact on society. It paved the way for advancements in communication technology, including the development of the internet and mobile devices.  

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Currently, we are on the brink of a fourth industrial revolution a.k.a Industry 4.0—one that is being driven by technologies that are the integration of physical devices with each other and with digital technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, augmented reality, virtual reality and more to increase efficiency and productivity while reducing costs. One way to think of Industry 4.0 is as the development of a "smart factory." In a smart factory, all of the machines are interconnected and can communicate with each other to optimize production processes in real time. Further adoption of advanced robotics and mass adoption of 3D printing are also important developments that will transform our production processes. Just as the previous industrial revolutions have dramatically transformed society and the economy, this Fourth Industrial Revolution is poised to do the same—and on an even greater scale.

So what does all this mean for us today? Well, only time will tell how exactly Industry 4.0 will impact society. But one thing is certain: those who embrace digital transformation will be well-positioned to thrive in this new era of the industry—where speed, agility, and innovation are key to success.