And , although our technology may have advanced , the global manufacturing industry has never been one to settle or rest on its laurels .

Now , as the world looks towards the so-called fourth industrial revolution , we explore the foundations that have led towards the current rise of smart manufacturing .

2 nd Industrial Revolution

1 st Industrial Revolution

Towards the end of the Stuarts ’ reign , the first industrial revolution began in Britain , marked by the deployment of new factories and machines powered by water and steam .

Critically , new inventions of the steam engine – the spinning jenny and the telegraph – opened up huge opportunities for manufacturing at a larger scale .

Also known as ‘ The Technological Revolution ’, the world ’ s second industrial revolution started in America and was driven by greater technological advancements , fuelling more efficient manufacturing methods

Electrification and massproduction assembly lines were the two most significant developments of this period , and the combustion engine system , in particular , opened up the manufacturing industry to electricity , gas and oil as new energy sources .

14 November 2022