A General Framework of Industrial Revolutions

Illustration by R. Kikuo Johnson, MIT Tech Review.

Industrial Revolution is a process that transforming the producting structre and organization with technological innovations. This process began in 1784 when steam-powered machines in England were involved in production. The discovery of new machines has led to increased productivity in production and hence increased production. The search for new markets and raw materials for increased production has brought with overseas trade between the continents. As a result of the increase of capital accumulation due to increased inter-country trade, there has been an increase in prosperity. (The First Industrial Revoluation)

The Assembly Line, which of Henry Ford integrated to production, had led to mass production. And thus, The Second Industrial Revoluation has begun. In this process, workers do not go near the car. Instead of that, parts of the car come in front of the workers with the assembly line. Henry Ford was influenced by Taylor's Scientific Management when he designed the Assembly Line.  Taylor redesigned the production process so that workers could use their time in the most efficient way. The purpose of the theory is to do the job in easiest and fastest way. 

Illustration by Kristian Hammerstad, MIT Tech Review

The capital accumulation process in every industrial revolution is differentiated within the framework of existing technological tools. Especially with the Third Industrial Revolution, production processes have more integrated with technology. With the automation of production, differentiated comsuption habits have started to be meet more easily and quickly. The production processes were dispersed in different geographical regions during this period. As a result of this process, also known as Post-Fordism, production centers have dispersed to the East. 

The Western countries, who cannot compete with Eastern countries whose production cost is low due to overpopulation, have entered new quests to reduce their production costs. We can say the term "Industry 4.0", which was first used at Hannover in 2011, is a result of this search. In general, Industry 4.0 can be described as: "Industry 4.0 or 4 Industrial Revolution is a collective term that includes many modern automation systems, data exchanges and production technologies. This revolution is a collection of internet of things, internet, internet services and cyber-physical systems."

                      Illustration by Delcan & Company, MIT Tech Review

With the Fourth Industrial Revoluation enables manufacturing in dark factories without humans. We, still, are in the Industry 4.0 which will lead an increase in unemployment in a near future. While companies make production with robotic technologies, the manufacture is accelared and production costs are tend to decrease.

Emel

References

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