For the first blog of this series (excluding the overview blog), I will delve into the history of manufacturing and of the technology associated with it. The rest of the blog series will further examine the individual pros and cons of increased automation in the American manufacturing industry.

 

Beginning of Manufacturing:

In the years prior to the industrial revolution, manufacturing consisted largely of artisans and very small factories hand producing goods. Most people worked at home, save for a few artisans and specialists. Manufacturing was a long, tedious, and expensive process that meant that very few (with the exception of the wealthy) could afford products that were produced outside of the home. Factories that did operate were largely dependent on wind and water for power, making them largely unpredictable and, in the case of water-powered factories, required to be located near a source of moving water.

 

Industrial Revolution:

The industrial revolution saw the advent of the first major manufacturing technologies. The steam engine, invented in 1760, allowed factories to have a reliable source of power that did not require them to be near a source of water or wind. The steam engine also allowed for the advent of advances in transportation, as the engine could be used to power newly-invented steam locomotives as well as ships. This new technology made shipping goods much cheaper and helped further advances in technology by increasing global demand for manufactured goods. Other advances in machinery allowed for more uniformity in manufactured goods. This uniformity meant goods could be made with interchangeable parts, a concept that had been largely unimaginable when goods were produced by local artisans. This uniformity is evident in the case of the American Civil War. The North, with manufacturing capabilities far superior than the South, was able to mass produce war goods (rifles, pistols, cannon, e.t.c.) with interchangeable parts. When Northern armies needed to repair or replace broken weapons, they were able to do so much more easily than their Southern counterparts, who oftentimes fought with whatever hodgepodge of weapons they could obtain. The Union’s superior manufacturing capability is one of the most important reasons that they won the war.

Post-Industrial Manufacturing:

In the years after the “industrial revolution”, manufacturing technology continued to advance. The most important development in the technology came not from a new machine, however, but from a new manufacturing concept- the assembly line. In 1908, Henry Ford became the first to successfully utilize the assembly line on a large scale. Due to his innovation, the Ford Motor Corporation was able to produce roughly 15 million cars in the years between 1908 and 1927. Ford did this by specialization. Whereas before one worker (or group of workers) was responsible for producing large segments of a car, as part of the assembly line they would focus on one menial task, thus rapidly increasing production speed, lowering production costs, and virtually eliminating the need for skilled workers in Ford’s factories. Ford, to his credit, however, paid his employees enough that they too could afford the cars they were manufacturing. Ford’s assembly line system was quickly adopted by nearly all American manufacturing companies. This technology made manufactured goods much cheaper and thus affordable for the average person; who now had a job working in a factory. The advent of cheaper automobiles, aircraft, stoves, refrigerators, and other appliances greatly improved the life of the average citizen. American manufacturing’s ability to churn out a high volume of products while still maintaining quality and interchangeability was a large reason why the Allies won the Second World War- we were simply able to outproduce the Axis powers (Germany, at least initially, arguably had better technology, as evidenced by the V- series rockets and jet propelled planes, but was unable to keep up with the manufacturing demands of fighting a two-front war).

 

Automation:

While the earliest robots used in manufacturing were designed in the 1930’s, the first robot to be used by a major manufacturer was not utilized until the 1960’s. In 1962, General Motors began using the UNIMATE robot in 1962. Robotics was still in its infancy by then, as it was not until the 1980’s that the technology began to truly take hold. In 1981, Takeo Kanade created the first robotic arm with motors in the joints. This technology saw widespread use, much of which we still see in factories today. The brunt of manufacturing today stems from this technology. It is through the invention of such robotics that Japanese corporations rose to global prominence in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Companies like Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Yamaha are all some of the most popular and reliable manufacturers because of their embrace of manufacturing technology. American corporations have tried to keep up with their Japanese counterparts, but many decide to outsource their manufacturing, rather than keep is domestic as the Japanese have done.

Robots working in a factory

 

With increasing advancements in manufacturing technology, many jobs that were previously done by hand are now being done by robots and other machines. While this can reduce costs and help keep corporations competitive in an ever-changing marketplace, there are numerous social costs that must be considered when examining these technological advancements. In this blog post, I will seek to examine the social costs, both positive and negative, that are associated with increased automation in manufacturing technology.

 

Background:

The first example of modern automation in manufacturing is the Ford Motor Company’s usage of the assembly line beginning in 1913. Henry Ford, while not the first to utilize this more efficient system, was the first to use it effectively on a large scale. Prior to the advent of the assembly line in manufacturing, building a car was a long, expensive, and arduous process that resulted in automobile ownership being reserved for only the wealthiest Americans. Once Ford implemented the assembly line, however, production time per car went down from about 12 hours per car to one and a half hours per car. This resulted in a dramatic decline in prices and an increase in affordability, making car ownership much more widespread than it previously had been.

In the decades prior to the Second World War, the Japanese manufacturing industry developed some of the best manufacturing techniques in the world. For example, Japanese companies were among the first to develop micro-switches, protective relays, and accurate electrical timers. These advanced techniques allowed Japanese manufacturing to keep up with the much superior capabilities of American industry for a long period of time over the course of World War II. After the war and subsequent rebuild, these processes allowed the Japanese to dominate the world marketplace in automobile manufacturing and smart technology.

 

Pros:

The pros of modern automation in manufacturing are fairly evident. Nations that embrace changes in technology are able to stay at the forefront of commerce and maintain an edge over their competitors, which will help to ensure that the United States does not lose its position at the top of the global economy.  This can lead to a better quality of life as a result of a higher GDP and a more advanced economy. Production costs will be lower, which will in turn drive down prices and increase the per capita purchasing power of each citizen. With this increase in purchasing power, consumers will spend more money on goods and services. The increase in automation also means that some corporations will elect to keep factories in the United States, as the advanced infrastructure, coupled with the decrease in employees needed per factory, will allow them to have production costs that rival those of factories in the third world. If the United States can keep the bulk of its manufacturing capabilities domestic (whether through automation or other means), we will ensure that we are not dependent on other nations (China) for our military equipment in the event of war.

An abandoned factory

 

 

Cons:

The cons of these technologies are much more nuanced. While some factories may stay in the United States, those that do will no longer need as many employees as they once did, which will lead to massive layoffs and unemployment. These workers, many of whom come from small towns whose only source of employment was a factory that had provided jobs for generations, will not find themselves out of a job. Many of these workers lack higher education or other skills that make a job search easier, so they are forced onto government welfare programs such as unemployment (for many, simply moving to a larger city or other part of the country is not feasible). This presents a large drain on the American taxpayer, as many of these people had previously been taxpaying citizens themselves prior to their terminations. With an increase in unemployment, many small towns will see an increase in crime, gang activity, and drug use, decreasing the quality of life for all citizens. This makes towns that had once been fairly prosperous virtually unrecognizable after only a few generations. The lack of opportunity also is evident in increased rates of single motherhood (as the state assumes the role traditionally taken by the father), which can start a vicious cycle of poverty and crime when the state replaces the nuclear family.

 

What to do:

This is a complex issue, with both sides of the argument presenting very compelling points. I believe that it is important to protect American industry (if only to ensure complete independence from other nations in the event of a war) in a way that safeguards American workers and the American social fabric. I believe that American industrial manufacturing companies should do their utmost to try to stay domestic, ensuring the protection of the American worker while simultaneously advancing the American economy into the 21^st century.