Introduction to Technology

Unit 5: Manufacturing Technologies

WebQuests

The History of Modern Manufacturing

Introduction
The Industrial Revolution brought about dramatic change in our society. The innovative idea of interchangeable parts, and the harnessing of steam power for practical use in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, fueled the growth of factories. Tools and household items, which were formerly made by hand by skilled craftsmen, could now be mass-produced by machines operated by unskilled workers.

Life changed for many. The 19th century (1800s) saw the development of other energy resources. Coal, oil, and electricity became key components in manufacturing. These new energy resources allowed manufacturers to further automate factories. With these new energy resources came new technologies that made manufacturing more efficient.

One technology that made manufacturing more efficient was the assembly line. The assembly line increased the pace of production. The pace of manufacturing was so fast that it could only be done in large factories that could house the large machines that were needed. These large factories brought with them a new discipline for factory managers. Managers began to require set hours for their workers. This, in turn, led to labor unions.

Task
Your job in this WebQuest is to learn about the history of manufacturing since the Industrial Revolution began in the eighteenth century.

Process
Read through the following questions. Then research the Internet sites that are listed after them. As you explore each site, look for answers to the questions. Keep a record of the sites where you find answers.

Questions about the History of Manufacturing
1. Eli Whitney is known for his 1793 invention of the cotton gin, which mechanized the processing of cotton and revolutionized agriculture. What is the other invention for which he is known? What was its impact?

2. How did Eli Whitney's idea about interchangeable parts help advance the Industrial Revolution?

3. What other inventions and inventors were influential in the Industrial Revolution?

4. What are the principles of "scientific management" developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor?

5. What innovation did Henry Ford bring to manufacturing?

6. Describe the manufacturing process. What happens to materials that are used to manufacture goods?

7. In the 1970s, the Japanese created a more efficient approach to manufacturing. What did they do that was new and innovative?

8. What is just-in-time manufacturing and where did it start?

Resources
Look at the Web sites given here to find the information that will enable you to answer questions about the history of manufacturing.

Eli Whitney Read this short biography to learn about the father of American technology.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/whitney_hi.html

Interchangeable Parts Read this fascinating account of a meeting Eli Whitney had with government officials who were interested in purchasing muskets from him.
http://www.ctheritage.org/encyclopedia/ct1763_1818/whitney.htm

The Industrial Revolution Read this Web page to learn about the Industrial Revolution. Find links to sites that offer information about key players and the things that led to the Industrial Revolution.
http://library.thinkquest.org/4132/info.htm

Frederick Taylor Read this short biography about one of the key figures of the Industrial Revolution.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/taylor_hi.html

Scientific Management Frederick Taylor wrote a book titled The Principles of Scientific Management. At this site you can read about his work and the thinking behind it.
http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/scientific/

Henry Ford This site offers a short biography of Henry Ford. Visit this site to learn more about his contributions to the manufacturing process.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dt13as.html

What's Up in Factories You can find four videos that show the different stages of the manufacturing process.
http://www.aptv.org/Factories/viewprogram.asp?ENID=3

Supply Chain Management This site gives a description of Supply Chain management. It gives a history of how this style of management evolved, as well as a critique of its performance.
http://www.nsf.gov/about/history/nsf0050/manufacturing/supply.htm

Lean Manufacturing Strategy The Lean Manufacturing Strategy has a long history. This site covers the history of this strategy as well as its modern applications.
http://www.strategosinc.com/just_in_time.htm

Conclusion
In the process of completing this WebQuest, you have become informed about modern manufacturing and the steps that led to it. You have also developed research skills as you explored the Web sites given. You have identified the relevant information to answer the given questions. Finally, you have thought out a position on the benefits of modern manufacturing and the negative impact some of the steps encountered.

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