A History of Industrial Revolutions

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is underway, making it the perfect time to take a look at the history of industrial revolutions.

From 1760-1830, the world experienced its first Industrial Revolution - also known as Industry 1.0. During this time, machines and tools began replacing human and animal labor. Furthermore, Industry 1.0 introduced machines driven by steam and internal combustion engines.

40 years later, the world experienced its second Industrial Revolution - changing the way of life until 1914. Industry 2.0 primarily focused on improving mass production. In this period, many began using assembly lines to increase efficiency and productivity, and shipping was made easier by the use of telegraph lines and railways. Additionally, Industry 2.0 birthed many new materials still used today - such as stainless steel and plastics.

From 1950-2002, the world underwent digitalization as a result of the Third Industrial Revolution. What did that look like? A rise in telecommunications, computers, and nuclear power, as well as widespread factory automation using robotics and PLCs. Electronics and IT were also integrated into manufacturing procedures.

Since 2011, we have been under The Fourth Industrial Revolution, and it has a lot to offer. To find out what you can expect from Industry 4.0, check out the infographic below:

Infographic Source: https://partsolutions.com/industry-4-0/