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Manufacturing

MANUFACTURING ple began to develop techniques to produce items for use
and trade. They also began to specialize based on their
One can trace the origins of modern manufacturing man-
skills and resources. With the first era of water-based
agement to the advent of agricultural production, which
exploration, trade, and conflict, new ideas regarding prod-
meant that humans did not constantly have to wander to
uct development eventually emerged, over the course of
find new sources of food. Since that time, people have the centuries, leading to the beginning of the Industrial
been developing better techniques for producing goods to Revolution in the mid-eighteenth century. The early
meet human needs and wants. Since they had additional twentieth century, however, is generally considered to
time available because of more efficient food sources, peo- mark the true beginning of a disciplined effort to study

Flywheel assembly line at the Ford Motor Company’s Highland Park, Michigan, plant ca. 1913. ASSOCIATED PRESS, FORD MOTOR
COMPANY

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION 483