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From Art to Science in Manufacturing: The Evolution of Technological Knowledge

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  • Bohn, Roger E.

Abstract

Making goods evolved over several centuries from craft production to complex and highly automated manufacturing processes. A companion paper by R. Jaikumar documents the transformation of firearms manufacture through six distinct epochs, each accompanied by radical changes in the nature of work. These shifts were enabled by corresponding changes in technological knowledge. This paper models knowledge about manufacturing methods as a directed graph of cause–effect relationships. Increasing knowledge corresponds to more numerous variables (nodes) and relationships (arcs). The more dense the graph, the more variables can be monitored and controlled, with greater precision. This enables higher production speeds, tighter tolerances, and higher quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Bohn, Roger E., 2005. "From Art to Science in Manufacturing: The Evolution of Technological Knowledge," Foundations and Trends(R) in Technology, Information and Operations Management, now publishers, vol. 1(2), pages 1-82, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:now:fnttom:0200000002
    DOI: 10.1561/0200000002
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    Cited by:

    1. Bonnín Roca, Jaime & Vaishnav, Parth & Morgan, Granger M. & Fuchs, Erica & Mendonça, Joana, 2021. "Technology Forgiveness: Why emerging technologies differ in their resilience to institutional instability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Meghna Mukherjee & Konrad Posch & Santiago J. Molina & Ken Taymor & Ann Keller, 2023. "Comparing regulatory processes in genome editing and autonomous vehicles: How institutional environments shape sociotechnical imaginaries," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 40(3), pages 433-457, May.
    3. Diwas Singh KC & Bradley R. Staats, 2012. "Accumulating a Portfolio of Experience: The Effect of Focal and Related Experience on Surgeon Performance," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 618-633, October.
    4. Jonathan R. Clark & Robert S. Huckman & Bradley R. Staats, 2013. "Learning from Customers: Individual and Organizational Effects in Outsourced Radiological Services," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(5), pages 1539-1557, October.
    5. John V. Gray & Enno Siemsen & Gurneeta Vasudeva, 2015. "Colocation Still Matters: Conformance Quality and the Interdependence of R&D and Manufacturing in the Pharmaceutical Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 61(11), pages 2760-2781, November.
    6. Bonnin Roca, Jaime & O'Sullivan, Eoin, 2020. "Seeking coherence between barriers to manufacturing technology adoption and innovation policy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    7. Funk, Patrick & Davis, Alex & Vaishnav, Parth & Dewitt, Barry & Fuchs, Erica, 2020. "Individual inconsistency and aggregate rationality: Overcoming inconsistencies in expert judgment at the technical frontier," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Bonnín Roca, Jaime & Vaishnav, Parth & Morgan, M.Granger & Mendonça, Joana & Fuchs, Erica, 2017. "When risks cannot be seen: Regulating uncertainty in emerging technologies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 1215-1233.
    9. Diwas KC & Bradley R. Staats & Francesca Gino, 2013. "Learning from My Success and from Others' Failure: Evidence from Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(11), pages 2435-2449, November.
    10. Bradley R. Staats & Francesca Gino, 2012. "Specialization and Variety in Repetitive Tasks: Evidence from a Japanese Bank," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(6), pages 1141-1159, June.
    11. Bradley R. Staats & Hengchen Dai & David Hofmann & Katherine L. Milkman, 2017. "Motivating Process Compliance Through Individual Electronic Monitoring: An Empirical Examination of Hand Hygiene in Healthcare," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(5), pages 1563-1585, May.
    12. Erik Brynjolfsson & Kristina McElheran, 2016. "Data in Action: Data-Driven Decision Making in U.S. Manufacturing," Working Papers 16-06, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.

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