--- title: "Historical development of industrial engineering" subject: "Industrial Engineering and Management" chapter: 1 key: "semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management:historical-development-industrial-engineering" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/historical-development-industrial-engineering site: BCT Engineering --- # Historical development of industrial engineering Industrial Engineering and Management · Chapter 1: Introduction to Industrial Engineering and Management - Asked in: year not given, 6 marks - Video: [History of Industrial Engineering -Introduction to Industrial Engineering - Industrial Engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GHcGkm4SOQ) — Ekeeda - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/historical-development-industrial-engineering - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/chapter-1 ## Question Describe the historical development of industrial engineering and management, naming the main contributors and their contributions. ## Short answer Industrial engineering evolved from division of labour (Smith, Babbage) and scientific management (Taylor’s time study, Gilbreths’ motion study, Gantt chart). Fayol defined management functions, Ford introduced assembly lines, Mayo revealed human factors, and later developments include quality control, operations research, and lean production. ## Answer **Industrial engineering (IE)** is the branch of engineering concerned with the design, improvement and installation of integrated systems of men, materials, equipment and energy. Its growth followed the growth of factories. #### Early period - **Industrial Revolution (18th century):** Machines and the factory system replaced craft production. Adam Smith described division of labour (1776) and Eli Whitney introduced interchangeable parts. - **Charles Babbage (1832):** studied the economics of machinery and the division of work. #### Scientific management - **F. W. Taylor (1856-1915):** the "father of scientific management". He introduced time study, standard times, functional foremanship and the differential piece-rate system, and gave four principles: scientific method for each task, scientific selection and training of workers, cooperation between management and workers, and equal division of work and responsibility. - **Frank and Lillian Gilbreth:** motion study, therbligs (basic motions) and the process chart. - **Henry L. Gantt:** the Gantt chart for scheduling and a task-and-bonus wage system. - **Harrington Emerson:** twelve principles of efficiency. #### Administrative and mass production period - **Henri Fayol:** five functions of management (planning, organising, commanding, coordinating, controlling) and fourteen principles of management. - **Henry Ford (1913):** moving assembly line and standardisation. #### Later developments - **Hawthorne studies (Elton Mayo, 1924-32):** showed the importance of human and social factors. - **Shewhart, Deming, Juran:** statistical quality control and later quality management. - **World War II:** operations research, linear programming and simulation. - **After 1950:** computers, MRP, JIT/Toyota production system, TQM, and today automation and information systems. | Period | Main idea | Key person | |---|---|---| | 1776-1880 | Division of labour, machines | Smith, Babbage | | 1880-1920 | Scientific management | Taylor, Gilbreths, Gantt | | 1913 | Mass production | Ford | | 1924-32 | Human relations | Mayo | | 1940s onward | OR, quality, computers, JIT | Shewhart, Deming, Ohno | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Who is called the father of scientific management, known for time study and the differential piece-rate system? A. Henri Fayol B. F. W. Taylor C. Henry Gantt D. Elton Mayo Answer: B. F. W. Taylor introduced time study, standard times, functional foremanship and the differential piece-rate system. (Key point: Father of scientific management) 2. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth are best known for which contribution? A. Moving assembly line B. Five functions of management C. Motion study and therbligs D. Statistical quality control Answer: C. The Gilbreths developed motion study, therbligs (basic motions) and the process chart. (Key point: Gilbreths' contribution) 3. Which pairing of person and contribution is correct? A. Fayol - moving assembly line B. Ford - five functions of management C. Gantt - Hawthorne studies D. Fayol - five functions and fourteen principles of management Answer: D. Fayol gave five functions of management and fourteen principles; Ford introduced the moving assembly line in 1913. (Key point: Fayol vs Ford) 4. What did the Hawthorne studies (Elton Mayo, 1924-32) show? A. Importance of human and social factors in work B. Best method of statistical sampling C. Time-cost trade-off in projects D. Benefits of interchangeable parts Answer: A. The studies showed that human and social factors strongly affect productivity, starting the human relations period. 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