Technological advances helped to speed up the importance of industry and the rate at which it took over economies. Inventions such as the steam engine, for example, made it possible to transport goods over much greater distances than had previously been possible using animal power (such as horse and ox teams). Automatic signals, air brakes, and knuckle couplers on the railroads; the Bessemer and then the open-hearth process in the steel mills; the telephone, electric light, and typewriter. Advancements in technology are enabling manufacturers to streamline production processes, innovate at a faster pace, reduce costs and deliver higher quality products to meet customer demand. Many different factors contributed to the rise of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. The new inventions, access to raw materials, trade routes and partners, social changes, and a stable government all paved the way for Britain to become an industry-driven country. Advancements in manufacturing and production technology enabled the widespread adoption of technological systems such as telegraph and railroad networks, gas and water supply, and sewage systems, which had earlier been concentrated to a few select cities. Rapid advances in the creation of steel, chemicals and electricity helped fuel production, including mass-produced consumer goods and weapons. It became far easier to get around on trains, automobiles and bicycles. At the same time, ideas and news spread via newspapers, the radio and telegraph. The development of trade and the rise of business were among the major causes of the Industrial Revolution. Advances in manufacturing technology have the main benefit of improving quality. Manufacturing processes are less likely to be affected by human error when robotics and automation are heavily involved. Through artificial intelligence, errors will be predicted earlier, improving the quality of outcomes. New technological advances in manufacturing have helped to better meet consumer demand. With the implementation of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), the manufacturing industry became incredibly more efficient. Natural Resources. Another major reason why the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain was that it had an abundant supply of what economists call the three factors of production. These factors of production are land, labor, and capital. Three important technologies can be identified that formed the foundations of the first industrial revolution namely: iron production, steam engine and textiles. The steam engine had been discovered before the industrial revolution and was subsequently improved by Watt and others after 1778.
