Product design and manufacturing methods-learning the historical lesson

The modern industrial world has undergone a multitude of changes since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the middle 18th Century. The authors present an examination of the historical record which shows that modern product design and manufacturing methods are tending towards those employed by the original craft-based expert for whom the `voice of the customer´ was paramount. This hypothesis is justified by examining the relative influences of both the customer and the manufacturing process in the five key historical periods, namely: pre-industrial revolution craft-based industry; the industrial revolution; mass production; the dominance of Japanese methods; and, finally, virtual crafting