February 17, 2026
Architecting the Factory
If you’ve spent any time reading about technology adoption, you’ve probably heard the story of steam and electricity. Edison built the first commercial generating station in 1882. Electric motors could drive factory machinery. But decades later, most factories still looked the same. The punchline usually lands on the timeline: it took 30-40 years for electricity to produce meaningful productivity gains. The lesson, as typically told, is about patience. Transformative technology takes time. Don’t expect instant results.
