“The Philosophy of the Manufacturers” written by Andrew Ure attempts to explain the benefits of manufacturing. Ure makes many assumptions about the nature of manufacturing and the relationship between machine and worker. One assumption that Ure makes is as follows: Ure believes that the chief goal of a factory system is to substitute skilled craft for a more mechanical skill. Ure fails to acknowledge that possibility for machines to replace hand labor and create a demand for skilled labor. From the perspective of the 21st century, we can see how far machines have come. Through artificial intelligence and computerization, manufacturing jobs sometimes require more technical skill in operation of a machine. In this case, the unskilled laborer is put out of work in favor of a skilled worker. There could be a new skilled position where someone must watch over the machine, such as people who work with computers. In this case, industrialization removes monotonous manual labor for someone with more skill and knowledge. In this case, those who lack skills are put out of work in favor of machines.

He also makes an assumption, based on his previous argument, that industrialization will improve conditions for women and children within the workforce. Looking at the industrial revolution, there was an increase in children and women working in factories. The industrial revolution was known for poor working conditions and monotonous labor. He argues that “The grand object therefore of the modern manufacturer is, through the union of capital and science, to reduce the task of his work-people to the exercise of vigilance and dexterity.” But as stated earlier, there are plenty of instances of industrialization creating even more labor that requires dexterity. Ure fails to mention that machines could move one monotonous task to another monotonous task. The increase in poor working conditions could be a result of something else, such as deregulation or lack of workers rights. Ure, however, must address this before making the assumption that industrialization will create better conditions for kids and women. 

Another assumption that Ure makes is that the higher quantity of goods produced from industrialization improves quality of life. Ure writes, “They enable an operative to turn out a greater quantity of work than he could before, – time, labour, and quality of work remaining constant” (1835). Ure assumes that more goods means more for the people. But if the workers aren’t getting paid more for their increased productivity, then the increase in goods is only beneficial to the factory owner. The workers won’t get to see the benefits of industrialization. Given Ure’s background as a factory owner, he may not see this first hand. From his perspective, industrialization allows his factory to produce more than ever before.

Ure focuses his attention on the benefits of the factory in the eyes of the factory owner. Because of this, he makes many assumptions about the effects of industrialization on the worker. Some of these assumptions are too ambiguous to create a sound argument about the benefits of industrialization on society.