#318 – Inside Our Industry – What 100 Years of Manufacturing Teaches Us About Navigating Disruption Today

Adaptability is key to continued success for manufacturers. We love the line in the following article that says, “For all the ways that technology has changed manufacturing over the decades, people remain at its center.”

What 100 Years of Manufacturing Teaches Us About Navigating Disruption Today

As technology continues to advance at an exponential rate, human-focused adaptation will remain a core pillar of industry success.

Angela Wordell, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations and Supply Chain Officer at Graco, Jul 17, 2026

America’s manufacturing history is a story of practical innovation—ideas born from how we can work or live better, often sparked by frustration or ongoing challenges.

A century ago, one such idea came to inventor Russell Gray and took shape in a frigid Minneapolis garage. Frustrated by grease guns that failed in freezing temperatures, Gray invented an air-powered grease gun that proved to be safer and more dependable for servicing cars. This invention laid the foundation for what would later become a global industrial technology company, Graco Inc.

Engineering ingenuity remains just as vital to manufacturing today as it did 100 years ago, but adaptability has proven to be equally important. The past century has seen economic volatility, global conflicts, technological changes and more. History is more than a record of progress. It is a practical guide for the future where maintaining adaptability without losing sight of customer needs or core purpose will be just as crucial.

Evolving Across the Eras

For any manufacturer operating in the early 20th century, survival required resilience through some of the most disruptive moments in America’s history.

The Great Depression tested companies across every sector. Those that not only survived but grew during this period focused on specialized capabilities, operational discipline and clearly defined market needs.

During World War II, many manufacturers rapidly retooled production to support the war effort, supplying critical equipment and materials to Allied forces. This period highlighted a defining characteristic: the industry’s ability to pivot at scale, under pressure.

Over the decades that followed, the pioneering design spirit—such as the ingenuity that sparked a company’s founding in a cold Minnesota garage in 1929—remained critical for continued innovation. Across each era, from post-war expansion to today’s digital transformation, the manufacturers that succeed are those that continuously evolve while grounding their work in fundamental manufacturing excellence.

Why Speed and Adaptability Matter More Going Forward

Today, that need for adaptation is quickly intensifying. Greater digitalization, connectivity and increased innovation expectations, even in traditional manufacturing, are reshaping how manufacturers respond to demand.

In this era of constant disruption, long product development timelines are no longer viable. The ability to pivot, without compromising quality or operational discipline, is essential for success.

At the same time, adaptability should not be mistaken for reacting to every short-term shift. A more deliberate approach is needed, focused on long-term strategy rather than short-term pressure.

Across the industry, leading companies are emphasizing a customer-centric focus, prioritizing how customer needs are changing and translating those insights into practical innovation. This balance of speed and stability is essential for manufacturers to move quickly but always with purpose.

AI As an Enabler of Smart Manufacturing

Conversations about AI often focus on workforce disruption. Instead, they should focus on what AI actually does, enhancing how people work and improving operations.

AI should be viewed through the lens of how it can amplify people and support a business. Applications such as connected equipment, advanced controls and improved diagnostics are helping manufacturers reduce downtime, improve consistency and simplify maintenance.

For all the ways that technology has changed manufacturing over the decades, people remain at its center. And like every technology that came before it, AI will deliver the greatest value in manufacturing when it supports people, strengthens operational fundamentals and addresses customer needs.

A Century of Perspective

Manufacturers face significant uncertainty today but understanding how we got to this moment reveals a path forward.

For manufacturers that have endured for more than a century, success has not come from reacting to headlines or chasing short-term gains. It has come from staying close to customers, solving their problems and adapting with discipline.

As the industry approaches its next chapter, shaped by AI and automation, the core principles remain unchanged. Technology may evolve, but manufacturers that balance new innovations with fundamental knowledge will be successful today and in the future.

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