Operations have always existed in some form since ancient times. Over the years, operations have changed dramatically, at least in the manufacturing industry, which has gone through three main phases: craft production, mass production, and the modern era. Artisanal production involved highly skilled workers producing in small quantities using simple tools with the aim of meeting the specific needs of the individual customer. In the artisanal production system, workers usually work in their homes or in small workshops and at that time there was little competition due to small-scale production. Although operations have evolved greatly since that period, some industries still rely on craftsmanship, as in the making of furniture or clocks. In the 18th century, manufacturing changed forever with the many innovations of the time, but most significantly with the arrival of the invented steam engine. by James Watt in 1765. Modern manufacturing was at its beginning in this first industrial revolution with machine power replacing human and animal labor. Mass production really began in many industries in the 19th century and involved the production of goods in large volumes but less variety. This production method involved customers buying what they produce instead of meeting customers' individual needs. This mass production system was actually launched with the American system which was the first operational innovation at the time. The American manufacturing system was a concept involving interchangeable parts and extensive use of mechanization in production created by Eli Whitney in 1790s America. By 1851 this system of production had spread to many other countries, notably the United Kingdom in the tex...... middle of paper ......stomers with innovative goods. During this evolution, the way employees work has also changed. Although scientific management has contributed enormously, this approach is used less and less in companies today due to its lack of consideration for workers. Today, companies have adopted more modern and human-focused approaches such as total quality management or Theory Z principles. In various ways, all the theories and approaches discussed in this document attempt to achieve an end result; that is, combining high volumes and low costs used in mass production with product customization, high levels of innovation and high levels of quality linked to artisanal production. So what about the next era? Technology seems to be the only domain that will continue to expand helping companies face new challenges and consistently offering customers innovation and quality.