Which production method consolidated workers and machines into one building?

The factory system is characterized by the integration of workers and machines under one roof, which marked a significant shift from previous production methods. This system emerged during the Industrial Revolution and facilitated mass production, as it allowed multiple workers to operate machines that performed specific tasks in a coordinated manner. By concentrating labor and machinery in a single location, the factory system increased efficiency and productivity, enabling the production of goods on a scale that was not possible with earlier methods.

In contrast, the cottage industry involved artisans producing goods in their homes, with each worker managing their own equipment, which led to slower and less uniform production. The guild system consisted of skilled craftsmen organizing into formal associations to set standards for quality and training, but it did not centralize production like factories. Home-based production also relied on individual artisans working independently from their residences, further emphasizing the decentralization that the factory system sought to overcome. Thus, the factory system is correctly identified as the method that consolidated both workers and machines into a single building, revolutionizing the production landscape.