What is Richard Arkwright's main contribution that he is remembered for?

Richard Arkwright is a key figure in the Industrial Revolution, primarily remembered for revolutionizing how factories were run. Before Arkwright, textile production was a cottage industry, with people working from home. While he did invent the water frame, a machine that used water power to spin cotton, his real innovation was organizing production in a new way. He brought workers and machines together under one roof, creating the first modern factories. This meant production became much more efficient and consistent. He implemented systems for managing workers, controlling quality, and streamlining the manufacturing process. So, while others like James Watt improved steam power, and Arkwright did create a carding machine, his lasting legacy is the efficient factory system he pioneered, which transformed the British economy and society.