Established during the Middle Ages, guilds were associations of skilled artisans designed to institute quality standards, establish training programs, and set prices in industries such as glassblowing or masonry. What most likely happened to the guild system following industrialization?

In terms of machine-oriented industrialization, the guild system gradually lost its prominence throughout Western Europe. This was due to the development of machines that made the process of producing goods more efficient, as the rate of production increased and the amount of time and money needed to make these goods decreased. As such, the need for skilled artisans and craftsmen significantly dropped, with unskilled laborers being able to replace them in factories.