How did Adam Smith explain the benefits of the division of labour?

In his seminal work, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776), Adam Smith identified the division of labour as a fundamental driver of economic progress and efficiency.12

Smith explained that by breaking down a complex production process into a series of simple, repetitive tasks, workers could achieve significantly higher levels of productivity than if each individual attempted to complete the entire process alone. He famously illustrated this concept using the example of a pin factory, where the manufacturing process was divided into approximately 18 distinct operations.23

Smith noted that while a single, unspecialized worker might struggle to produce even one pin per day, the rational organization of these tasks allowed a factory to produce thousands of pins in the same timeframe. By eliminating unnecessary motion and allowing workers to focus on specific functions, this system provided a cheaper and more efficient method for producing goods, ultimately serving as a cornerstone of modern capitalism.312