I n 1741 Vaucanson was appointed inspector of silk manufacture. He set about reorganizing the entire industry in France from top to bottom; it was in considerable difficulty at the time due to foreign competition, especially in England and Scotland. Vaucanson introduced far-reaching changes in working methods, in all areas from production to delivery. He improved on existing machines and started using punch cards to automate weaving. At the time, these changes were not well received and due to the hostilit of weavers they were largely ignored. The techniques Vaucanson invented were subsequently perfected by Jacquard the father of modern looms and a remote ancestor (because of the punch cards) of today's computer revolution. Towards the end of his life Vaucanson became a member of the Academie des Sciences. He died in Paris in 1782.