Cottage industries and urban guilds.
Prior to the industrialization of labor, the first unleashing of human productive powers occurred when production was organized in these ways. Cottage industries happened in rural areas, especially in regard to textiles. Work would be put out to many persons to do in their homes (or "cottages" -- thus called "cottage industry"). In the cities, organized guilds of skilled craftsmen produced various goods and trained artisans in their craft. Often these guilds would have special endorsement from a ruler to be the producers of those products.