Top management at Escod was looking closely at alternatives that would make the company more competitive in the electronics market. One of the options that presented to the management team was to build a satellite plant in Mexico to take advantage of the low-cost Maquiladora work force. They would like to see a third shift added. The work force at Escod hand assembles a variety of wire harnesses for electric cables. The inmates unreel color coded wires from large spools, individually laying the out on large sheets of plywood that outline the correct assembly pattern, tie the wires into bundles, and finish them into electronic cables.
Inmates perform their jobs using the team concept.
Each team has from 5 to 25 workers, depending upon the size, and complexity of the given product. The team is responsible for the entire production process, including setting up all equipment needed to complete the job order. This facility received a quality control award from IBM being one of 10 feeder plants to deliver 25,000 cables the computer giant with zero defects. They want this place to be a success. And so do we.