To assure meeting these quality standards, extensive testing was needed. At first these tests were time-consuming, laborious and expensive. Now all testing is done electronically, directly on the machine while the yarn is being made. Every two centimeters of yarn is tested electronically for 6 or 8 different quality standards at 500 yards per minute. Machine malfunctions, which are often the source of quality problems, are immediately diagnosed electronically.
Quality is higher and costs are lower.
This points to my disagreement with Mr. Sweeney on the way to increase wages in developing countries. He wants to attach conditions to trade agreements that would force other nations to raise wages and improve working conditions. I believe that economies must grow to support wage increases. There must be investment in plant and equipment and education. The reality is that people are poor because their productivity is low.