Because the factory is so far away from any ancillary engineering facilities it must be virtually self-supporting in its maintenance services. Consequently there is a well equipped engineering shop where, in addition to plant maintenance, new tools are made. Mr. Worth told us that B.A.O. now produces all of its diamond impregnated wheels. The inspection department has been allotted plenty of space and the entire operation of checking the finished lenses has been well broken down. Here again the staff is exclusively female and it is interesting to note how girls who, a short time ago, had never handled a spectacle lens are able to spot the very occasional fault which would probably pass unnoticed by an optician of long experience.
Every lens is checked for accuracy of optical properties as well as visual standards.
Quality control is maintained by the staff who are continually checking the individual operator's standard of inspection. Every week the Kidwelly factory's output goes by road in the familiar B.A.O. van to Watford and the Hatton Garden stockrooms, whence it is distributed to users in Britain and all parts of the world. Before we left Kidwelly we talked with Tom Williams, the personnel officer. Tom is a Welshman who has had long experience of industrial relations overseas. It was soon obvious that he really knows the people who work for B.A.O. at Kidwelly.