On re-assessing this factory we came to the same conclusion as in the previous factories-that there did not seem to be the same rate in the production processes as we anticipate in our factories at home.
Factory (iv)
The fourth factory had only been opened about four months but the equipment was all new and very modern. The company had installed, and were continuing to install, a new Japanese dyeing, twisting and crimping plant and the circular knitting machines were all of the fancy pattern variety, being Japanese, German and Supreme machines.
At the present moment one man works two knitting machines on a three shift basis, six days per week.
The labour is still being trained and at the moment the company has 48 circular machines and the management are so confident for the future that they are investing a further 2 million U.S.A. dollars in plant and they are convinced that in 2/3 months time they will be in a strong economic position in this section of the industry. They anticipate that they will be paying about 48 U.S.A. dollars per month for skilled workers. They have not yet made any decision in respect of rates of pay for machining, crimping or other ancilliary operations which would be undertaken by female labour.
Factory (v)
The last factory we visited in Taiwan was a large modern one that seemed to us to have a continental approach. The building of this factory was com- menced in 1964, standing in 15 acres of ground, and was completed in 1966.
Before we walked round the factory we were given a slide show by the management showing, by means of coloured slides, the various operations and building programmes of the company. We were most impressed by the approach made by this company to ensure that the quality control was high and the productions made maintain a very high standard. The knitting plant of circular machines was very well laid out, plenty of space and good service was given to the knitters in respect of yarn and the room was exceptionally clean.
This factory works 7 days per week, the women working on knitting machines, each woman responsible for two machines, working three shifts on a continuous basis. In the knitting room where the female knitters were employed there was one girl on each shift who was termed the leader and had the respon- sibility of seeing that each machine was kept running, needles replaced and examined the fabric being knitted.
The tempo of performance seemed high in the knitting and winding rooms and the girls were paid 30% extra for working nights. There was one mechanic for each shift.
The average wage for a six day 48 hour week, without any extras for night working, for both men and women, was about 60 U.S.A. dollars per month. The knitters are paid on a time rate basis by the sewing machinists who work a 48 hour week are paid on piece rates.
This was the first company we visited in the Far East to use Work Study as a method for establishing piece rates in the textile industry.
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