In general, however, commentators placed great emphasis on the benefits of standardized production for product quality. “US auto manufacturing is distinguished by standardized production techniques” observed one journalist, continuing, “Europeans often think this results from a ‘quantity technique,’ but in fact it is all about quality control.”42 There were in fact real advancements in that area during the interwar years. Modern quality control techniques were invented in the 1930s by A. Shewhart, who, while working for AT&T, developed the first systematic manufacturing product inspection regime, employing statistical sampling of product characteristics to ensure that basic design parameters were being met (Busch 2011, pp. 126– 29). The ultimate benefit of standardized production was supposed to be the improved quality ofered by standardized products as well as cost savings to the consumer.
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