ABSTRACT
The additional losses in production involved by an increase in the proportion of the work that is defective has not yet received adequate study. This may partly be due to the modern idolization of mass production and quantity rather than quality. Certainly the mediaeval guild system offers a telling contrast with its elaborate search for defective goods and their seizure when found, its sealing or hallmarking of goods passing the test, the seven-year apprenticeships, and the setting of essay pieces in craftsmanship. These practices, which have to-day fallen out of use, were part of the organization to produce a well-wrought article. Yet if under defective output is included not merely output that ought to be scrapped or done over again, but also breakages and premature wearing out of tools, i.e. the economy with which work is done, it is clear that even under modern mass production this source of loss cannot be neglected. In fact, when account is taken of the accuracy with which machine parts, structural steel, munitions of war, scientific instruments, etc., have to be finished, it is doubtful whether, on the whole, quality is not more important now than ever before.
