This final location is a very modern and efficient plant which allowed for production levels never before seen in Southern Italy.

Most of its capacity additions have been to replace older, less efficient plants.

Even though the company had brought efficient new plants on line, he said, "we'd never trained the people right."

But critics contend America's overall advantage comes from a cheaper dollar, not more efficient plants.

As demand increases, the next most efficient plants are brought online and so on.

But some of the most efficient plants they operate have been built in Mexico.

That number began to decline during the 1960s as companies closed in favour of newer, more efficient plants elsewhere.

The directive will lead to a drive for innovation and thus encourage more efficient plant.

Such a step would give it a greater customer base and some efficient generating plants from which to draw power.

"And there is something to be said for larger plants' being more efficient environmentally."