Because of their complexity, most miniature circuit breakers are produced using manual and semiautomatic equipment in Mexico and other low-cost labor markets. By automating the fabrication and assembly process for its circuit breaker, Square D increased quality, lowered costs and kept manufacturing jobs in the United States. This article explains how the company did it.
Square D's QO miniature circuit breaker is the best such device on the market. Available for 30 years, it performs better and offers more features than most competing models. Indeed, the QO has been around so long because it provides more features per dollar of sales. It's not the lowest cost circuit breaker on the market; it's the premium model. The QO breaker is clearly a symbol of the company and the "breaker to buy."