Nancy Breen
Concerned with Product Quality

Dr. Nancy Breen, lecturer, is the member of the Textiles and Apparel Department to contact when you have questions or concerns about evaluation of textile or sewn product quality. She currently teaches an undergraduate course, Product Quality Assessment, that introduces students to production quality from yarns to finished goods. Students test products to determine quality, standards, and specifications for production using ASTM and AATCC methods. They also conduct visual analyses of garments and evaluate quality systems and statistical methods for quality control in the course.

Dr. Breen has worked with youth programming in textile and apparel outreach for Cornell Cooperative Extension. She is the author of two educational videotapes designed to interest youth in textiles and apparel. The Fabric/Flight Connection presents the history of textiles in flight, discusses fiber chemistry and polymer science, and explores careers in functional apparel and textile science. Championship Material examines the importance of textile properties in sports performance using footage of Olympic and professional athletes. Learn more about these videotapes at www.human.cornell.edu/units/txa/extension/youth/science.cfm

Some questions you might ask Nancy Breen:

• How can ASTM and AATCC test methods and standards enhance my business?
• How do I know what testing I should have run to address specific textile performance questions?
• How do I read specification sheets from my suppliers?