How does the speed-up affect Lyddie? How does it affect the other girls?

At first, Lyddie thrives on the speed-up. She has quickly become one of the factory's top-producing girls, so Lyddie has always been able to handle the big demand and long hours being put on the girls. In fact, Lyddie ends up working multiple machines, because she is that good at her job.  

Not all of the girls are like Lyddie, though, so as the factory increases demands on production, many of the girls get injured or quit. Some sign the petition for better working conditions and they are blacklisted. However well that Lyddie first adjusts to the speed-up, though, she is still human. She becomes fatigued like the rest of the girls, and Lyddie eventually makes a mistake and injures her hand.