Larry Jaques on Mon, 22 Sep 2014
05:44:13 -0700 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:
On Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:02:39 -0700 (PDT), robobass
wrote:


The question still stands. When do companies design stuff to be overly

complex. What's the real end goal?

It's often not intentional, just a mindset. I used to design motorized displays for a toy company. The bases would show the kinetic aspects of the toys. I would get a proposed design from their engineers, and come in the next day with revisions that would sometimes halve the cost with no loss of performance or reliability. I had no real motive to save them money, I just like simplicity and abhor waste. Most of my suggestions would be shot down just because they were perceived as cutting corners.

I wonder how much of that shooting down was covering for the "We
couldn't charge as much for it, so it would be less profitable" line
of thought.

Feh. If I can simplify the final production, I don't have to tell
the customer who much it actually cost to make.

Absolutely _all_ of us, who either build or repair things, thank those
who simplify their products and/or software.

OTOH, there is the engineering mantra of

"It meets the specs,
it is under cost,
now take this thing
and just get lost!"


--
pyotr filipivich
"With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."