Arny Krueger wrote:


*300* steps to make a OEM quality case.

Since sheet metal/plastic products are a big business where I live, there is
nothing in that article that surprises me in the least. Not one tool I
haven't touched, not one machine I haven't seen, heard, touched, and
smelled, not one operation I haven't done myself from grinding dies to
putting product in cardboard boxes.

What amazes me is for all of those steps, they still sell the cases for
as low as $50.(power supply not included at that price). As near as I can
tell, for instance, they make the cases for Antec, Dell, Gateway, and
probably many of the tower type designs you see from other major OEM
companies.


People don't even realize
how much time and effort goes into things like speakers and computer
cases. Sure, you get the soft-tooled POS junk that's done in 20
steps at the other end, but most of the industry works like this.

There's a lot more than 300 steps in a car door, not counting the work in
the individual components like the switches and motors.

And still, you can buy a (80's technology - acceptable, but not great)
little KIA or Hyundai for $8000 out the door. Yeah, they suck almost
as much as the VW Fox did(what a dreadful car!), but it still is an
amazing amount of parts and work involved.

A whole other realm than Trotsky works at.

I wonder how many steps a typical large manufacturer has for its speakers?
Probably at least 50 if they outsource the drivers and cabinets. If
they make everything, probably on the order of 200+.