No negative inferrence should be taken from the above introduction. Component technology is rife in just about any industry these days. Automotive firms/brands share floor pans, other body work, engines, gearboxes and more, while machine tools employ many standardised components, including CNC units, ballscrews, linear guideways, motors and turrets, and all electronic goods draw on global producers of a variety of standard hardware and software components.
Granted, the design of an assembly of standard parts demands expertise and knowledge, of course. But high volume manufacture of standard parts delivers the price competitiveness, high quality and reliability that underpin today’s manufactured goods. Standard parts embody reliable production processes and their performance rests on the accumulated design and application knowledge gained through volume application.
