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Aneirin -> RE: The tectonic plates aren't the only things shifting - Volvos are now Chinese (3/30/2010 6:01:25 AM)
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The West as I see it particularly Britain has moved from an industrial society to a get rich quick society for the minority and let the skilled trades retrain as telesales operators. But with the loss of UK industry at least we can still get quality engineering at a reasonable price, for China is supplying that requirement, and so far, I am impressed with the standard of Chinese products. Fair enough, they can be a little rough around the edges, but the feedback they are getting from Western customers, they are acting on it, and quickly. I do believe China perhaps Taiwan and India will be the world manufacturers very soon, they will have the skills and expertise and that is where our most talented people will go, because in our own countries we do not seem to have the once fertile plains for our own regrowth, the make it successful and sell it lock stock and barrel mentality will always stuff us up.
For the machine that I have that is Chinese, my initial concerns over it's safety are now gone, for I have stripped and inspected it, and have arrived at the conclusion the only place the Chinese seem to let themselves down, is the aesthetic, and pre process preparation. I am not sure if it is their steel that is not particularly good quality, or their rust proofing leaves a lot to be desired, but where metal is powder coated or plated, rust soon bursts through, but rustproofing on my part and suitable paint has solved that problem. Welds also where they are for non safety or structural related items tend to be a little pigeon shitty, but the welds stick the metal together well, it is just not particularly pretty. Oh, and their tyres though hardwearing, are scary in the wet, definately not the best for our roads. As for the rest of the machine, it is pure Suzuki, albeit mid 80's design engine and the rest of it, Suzuki from all ages, up to the present.With this machine, Suzuki are involved in the design and quality control process, there are similar designs using Honda technology and process control.
So, maybe the Japanese are doing something similar to the west in selling technology, but where they seem to be getting it right, is they are allowing rebranding to a Chinese manufacturers name, the result being, I know I have a Suzuki inspired machine, and so far, I am impressed, so the thoughts are and may be for others that when the time comes to go for larger capacity engines, it is for me the Suzuki brand that attracts as far as Far Eastern machines go, but I might end up with a Ural Wolf.
I think perhaps as far as heavy industry is concerned, the western world that has gone down the roads of selling out it's expertise, there is now no return, we will not get back what we once had, for our immediate world has moved on, we will not accept the working conditions and aspirations of our ancestors.
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