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One historical item that inspires me here are the Liberty Ships: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_ship

Designed to be easy to manufacture, the US built more than 1 per day during WWII. It strikes me as a classic example of the design-to-tools approach.

And although I obviously don't recommend going just now, you may enjoy visiting the still-functioning one in the Bay Area. Try to get a tour of the engine room if you can. https://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/

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Apples and oranges. Ventilators aren't ships. Medical-grade ventilators for ICUs have all sorts of life-safety sensors, engineering and testing that went into them that cannot be rushed.

Your theory is that ocean-crossing ships... aren't life critical?

I am all for doing quality work. But if I end up in the ICU and my choice is between dying and a using a ventilator that hasn't received quite the full compliment of non-crisis regulator checks, I'm going to go with the latter. Feel free to choose differently if you like.

I'll take not contracting the pandemic for $1000, Alex.

I'm not sure how to break it to you, but that's not a choice people already in the ICU have.

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