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People talking about lean manufacturing never seem to mention the outsourced risk involved. That ‘wasted’ inventory that you have laying around is actually insurance against supply chain shocks. And outsourcing manufacturing of critical components creates uncontrolled existential risks for your business.

> saying bad things about our lord and savior lean manufacturing.

I'm not saying it's good or bad, it just is, and car companies don't exist to make affordable new products for everyone. "Obese" manufacturing won't result in more affordable cars either, not while housing, education and healthcare continue to eat away at Americans' stagnant income growth.

If affordable transportation is the goal, we probably need to get past personal car ownership.

Is it hard to get a Corolla?