Attitude. I've met people who see their staff as idiots for working in an uninsulated, unairconditioned shed, whilst they sit in an office with a pretty receptionist. Yet the Germans insulated and airconditioned their workshops, and well lit them, enabling the staff to concentrate better, so manufactured sizes were more consistent. That enabled closer tolerances without affecting other variables. That adds to national reputation. So who won?
That means things last longer whilst working just as well. That's a superb view of engineering. It enables residual wealth to build up in a population, as they don't have to replace things so often. Forget the yank doctrine about economics, it's why they use so much packaging: nothing lasts over there. They actually tried selling razor blades over here that would only last three days. But good engineering only thrives and innovates behind a protective tariff barrier or import prohibitions. In kowtowing to a stupid idea (free trade) politicians are sending their populations into a type of hell.
