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One of the largest problems in getting a new design…

“One of the largest problems in getting a new design accepted by an established manufacturer is not just the ‘not invented here’ syndrome, but also the ‘we don’t have the tooling’ syndrome. Why invent something new when you can simply modify what you have?” quote by Paul M. Barrett
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““One of the largest problems in getting a new design accepted by an established manufacturer is not just the ‘not invented here’ syndrome, but also the ‘we don’t have the tooling’ syndrome. Why invent something new when you can simply modify what you have?””

Paul M. Barrett

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Design acceptance is blocked by resistance to new tooling and a preference for modifying existing products.

In simple terms: People favor tweaking old designs over creating new ones.

Key Takeaway

Consider the trade‑off between innovation and practicality.

Themes

Engineering Innovation Tooling Resistance Design Acceptance

Mood

pragmatic critical reflective

Type

Engineering:1 Invent:1 New Design:1 Invent New:1 Tooling Syndrome:1 Invented Syndrome:1

When to use this quote

  • product development
  • engineering meetings
  • budget planning

Key Concepts

Not‑invented‑here syndrome Tooling constraints Organizational inertia

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you justify new tooling to stakeholders?
  • When is modification insufficient?
A Different Perspective

New ideas may still need costly tooling despite seeming simplicity.

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