Engineering Quote by Paul M. Barrett
““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?””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Industry Innovation Talk, 2015
Design acceptance is hindered by resistance to new ideas and lack of tooling, prompting reliance on existing solutions.
In simple terms: New designs face resistance and tooling limits, leading to modifications of old products.
Key Takeaway
Embrace new tools or adapt existing ones wisely.
Themes
innovation
resistance
tooling
design
manufacturing
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
strategic
practical
When to use this quote
- product development
- manufacturing negotiations
- strategy meetings
- budget planning
Key Concepts
Change management
resource constraints
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you prove the value of a new design?
- What resources can be repurposed for tooling?
A Different Perspective
Even with new tools, cultural inertia can block adoption.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
