Can Chinese machine work really match up to European stds?
I honestly think it's time to lay to rest old notions about 'Chinese Inferiority'. It's apparent the Chinese are capable of applying any tier of quality they care to (not that they always care to), from 'shoddy' all the way up to 'first class'. Considering the highly developed nature of their current industrial infrastructure, they are probably at this point easily capable of exceeding any 'standard', European, US, or otherwise.
Important to remember with Chinese manufacturing, particularly cloning...mass production and lower price point are the prime directives. Lower price always equates to lower quality materials, workmanship, etc. Heh, that's the only way to get the cost down.
IMAO, it's credulous to assume that Chinese manufacturers lack a fundamental understanding of 'quality'. On the contrary, they appear to be very adept at applying finite degrees of it, to the ultimate benefit of what we're all demanding...acceptable quality at low cost.
However, there will always be 'Chinese junk', for as long as the market demands it. What's most important is that we as consumers stay vocal as to what's acceptable and what's not. Remember the first Taifun GT clones from Fast Tech, with the chrome-plated brass decks? Consumers complained, the manufacturers and distributors responded, and those brass decks were replaced with ss by Fast Tech.
