> You're basically saying that laser cutting and CNC stitching - operations performed by robots based on files uploaded by computers - are done better in China than here.
There are boutiques that cater to the very high-end crowd, but they're few and far between.
If you want units of 100's, that just isn't going to happen. It's simple economics--if you want 100K units, you have more than enough incentive to go to China. If you want 100's of units, you're either too small and will go bankrupt or you will change over to China next round because you have the volume. So, you don't get future work, and you tie up one of my machines.
It's very hard to explain to people that the economics of automation dictate that a machine should either be operated nearly 100% or 0%. 100% is the obvious production mode. 0% is the non-obvious one. You want 0% because you need to be ready for when you get the 100% order. The opportunity cost of not getting the 100% order due to lack of capacity, machine needing maintenance, etc. far exceeds the profit you would make on that order for 100 units.
Not done better. They're not done here AT ALL.
That's a big difference.