German Engineering vs. Japanese Engineering

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SSSnail

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
83
86
You know how you hear it in commercials all the time "...German engineering...", does it have affects on you versus "...Japanese engineering...", if used in the same manner?

Which do you prefer? Does one necessarily better the other, marketing wise? How about factual? I know a lot of breakthrough technologies were developed in Germany, but that was a long time ago and most of the scientists were "borrowed" anyways. Of late, I haven't heard or seen them do anything new, or breakthrough.

Does legacy carry that much weight?
 
So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Originally posted by: SSSnail
You know how you hear it in commercials all the time "...German engineering...", does it have affects on you versus "...Japanese engineering...", if used in the same manner?

Which do you prefer? Does one necessarily better the other, marketing wise? How about factual? I know a lot of breakthrough technologies were developed in Germany, but that was a long time ago and most of the scientists were "borrowed" anyways. Of late, I haven't heard or seen them do anything new, or breakthrough.

Does legacy carry that much weight?
Click to expand...

The ME-109 was fuel injected. It was a fighter from the 30's. The me-262, the V-2, the Paris Gun, the Zeppelin. The Germans have a rep for precision engineering going back to the 19th century, japan has a rep for precision engineering going back to the 1980s.
 
M

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
1
81
German doesnt have the same reputation in my mind anymore if you look at any automotive reliability surveys. VW is just horrendous.
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
German = over engineered, but safe.

Japan = conservatively engineered and reliable.
 
P

paulxcook

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
4,277
1
0
I used to think German engineering = quality, but I've heard too many Volkswagen horror stories. Japanese engineering FTW. And Korean! Go Hyundai/Kia!
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,623
14,007
146
Over the years, German engineering has always been the "standard to beat."
However, in the late 80's, I helped build the USS Posco plant in Pittsburg Ca.

In partnership with Hyundai Heavy industries, USS Steel modernized it's coil plant. The mill stands for the huge rolls were manufactured in Japan.

None were less than 100 tons (one single piece of machined steel) and a few were over 115 tons.

EVERY single bolt, screw, nut, mounting flange, etc. was on the stand when it arrived from Japan, and EVERY SINGLE fastener or mounted piece of equipment fit exactly as it was supposed to. NO extra machining, no "adjustments", perfect fit.

The huge welder/cutting machine that came from Germany had over 40 tons hinged on one large pin. (maybe 4" diameter?) with less than 1 mm of clearance throughout the run of the pin.

THAT one gave the millwrights more trouble than the mill stands did.

Not that there was anything wrong with the German work, but having a pin over 8' long with that small amount of clearance posed several assembly problems.

The German factory rep finally instructed the millwrights to freeze the pin in dry-ice for 24 hours THEN assemble it, and it was still a PITA to do. (No one wanted to take the initiatve to freeze the pin for fear of damaging the crystalline structure of the hardened pin)


As for the Korean built stuff...(all Hyundai branded) it was all of such poor build quality that much of it had to be replaced within 5 years, while the German and Japanese build machinery is still in use 20 years later.
 
slatr

slatr

Senior member
May 28, 2001
957
2
81
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Over the years, German engineering has always been the "standard to beat."
However, in the late 80's, I helped build the USS Posco plant in Pittsburg Ca.

In partnership with Hyundai Heavy industries, USS Steel modernized it's coil plant. The mill stands for the huge rolls were manufactured in Japan.

....


As for the Korean built stuff...(all Hyundai branded) it was all of such poor build quality that much of it had to be replaced within 5 years, while the German and Japanese build machinery is still in use 20 years later.
Click to expand...

DId you mean to say Hyundai or some other company in the first part?
 
Gooberlx2

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
The phrase "German engineering" carries this stigma of incredible performance and luxury to me. It also carries a stigma of high costs and lots of money for maintenance. In the end, however, I'm start enough to know that stigma isn't always indicative of reality.
 
K

Kirby64

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2006
1,485
0
76
To me, German engineering is an indication of quality mechanical(and to a much lesser extent, electrical) engineering.

Japanese engineering is an indication of quality electrical engineering.

I like electrical stuff more than mechanical stuff, so Japs get my vote ;)
 
E

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: Kirby64
To me, German engineering is an indication of quality mechanical(and to a much lesser extent, electrical) engineering.

Japanese engineering is an indication of quality electrical engineering.

I like electrical stuff more than mechanical stuff, so Japs get my vote ;)
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much it for me. I see German being better with mechanical and Japanese with electrical.
 
T

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
the japanese seem to build what they build far more effectively than the germans on a rational basis. however, the germans seem to have a better understanding of the emotional connection between man and machine.
 
halik

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
I think the definition is chinese engineering is a cheap copy of the other two.
 
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