I work in R&D in heavy mfg
I find when people outside the "handy" diciplines (factory operations, industrial setting eng, skilled trades), they think mfg and engineered components are much more elegant than they really are
Perhaps things like apple, F1, dyson and defence distort that view. They do make their products with "spaceship" technologies. But it's critical to understand they are the exception, not the norm... plus... the treasuries and workforce they can utilize to pull it off
It's hilarious how products like Yeti, cammelback, premium razors are just permutation of very simple products (not knocking them one bit and great marketing). x2 the quality of standard products for x4 the price (and often that's just fine)
Usually products start out a little jank just like software. Red bull and lululemon come to mind. Start small leveraging available things, start local markets, scale from there. Just like FB with Harvard students
Hey, my favourite jank tip: an O ring blew but you don't have a replacement? Bubble gum works pretty well for a few days
Ratchet straps can be a good insulator, when clean and used properly, to higher voltages than you'd suspect.
But other days I kind of like the piecemealed nature of sharing "tribal knowledge" when you bump shoulders with others
Live full production systems? Usually no one will be willing to risk the OSHA or ISO violations where critical failure affects safety. Or, if they do, that company won't last long