> Any manufacturer will do everything in their power to avoid meeting anything but the barest minimums of standards due to budget concerns
Perhaps this is industry dependent?
In my country’s automotive industry, quality control standards have risen a lot in the past few decades. These days consumers expect the doors and sunroof not to leak, no rust even after 15 years being kept outdoors, and the engine to start first time even after two weeks in an airport carpark.
How is this achieved? Lots of careful quality checking.