Manpower GB?

[dy031101]

I hope I didn't post this before...... I don't remember and didn't find evidence that I did with the forum's search function.

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I remember reading an article on a Mainland Chinese business tycoon who, instead of having his factories (which make electronics, IIRC) packed with top-of-the-line machines, has all the work templates perfectly placed and aligned on his assembly lines; all the employees have to do is to put parts in the right place, which according to the article is impossible to do incorrectly because the perfectly set-up templates.  The interviewee explains that it's cheaper to keep workers well-looked-after than maintaining an automated assembly line!

This reminds me of several WWII aircraft that were armed with manually-loaded guns for anti-shipping and (in rare cases) anti-bomber use.

Hum...... what if a country attempts to develop a weapon but runs into problems with automation (and find manpower substitutes a workable solution maybe because of a huge population and/or other factors)?  Like a modern heavy jet fighter that has a manual-loaded gun for, say, ground attack roles?  Or a long-range aircraft that are dictated by available technologies to have engines which require a dedicated team to pay constant attention for smooth operation?

(I thought aircraft might be a bit easily-represented as it will definitely need more than one aircrewman......)

The human starships in Warhammer 40K are operated with manpower like broadside warships of old despite being capable of faster-than-light travel!  It's overboard to me, but I suppose that it also fits the theme......

What do you think?