Wesley, did you used to work for a telecommunications company? The last time I read mindless dribble like this was from a telecomms marketing person.

Your statements, as mentioned above are flawed, as well have no supporting documentation. How can you make generic statements of cost reduction, service improvement without being able to support those statements. You can't! I doubt that this standard is based on a complete business plan.

Do the math, your concept doesn't work. To achieve major cost reductions, as you have mentioned, you need to have a quality control process in place. That's how any manufacturing organization is able to achieve true cost reduction goals. I've seen the work of most electricians (there are exceptions) and it's all about banging in the wire as fast as possible (who cares about bend radiuses ...etc.). Most electricians aren't into continuing education and those who are have probably made the move into the custom installation business.

The only way a builder can reduce costs, after he has sourced the cheapest products, is to throw quality out the door. They get the carpenters with the chain saws because they're faster than the guys with table saws and circular saws (I've seen the build quality from the chain saw gangs, yikes).

I can only speak for myself, but I'm not in the business of building Yugos. Part of my business model and a selling point is quality. You can always find somebody cheaper than me.