The way I saw it work: A part for a car is prototyped. The prototype is tested and it comes out that it can last 30 years. But bussiness said it only needs to l

The way I saw it work: A part for a car is prototyped. The prototype is tested and it comes out that it can last 30 years. But bussiness said it only needs to last 15 years (user use stats, the law). Prototype is redesigned so that it is weaker and also cheaper (often time not by much). So we have this problem because companies have test equipment that can tell them exactlly how long a product will last. Initially it was used to prevent bad products, now it is also used to prevent products that are too good.