Companies begin to look for ways to maximize profits way before the real hammer falls. If they're not doing it, they won't stay in business. That could cause cutting corners in the actual manufacturing of products or not. Hopefully Much sooner than the timeframe mentioned here. Those who didn't went under.
Some of those cost savings measures could actually be still be used till this day even with a so called up swing in business. So it isn't necessarily a bad thing. What I think many see is the result of poor workmanship due to pay cuts, less benefits, layoffs, longer hours,more insurance costs pushed on to the employee. Much of this happens when the economy tanks and sales are down. When employes aren't happy you can get some that will outright sabotage your business or don't care. It's just the luck of the draw that you get a good one.
The main problem is absence of real quality control measures. If MH's were subject to the same as automobiles most would never leave the factory, downturn or not. Those bad apple employees would be weeded out. Until the industry changes you take a chance no matter when you buy or what you buy IMHO.
