One big problem with manufacturing these days is "process". Companies have jumped on the Process bandwagon thinking if they define the right process for doing any job it will drive down costs, be repeatable, reliable and with the proper training can be taught to anyone thus ensuring timely, repeatable, quality results. Unfortunately it moves accountability and responsibility from the worker to the "Process" - if something isn't right it's because there's a flaw in the Process. But this also eliminates the worker's pride in a job well done and the craftsmanship he or she can bring to the job.
The upside of all this Process stuff is eventually the Process can be programmed into robots; the downside is people will be replaced with machines.