Simplification leads to automation, which is one of the main factor of efficiency. Means goal and end goal...
Efficiency is always at odds with robustness, and it may be the ultimate challenge.
Some Japanese firms may also have adopted ole' USDA approach as I remember reading during the 80's that some Japanese big motorbike brand team in charge of the design of a new model was composed of teams of engineers, each dedicated to a given aspect (even transversal ones, there even was a team dedicated to 'temperature').
