NOT pissing and moaning, thanks.
And I never said something cannot be done. What I encourage is to consider the bigger picture in one's efforts.
Efforts are one thing-- I interpreted Wayne's original post as related to an effort, not merely musings, or something in between.
Many folks all around the earth are thinking about what can be done with respect to ventilators. Many, many, many. Lots of evidence of that.
And I believe there is a huge potential benefit from that.
I disagree about whether personnel are relevant. If one is setting out on a "new design," it might be a good idea to consider the types of folks that will operate the design. This can be a part of disruptive thinking.
For example, can a new type of machine be created as a stop gap, and designed for a less skilled person that can be quickly trained to do just one thing? I doubt it, but it is likely a question worth asking.
If one is considering spending time and money to design and or manufacture, for example a new type of vent for some type of application beyond one's own "social circle," then it might be even more beneficial to consider the larger framework that may have an impact on the result of the efforts.
Those are some of my views.
Folks are free to express opinions, expert and otherwise.
Yes I know about the Daily Mail. That was not the point. The point is to consider the bigger picture. I encourage that.
I suspect that folks in public health around the globe do have some ideas where the shortages are (for example in Italy) and where they might be in the future.
The models are likely that good, and the folks involved are likely that smart.
I think it does make sense to consider having folks work on ideas for re-purposing old machines, perhaps converting related equipment, work on finding ways to expand manufacturing output of current designs and so on.
To me all of that makes a lot of sense.
I have not had time to look to see if there are estimates of the global manufacturing capacity for vents. I think it is likely folks in public health have done so. Just like they have likely looked at global supply, including emergency and military stockpiles.
I would guess that most companies in the space have execs that are 0.5 - 1.5 degrees removed from my professional network, given my age and business background, and that they and folks in their enterprises have been scrambling to figure out whatever they can do to increase capacity, change over production lines et cetera. Including tracking down necessary components and timelines. Engineers, product planners, manufacturing folks, global sourcing folks... all hands on deck.
I think in Italy it was just announced that med students in year 4 will not graduate but instead immediately be poured into service.
Some is good, more is better.
But in my opinion, it can often be helpful to consider the bigger picture.
I saw an HC administrative professional from Georgia interviewed on TV today. They have folks in conference rooms sewing gown cloth to create "overmasks" to try to make their short supply of N95 masks last longer.
He stated that they normally spend $0.58 per mask, and have a line on some in Mexico for $7 each and are likely to buy them.
see, e.g.,
https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/03/18/georgia-hospital-sewing-masks-together-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/coronavirus/
Clinical and economic impact.