Why modern machines are so desined to last only few years not long life?

Modern machines and appliances often seem to break down faster than those made decades ago due to a combination of business strategies, manufacturing costs, and rapid technological changes.

Here is a clear breakdown of why modern products are designed with shorter lifespans:

• Consumer Demand for Lower Prices: Decades ago, buying a refrigerator or a washing machine was a massive financial investment, sometimes costing a month's salary. Today, consumers expect appliances to be highly affordable. To meet these low price points, manufacturers use cheaper, lighter materials (like plastic gears instead of metal ones) that simply wear out faster.
• Planned Obsolescence: This is a business strategy where companies intentionally design products to have a limited useful life. If your washing machine lasts for 30 years, the manufacturer only makes money from you once in three decades. By designing products that need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, companies ensure a steady stream of repeat customers and continuous profits.
• Rapid Technological Changes: Technology evolves incredibly fast. A laptop or smartphone built to last 15 physical years would still become useless after 5 years because its software and processors would be too slow to run modern apps. Manufacturers know this, so they design the hardware to last only as long as the software will stay relevant.
• Complexity and the Cost of Repair: Old machines were strictly mechanical and easy to fix with basic tools. Modern machines are loaded with delicate computer boards, sensors, and glued-together components. When a single cheap sensor breaks, replacing the entire computer board often costs more than just buying a brand-new machine.
• Efficiency Over Durability: Older appliances were built like tanks, but they also consumed massive amounts of electricity and water. Modern machines are designed to be highly energy-efficient and lightweight. The tradeoff for this high efficiency is that the parts are more delicate and prone to breaking.

While it is frustrating, the modern manufacturing system is built around selling high volumes of affordable, highly efficient, but ultimately disposable technology.