'Spirit of the craftsman' needed to produce better products

An employee of German car producer Porsche work on Porsche 911 sportscars at the production line in the Porsche factory in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, on March 11, 2014. [Photo/CFP]

Porsche's master mechanics hand-assembles 911 engines

Like many prestigious sports cars, the 911's engine is largely assembled by hand. Automation handles the heavy lifting, and precision-built sub-assemblies are no doubt created with the assistance of high-tech machinery. But it all comes together under the well-calibrated hands and watchful eyes of living, breathing humans.

Master sushi chef serves best sushi in the world

At 91, Japanese chef Jiro Ono is considered by many to be the greatest sushi chef in the world.

What defines deliciousness in his three–Michelin star Tokyo restaurant is that it takes awe-inspiring steps of food preparation. Tuna is slowly cut in thin morsels, the world’s finest rice is cooked and shaken with care. and nigiri sushi is brushed with soy sauce.

"You must dedicate your life to mastering this skill," Ono says in the film. "This is the key to success."

In photos: Chinese show their spirit of craftsmanship