I believe the crucial importance of skilled mechanics, in part because of what I found when researching the threshing machine:
… the threshing machine was just past a certain threshold of the combination of the amount of force required and the delicacy of the operation. A loom is a somewhat complex machine performing an intricate process, but not one that uses a high degree of force. A flour mill, or a trip hammer at an iron works, is a high-force application, but not one that is particularly subtle or delicate. Both of these were in use long before the Industrial Revolution. But a threshing machine seems to require enough of both characteristics that manufacturing quality became critical to meet the standard of reliability that was needed for practicality and adoption.
I believe the crucial importance of skilled mechanics, in part because of what I found when researching the threshing machine:
https://rootsofprogress.org/why-did-we-wait-so-long-for-the-threshing-machine