I disagree.

The company would need to start differently, to settle the rules on how it would run it's activities.

First thing would be to set itself as a non-profit and a co-op.

Even machinery purpose built to last requires maintenance, repair and parts to do so. A company focusing itself on producing quality appliances, with proper warranty (3 years minimal), repairable, upgradeable and with plenty of optional accessories, could be viable.

Resorting to 3D printing to make parts in small scale/on order would remove a big part of the inventory management problem.