An outsiders perspective on German efficiency: it seems like you're all taught that there is a correct way to do everything.
Non Germans may be taught that there is a correct way for one or two things and maybe other correct ways are acknowledged, but for the most part, we only need to do those few things actually correctly. Good enough is good enough for everything else
Thing is, that behavior is often the envy of the rest off the planet. I see it as a trade off, but its often viewed as an exclusively good trait.