It is intentionally cumbersome, at first, but as you master the technology tree you get access to ever faster robots, blueprints, automation via the circuit net

It is intentionally cumbersome, at first, but as you master the technology tree you get access to ever faster robots, blueprints, automation via the circuit network, self-maintaining defenses etc. You can construct and dismantle distant parts of the factory from the map view etc. Basically, you journey from insignificance to near-omnipotence.