Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 798 Blueprint Takes Root and Sparks Ignite

Over the next two days, Jin Jianxian and Xiao Zhao collected feedback together.

As for Engineer Zhang, he's a senior technician and won't invest too much time or effort in this matter.

Life seemed to have returned to its usual rhythm, and the buying frenzy brought about by the industrial vouchers subsided somewhat after the initial frenzy.

Kim Geon-hyun's life became even more fulfilling.

Besides handling routine equipment maintenance, he devotes most of his energy to feedback and improvement of the fitter's bench during the day.

Xiao Zhao was the same; during the day he was similar to Jin Jianxian, and at night he had to attend night school.

Fortunately, he had a vocational school education, so he could understand most of the material in class, which was much better than Li Kailang's experience back then.

Even after getting off work and returning home, Jin Jianxian's heart was still pounding with excitement.

He took out paper and pen, preparing to write a letter to his parents in the countryside.

He described in detail the turmoil he encountered after returning to the city regarding industrial vouchers, but focused more on his work in the factory.

He described in detail the factory's newly improved fitter's bench, his participation in the debugging and improvement process, and Director Wang's high praise, his words filled with pride and enthusiasm.

He also mentioned the industrial coupons in the city. "Now you need something called 'industrial coupons' to buy things in the city. They're very scarce. You and Dad shouldn't overwork yourselves at home and take care of yourselves."

"I'm doing well at the factory. My superiors value me, and my colleagues are friendly. You can rest assured."

Of course, he didn't forget to greet his brother and sister-in-law and inquire about the harvest in the fields.

Day three.

Jin Jianxian and Xiao Zhao entered Director Wang's office with the compiled questions and preliminary improvement ideas.

The two workers presented a clear and organized report on all the details reported by the workers: the locking device for the movable baffle, the depth of the toolbox, and its compartments.
Each item is accompanied by sketches of possible solutions.

Director Wang listened very attentively, his fingers tapping lightly on the table in a rhythmic pattern.

After listening to everything, he nodded in satisfaction.

"There are quite a few problems, but that's a good thing. Seeing how well you've prepared, you must already have solutions, right?"

The two nodded, and Xiao Zhao said, "I have some rough ideas."

"As long as you have ideas, that's fine. If there's anything you're unsure about, just say so."

Immediately, the two discussed some uncertain options.

Director Wang directly resolved the issue for the two individuals and offered even better solutions.

After a while.

Director Wang then gave his final verdict: "Alright, your thinking is basically on the right track, and you've taken the right approach. Go ahead and do it, be bold in making changes! I believe you can do it well."

With the director's affirmation and clearer guidance, the two became even more motivated.

Immediately, the craftsman who had made the previous work was called back.

"Dear masters, I'd like to trouble you all again today. This time, the fitter's bench is an improved version based on your feedback."

Xiao Zhao distributed the drawings, which were roughly the same as the last ones.

"Don't worry, practice makes perfect. This time it was even faster than before!" Qian said.

"With this new workbench, things will be much more convenient from now on."

Not far away, a group of workers were also looking on expectantly.

Although everyone only did a small test, it was indeed better than what they had on hand.

It would be beneficial for them if it could be developed and popularized sooner.

"I've wanted to replace this fitter's machine for a long time, but I don't know when I'll be able to!"

Having had the experience of making one before, this time the latest version of the fitter's table was finally made in less than half a day.

"Yi Gong, why don't you give it a try?" Jin Jianxian invited.

Without wasting words, Yi Zhonghai immediately started experimenting, pretending to be working. He repeatedly picked up and put away the tools, his wrists moving freely without any obstacles.

I also tested other functions, and overall it went much more smoothly than the old fitter's bench.

"Hey! It really works! It's so comfortable to work here. I can grab things whenever I want, and the efficiency is at least 2% faster than before."

Hearing Yi Zhonghai say this, the other masters couldn't sit still either.

"Yi Gong, have you finished testing? We'd like to try it too."

"Yes, let's experience it."

"Alright, you all get a feel for it." Yi Zhonghai smiled and stepped back, and one by one, the masters took turns trying it out.

"Not bad, not bad, it's definitely much easier to use now."

"Yes, it's so convenient, and you don't have to bend over, that's the key."

"Alright! I think we'll go with this."

The feedback from several senior technicians was quite positive.

Guo Da Piezi, who was standing to the side, immediately stepped forward and said, "Let a few of us try it out and see how it goes?"

They immediately selected some low- to mid-level workers to give them a try.

"it is good!"

"Not bad!"

Watching the workers operate more and more skillfully on the newly improved fitter's bench, Jin Jianxian and Xiao Zhao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

These past few days of work have paid off.

The two immediately reported it to Director Wang.

Director Wang returned to the workshop and personally tried out the equipment.

He felt the smoothness of the movable baffle, the convenience of taking out and putting away the toolbox, the comfort of no longer bumping his wrists, and the stability and reliability of the entire platform.

"good, very good!"

After offering some words of encouragement, he looked at Guo Da Piezi.

"This improved fitter's bench is remarkably effective! Director Guo, please arrange for it to be installed immediately, prioritizing the core workstations in Workshop One with this final, standardized version!"

"Afterwards, we'll have the workers from other workshops come over to learn as well, and once they're familiar with it, we'll let their workshops do it on their own."

"From now on, the workshop will follow this standard! But don't let it interfere with work."

"Yes, Director Wang! I'll arrange it right away!" Guo Da Piezi replied loudly, a look of joy on his face. The new equipment was easy to use, and it brought honor to their workshop.

Director Wang then turned to Jin Jianxian and Xiao Zhao, and said earnestly:
"You two completed this task exceptionally well. From observing the problem, analyzing feedback, making improvements, to final verification, the process was clear and the execution was excellent, demonstrating the comprehensive qualities a technician should have."

"I think you two could try taking charge of some small projects and become real engineers. You're not far off! Keep up the good work!"

"Thank you, Director! We will continue to work hard!" The two felt a warm current flow through their bodies.

Director Wang's words, "You're not far from becoming an engineer," are an affirmation more precious than any material reward.

After Director Wang left, the two of them didn't stay long either and left one after the other.

As for the matters that Director Wang instructed, neither of them needed to worry about them; they could let Guo Da Piezi handle them himself.

Immediately, Guo Da Piezi gave instructions: "Yi Gong, you're quite busy, so you don't need to worry about the fitter's table. Qian Gong, you need to pay attention to this matter."

"Don't worry, I know what to do." Qian nodded.

He immediately gathered his apprentices and several skilled workers, clearing out a corner of the workshop as a temporary production point.

Everyone worked together, and although the blueprints were finalized, there was still room for minor adjustments during actual operation. After discussing it with several senior engineers, Qian and others felt it was feasible and wouldn't affect the overall situation, so they made some minor adjustments on-site.

The newly made fitter's bench was prioritized to replace several senior technicians, including Yi Zhonghai.

After each replacement, the technician would immediately test it and make final adjustments to confirm its quality.

Seeing their familiar workstations transformed, the experienced workers were all smiles. They could operate their tools without wrist bumps, pick up and put down tools with ease, and read blueprints at a comfortable height.

"Hey, this efficiency is amazing! It feels like we can get half a job done more!" Yi Zhonghai nodded in satisfaction after operating the machine for a few moments.

The lower- and middle-level workers watched with envy, but they didn't know when it would be their turn.

After all, there are quite a few skilled workers, maybe twenty or thirty, but they can only make a few machines a day.

It's impossible for all the skilled workers to stop what they're doing and dedicate themselves to making this new fitter's bench.

Guo Da Piezi walked around the workshop with his hands behind his back. He watched as brand-new fitter's benches were put in their core positions, and the workers' focus and fluency in their operations were clearly improved. He couldn't help but smile.

After two days, Director Wang's second instruction was also put into action:
"Let the masters from other workshops come and learn as well, and once they are familiar with it, let their workshops do it on their own."

Soon, the workshop directors of Workshop 2 and Workshop 3 each arrived at Workshop 1 with two or three senior workers.

"Old Guo, you didn't tell us about this good thing sooner, that's not fair of you!" Jin Lijing, the director of the third workshop, said, gesturing with his hand.

Guo Da Piezi feigned displeasure: "Where did I do something wrong? Didn't I call you guys right away?"

"If I were being dishonest, wouldn't it be better to call you in a few days?"

The workshop director nodded: "That makes sense. Director Jin, I'm not trying to be mean, but your thinking is a bit too malicious, isn't it?"

"Although Director Guo is indeed not a very kind person, you can't talk about him like that."

“That’s right. Hmm!” Guo Da Piezi was originally quite happy that the workshop director said good things about him, but he didn’t expect things to take an unexpected turn.

"I see you don't want it? Fine! Show them out!"

"Just kidding! Just kidding!" the two directors chuckled.

It's impossible for Guo Da Piezi to actually kick the two of them out.

After all, this was a directive from Director Wang, and if he doesn't do a good job, he might lose his position as director.

The two directors, of course, would not leave easily. Improving the fitter's bench was a major undertaking, and they had already inquired about it.

"Alright, enough talk, get to work and learn, Mr. Qian."

"Yes," Qian Gong replied.

“Qian Gong is in charge of this. You should learn from him.”

Needless to say, we're all from the same factory, and it involves all the fitters. We need to have a sense of the big picture, so Qian Gong naturally wouldn't keep anything to himself.

Immediately, he took out the revised drawings and explained in detail the differences between the old and new fitter's benches.

"Overall, the old and new fitter's benches are pretty much the same; the differences are mainly in these areas."

“We’re working on it right now, why don’t you come and lend a hand? We haven’t submitted the new version of the fitter’s bench to the factory manager yet, so we have to make it ourselves.”

"However, I think even if it's reported, it's impossible for everyone to do it; only a few people can be assigned to it, and it will be a slower process."

Under the guidance of Qian Gong and the workshop master craftsmen, the group of people personally participated in the production of some key components of a fitter's bench.

After doing this for a few days, Director Wang took some time to come and take a look.

The workers in workshops two and three have already learned it.

"The workshop has already taught you the technology without reservation. As for the materials, our factory can produce them ourselves, guaranteeing quality."

"When you get back, you should follow Director Guo's example, organize the resources of your workshop, and work together to replace the old workstations with new ones as soon as possible!"

"If you encounter any technical problems that you really can't solve, you can ask Xiao Jin and Xiao Zhao for help. But you'll have to take on the main tasks yourselves!"

"This is a major event to improve the efficiency of the entire factory, and also a great opportunity to train your technical team!"

Armed with the technology and materials, Workshops 2 and 3 embarked on the path of independent replication.

However, things did not go smoothly, revealing the characteristics of different workshops.

Workshop 1 is progressing efficiently.

Thanks to the skilled operation and strict quality control of the Qian Gong team, the replacement of core workstations in Workshop 1 progressed rapidly and with stable quality.

The new fitter's workbenches were gradually provided to the masters, and everyone was looking forward to their turn soon.

To increase production speed, Qian Gong even expanded the workforce.

They even took this opportunity to replace a group of skilled workers and let some mid- to low-level workers do the work.

Although the defect rate has increased significantly and the production speed has decreased, the skills of junior and intermediate workers have improved at a visible rate.

Workshop 2 is committed to steady progress.

After Director Zhou of the Second Workshop returned, he did not make a big fuss. Instead, he selected several of the best craftsmen and had them work overtime at night to meticulously craft the product according to the drawings and process requirements.

They don't prioritize speed, but rather strive to ensure that every machine meets the standards of the entire workshop.

The first batch consisted of two units, which were installed at the work stations of two experienced technicians for trial use.

The feedback was excellent, which gave Lao Zhou confidence. He then gradually increased manpower and expanded the production scale. Although the speed was not fast, every step was taken solidly.

Workshop 3 is full of enthusiasm.

After returning, Jin Lijing immediately held a mobilization meeting, hoping to catch up as soon as possible, and the mentors were also very enthusiastic.

However, this was quickly met with a cold shower.

The technical level of Workshop 3 is relatively lower than that of Workshop 1, and they encountered difficulties in handling complex problems.

The first workbench I made, although it didn't affect the main function, didn't look as refined as the others.

Jin Lijing frowned, somewhat dissatisfied, as he looked at the slightly flawed first prototype.

"It doesn't look very good, but it's still usable. Let's keep going. We'll follow the rules step by step. There's no rush."

Director Wang took a moment to inquire about the progress.

Guo Da Piezi reported on the completion status of Workshop 1.

Old Zhou reported on the steady progress of the "pilot project first, then rollout" in Workshop 2.

Jin Lijing then presented the problems encountered by Workshop 3 with some frustration: "...Director Wang, our technical foundation is a bit weak. Compared with Workshop 1, the things we make always feel a bit lacking. We are afraid that making too much will waste materials and have a bad impact."

"Don't worry about wasting materials. What kind of factory are we? A steel rolling mill. We can remelt and reuse scrap materials."

"I have only one point to make sure it's done well. This matter concerns the entire steel rolling mill, and we absolutely cannot afford to make any major mistakes."

Director Wang looked at Jin Jianxian and Xiao Zhao: "Xiao Jin, Xiao Zhao, what do you think of the situation in Workshop Three? What solutions do you have?"

Jin Jianxian had been prepared for this; he and Xiao Zhao had been monitoring the progress of each workshop in recent days.

"Director Wang, the problems encountered in Workshop 3 are mainly due to the gap in technical proficiency and mastery of process details. The drawings and processes themselves are not the problem."

"We don't have any suggestions, just do it slowly and steadily, and things will fall into place."

Workshop 3 is in a worse condition than Workshop 1, but that's only relative.

Hearing Jin Jianxian say this, Director Wang understood and nodded.

"Here's what you two do: take some time to visit Workshop 3 and provide them with some technical support."

"Ok."

After giving a few more instructions, Director Wang handed the matter over to Jin Jianxian and Xiao Zhao.

(End of this chapter)