Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 175: Infighting at the Steel Mill, Encouragement at the Machine Tool Factory (Subscription Request)
"Hey, this rolling mill works very quickly. It only takes a short time to roll out a piece of steel plate?"

"Don't just look at the efficiency. Look at the smooth surface of the steel plate. It has this effect even without any treatment."

"The next thing to look at is strength and hardness. If both of these are improved, then we can have an easier time in the future."

"I tell you, there is absolutely no problem; the accuracy is about the same. My eyesight is like a caliper, and what I have seen is definitely correct!"

The workers watching began to talk about it. Most of them had been in this business for seven or eight years, and some even earlier. They could draw a rough conclusion the moment the steel came out of the rolling mill.

This new rolling mill is absolutely effective, and the steel it produces is larger, much better than the small rolling mill they were using before.

After the steel was tested, the quality inspector came to the factory leader excitedly and reported: "Leader, the strength and hardness of the steel produced by this rolling mill are better than the best steel we have ever produced, and the precision is also high."

"The steel in our factory has never been so good before. If it were all steel of this quality and size, it would definitely be the best in the country. I guess other factories would be scrambling to get it."

The quality inspector mentioned a lot of advantages of the new rolling mill. After hearing this, Li Huaide's face became better and better, and he even couldn't help smiling.

Director Yang's face became more and more bad. He hoped that the steel mill would get better under his leadership, rather than under Li Huaide's leadership.

However, the emergence of new rolling mills is also a good thing for steel mills, so he cannot show it yet.

After the quality inspector finished his report, Li Huaide spoke before Yang Weimin, "Continue the production test, and then record all the steel produced. It will be useful later."

"Director Yang, shall we have a meeting in the conference room?"

After Yang Weimin heard this, his face darkened. He nodded and said, "Okay, let's listen to Deputy Director Li and call the main production leaders to hold a meeting."

After arriving at the conference room, after a while, the workshop directors and middle-level production leaders all arrived.

When Yang Weimin saw that everyone was present, he said, "Today's meeting is mainly because our deputy director Li has brought in a new rolling mill that can produce..."

"Director, let me explain. This is not just about a rolling mill, but also about other aspects. It's about the production policy of the factory."

Li Huaide interrupted Yang Weimin and continued to speak regardless of Yang Weimin's expression.
"I think the factory's production policy needs to be adjusted. This time, we not only have a rolling mill that can process thick steel plates, but the Ministry of Metallurgy has also obtained a new steelmaking method and is preparing to build a converter in the third steelmaking plant for trial."

“Although our factory was called a steel rolling mill before, we only did parts processing work, which was a bit out of place.
Now that we have a new steelmaking method that can increase steel production, and a new rolling mill that can produce better steel, our factory can adjust its production direction and return to the steel rolling industry."

"Otherwise, it's really a mess now. It's called a steel rolling mill, but it's doing parts processing. The output value of steel rolling accounts for less than 40% of our factory. Did the First Steel Rolling Mill do this? Did the Yanhe Steel Rolling Mill do this? None of them did!"

Li Huaide's tone was calm, but the content was very serious. He was just short of pointing at Yang Weimin's nose and scolding him: "You are a piece of shit!"

After all, most of the parts processing was brought back by Yang Weimin, and he also relied on the parts processing business to control the production tightly.

Now Li Huaide has asked Zhou Fengnian for a four-roll rolling mill, and his father-in-law will hold a meeting to promote the top and bottom composite blowing converter technology in the Third Steel Plant.

Steelmaking output can be increased, steel rolling production efficiency and quality can also be improved, and the steel rolling mill can return to its main business direction. Yang Weimin?
Deputy Director Yang is in charge of the factory’s health and safety!
The meeting room suddenly became quiet, and Yang Weimin's hands, holding the pen, turned white from the exertion.

Then he tried to calm down and said, "Deputy Director Li is a bit radical. Parts processing accounts for more than half of our factory's output value. If we give it up like this..."

"Director, this is not radical. The steel produced by the new rolling mill can be said to be high-quality steel. Unlike the previous production, no one wanted it. As long as high-quality steel is produced, there will be a steady stream of people who want it."

Li Huaide interrupted with a laugh and said, "Moreover, the leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgy are also paying attention to this matter. The new steelmaking method will soon be implemented in our subsidiary factories. It is imperative to change the direction of production."

"Damn it, you are the only one with a backer? Who doesn't know that the head of the Ministry of Metallurgy is your father-in-law?"

After hearing what Li Huaide said, Yang Weimin was so angry that he cursed in his heart, as if he had no backing.

However, he had not really discussed this matter with the senior leaders. Now it seemed that Li Huaide's father-in-law would definitely take action, so he would have to discuss it with the senior leaders.

"Let's put this matter aside for now and keep the current production direction for now. We can discuss it again after what Deputy Director Li said is fully implemented."

Yang Weimin finally resorted to the tactic of procrastination and then quickly dissolved the meeting.

Li Huaide smiled and did not stop him. In the future, there will be more and more new rolling mills, and the production of high-quality steel will also increase. Other factories will not leave high-quality thick steel plates unused and use inferior ones.

As the planned tasks become more and more, the steel mill's production policy must be changed. Li Huaide hopes that Yang Weimin can continue to persevere.

------

Huaxia Machine Tool Factory has sent away two groups of people who came to learn. In fact, the CNC machine tools have already been handed over. They will go back and study them slowly, and they will definitely be able to master them thoroughly.

However, in addition to technology, other machine tool factories also want to learn the production model of Huaxia Machine Tool Factory, and there is also Zhou Fengnian, the top machine tool engineer in China.

So after obtaining the technology, other machine tool factories conducted their own research while sending people here.

However, Zhou Fengnian seldom leads the team to study in person, as it is not some advanced technology; and the technical department has already mastered it thoroughly, so it is enough for the technical department to come forward.

Zhou Fengnian has to teach every batch personally, so he doesn't have to do anything in the factory and just serve as the deputy factory director of reception.

In addition to devoting his time to developing integrated circuits, Zhou Fengnian is also manufacturing washing machines.

Everything else has been done, and the outer shell of the washing machine has been completed today. The factory also spent a lot of money on making the mold, but both the director and deputy director support it, and the reasons are reasonable, so no one will say anything.

The washing machine he developed is very different from those in Northeast China. In addition to having a rounder and more beautiful outer shell, it also has many more functions.

It has timing, water extraction, spin drying, etc. It is considered the first generation of fully automatic washing machines. After rotating the button once, it can automatically wash clothes, change water and spin dry. With the addition of integrated circuit technology, this washing machine can be considered a high-end electrical appliance.

And the washing machine also rotates, and in the future it can be changed from three revolutions per beep to four revolutions per beep.

After everything was done and the electricity and water pipes were connected, Zhou Fengnian turned around and asked, "Who has dirty clothes? If you want to throw them in and try, bring them here."

"I have it, Deputy Director Zhou, use mine."

"And me, and me!"

After hearing this, a group of people rushed to hand over the clothes, and one of them almost hit Zhou Fengnian in the face. He was so angry that he shouted a few words before he stopped these people.

After picking up three pieces of work clothes at random, Zhou Fengnian threw them into the washing machine, poured in some detergent and started it.

As soon as the water was poured in, the washing machine started up. The vertical drum inside started to rotate left and right, and the sound of water was heard.

The others came closer to take a look and were immediately surprised and said, "So that's how you wash it. How long can it last?"

Another worker said, "Didn't you hear what Mr. Zhou said? One scale is ten minutes long, so it can wash one... Two can be washed for thirty minutes. Hey, why is there a dehydration function?"

Another person added: "Dehydration means spinning, which means wringing out your clothes."

"Oh, that really saves effort." Zhou Fengnian did not stop these curious workers. After all, they were helping him work. However, he still reminded them: "Look, but don't put your hands in. If you put your hands in and get hurt, I will criticize you."

It was just a forty-minute wait, but the workers were so engrossed in watching that Zhou Fengnian was too lazy to wait.

After looking at the time, Zhou Fengnian gave a few instructions and then turned back to the office, preparing to come back later.

It was time to get off work, but Zhou Fengnian still went back to the office and waited for a while.

Half an hour later, seeing that the time was almost up, Zhou Fengnian set off for the workshop.

However, as soon as he went out, he ran into Gao Zhiyuan who was about to go home.

Gao Zhiyuan was stunned and asked, "Fengnian, why are you leaving so late today?"

"I'm waiting for the washing machine to finish. It's done today. Brother Gao, Brother Gao, would you like to go take a look together?"

Zhou Fengnian invited, and Gao Zhiyuan immediately became interested after hearing that, and walked towards the workshop with Zhou Fengnian.

When the two arrived at the workshop, the washing machine had just finished the spin-drying cycle.

When the workers surrounding the washing machine saw Zhou Fengnian and Gao Zhiyuan coming, they all shouted to their leaders to make way.

When Zhou Fengnian came closer, the washing machine just stopped, so he reached out and took out the clothes and took a look.

"It's OK. It's clean. It was all dusty when I put it in before."

A worker nearby said, "Deputy Director Zhou, this is not good at all. Lao Zhang has never worn such clean clothes."

The owner of the clothes blushed and said angrily: "Don't talk nonsense, I washed it myself and it's clean too"

All three pieces of clothing were washed well, visibly clean, and there were no problems with the washing and dehydration functions.

Zhou Fengnian also checked it, and after confirming that it was correct, he pulled Gao Zhiyuan out and said to him, "There is basically no problem, Director, let's start manufacturing tomorrow."

Gao Zhiyuan asked: "How many people want it now?"

"There are twelve in the factory and six outside the factory. It will take about ten days to complete it."

Zhou Fengnian calculated and said that washing machines are quite rare in the old city, and there are no fully automatic washing machines. Only a few hotels open to the public have washing machines.

“How much does this washing machine cost?”

"Not counting the mold making, technology and labor, the parts and materials alone cost more than 60 yuan, less than 70 yuan."

Zhou Fengnian calculated and said, "If I sell it outside, it will cost at least 210 yuan."

"Hey, my dear Mr. Zhou, please stop saying such things!"

Gao Zhiyuan quickly gestured to Zhou Fengnian to shut up, and then whispered, "If you sell it at three times the price, it will easily be considered capital flight if others hear about it."

"I'm talking about those people abroad. We definitely won't do that."

Zhou Fengnian lowered his voice a bit. He thought that other electrical appliances cost more than 100 yuan, so isn't it normal to sell a washing machine for 210 yuan?

"Let's start production. I didn't expect it to be so cheap. Let's give one to the workers as a reward once a month."

Gao Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said, "Based on the completion of tasks, ideological performance, evaluation of co-workers and our review, one person will be selected from all workshops every month to be rewarded with a washing machine. Fengnian, what do you think?"

"Sure, it's not expensive, three a month is fine."

Zhou Fengnian agreed without much thought, and the workers were probably so happy when they heard it.

Other factories distribute teacups, but their factory distributes washing machines, so they have to work overtime to produce.

And there’s honor in that.

It's just that it's not very convenient for the workers living in the slums to use them, but they can also be sold; this doesn't count as speculation, as long as the price is not too high, and the factory will also hint to the award-winning workers.

After Gao Zhiyuan and Zhou Fengnian discussed it, they quickly finalized the reward plan.

Gao Zhiyuan then stepped forward and said to the workers in the workshop: "Dear workers, let's stop here today. I have discussed this with Deputy Director Zhou.

This washing machine will be given as a reward in April to the best performing worker in the factory.”

"From now on, the factory will give out two washing machines every month as rewards, limited to workers. The selection method for the rewards will be notified to your leaders tomorrow."

When the workers in the workshop heard this, they immediately became excited and asked loudly:
"Director, is this true?"

"Are you really giving me a reward for washing machines? Every month?"

"The factory is really generous. They even gave me a reward for a washing machine that is so useful."

Seeing that they were somewhat excited, Gao Zhiyuan quickly said loudly: "This is true, the workers in our factory have performed very well and the efficiency is also very high.

A few washing machines can still be awarded, don't worry; but the specific selection will be decided tomorrow, so don't worry, go back today."

It took several persuasions before the workers in the workshop were persuaded to leave.

After everyone left, Zhou Fengnian chatted with Gao Zhiyuan for a while before they went home.

Originally, he planned to take the first washing machine back, but it doesn’t seem suitable now. However, it won’t be too late to produce another one, and Zhou Fengnian will be able to take one away tomorrow.

As a factory benefit, of course he, as the inventor, can get one, and it’s not like he doesn’t get paid.

When Zhou Fengnian returned home and just entered the backyard, he saw his wife washing clothes there.

Zhou Fengnian came forward to take a look and immediately asked, "Didn't I just wash these yesterday?"

"You didn't wash it clean. There are still a lot of dirty spots on it."

Zhou Yan snorted lightly, shook off the water on her hands, and tried to push Zhou Fengnian away, saying, "Go back and rest for a while. I'll be done soon."

But Zhou Fengnian grabbed the basin and said, "Don't wash it. I'll bring you something good tomorrow. You won't have to wash clothes by hand anymore."

(End of this chapter)