Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 552 Large factories are heavy and heavy, small factories are flexible
Upon hearing that the city was going to build a collaborative network, the three veteran workers' eyes lit up instantly!

But then Chen Luyang's words made them frown again.

After thinking for a moment, Tan Songren said, "If you really want to leave a trace, there are ways."

"For example, we can put some thought into the process, like the rounded transition that Guo Qiang just mentioned. Even if it's just a detail, it can become our signature."

"For example, when we finish the final assembly process, we leave a small 'mark' that outsiders can imitate in form but not in practice."

Liu Kangwen added, "I think it's simpler."

"Since we can't just number them, let's design our own 'tag'. For example, we can press a specific bevel on the cut edge of the gasket and make a fixed punch on the bolt head. This won't add many steps, but an experienced person can tell at a glance whether it's a product from our repair shop."

“Yes, leaving traces of the process is more reliable than just putting on a label,” Zhang Guoqiang nodded.

"It's not hard for someone to copy something exactly like a sticker or a print. But the details of the craftsmanship are something that people who don't know the ropes can't imitate..."

The three of them chatted away, their conversation flowing more and more freely.

Just as they were getting into the conversation, they suddenly heard the sound of a bicycle bell ringing from the courtyard gate.

Chen Luyang subconsciously looked out through the cracks in the frost pattern on the window.

Director Lu and Old Zhang from the tailor shop pushed their carts into the courtyard side by side. Their faces were flushed, and their steps were unsteady. They were chatting as they walked, clearly still under the influence of alcohol.

Even when they reached the door, the two were still reluctant to part, patting each other's shoulders and arms repeatedly until they finally couldn't pat each other anymore and the party ended.

Chen Luyang shook her head helplessly.

"Director Lu finally got to satisfy his craving for alcohol this time."

After watching Lao Zhang ride away at the corner,

Director Lu then lifted the cotton curtain and walked in.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Chen Luyang, Zhang Guoqiang and several other people staring at him with eight eyes.

Director Lu shuddered and quickly said, "Director Chen, I just had a little drink! I didn't drink too much."

Chen Luyang said seriously, "Director Lu, you need to work on your drinking capacity. Even Old Zhang from the tailor shop can get you drunk now."

Upon hearing this, Director Lu's face immediately turned red.

He couldn't tell if Chen Luyang was serious or joking, he just said:
"I will definitely not drink too much, I will definitely not drink too much."

Chen Luyang chuckled and changed the subject:
"Uncle Lu, there's a mission I need you to investigate."

“The yard of the repair shop is too cramped. I plan to tear down the carport and expand it into a proper workshop.”

"But who does this carport belong to? Is it the property of the repair shop, or is it land allocated by the Municipal Economic Commission? I'm not sure if we can take action."

"Go and ask if this carport is a fixed asset of the factory, and if it can be demolished, what procedures are required."

“If we really can’t move it freely, then we’ll have to find a way to submit an application and nominally attach it to the city’s task.”

Now, Chen Luyang is busy with school and worrying about parts, so she really doesn't have the extra energy to deal with these administrative matters.

It would be best if Director Lu could handle it.

Even if it's not handled properly, at least some basic issues will be clarified, making it easier for him to find solutions later.

I rested for a night.

The next day, Chen Luyang, still carrying the local specialties he brought from his hometown, went to Shishan Machinery Factory and Shishan Steel Factory to pay his respects to He Dahua and Lu Yongqiang in the late New Year.

He Dahua always treated Chen Luyang like his own child. When he saw Chen Luyang come to pay New Year's greetings, he happily hugged him and led him into the house.

At noon, she insisted on taking him out to eat at the guesthouse restaurant.

As for the main dishes, they're all ready to serve!
Stir-fried red sausage with garlic sprouts!
The red sausage that Chen Luyang brought from afar was handed over to the kitchen as soon as it arrived, and it was immediately turned into a hot dish and served up, smelling delicious.

"Old Lu is not home; he went to the south for research."

At the dinner table, He Dahua dispelled Chen Luyang's idea with a single sentence, saving him from making a wasted trip.

Chen Luyang was taken aback and tentatively asked, "Why are you going down to conduct research so early?"

Since returning from the Municipal Economic Commission yesterday, Chen Luyang has been very sensitive to trends and policies.

The fact that a factory director like Lu Yongqiang would go out to conduct research just a few days after the New Year is definitely not a trivial matter.

He Dahua didn't mince words and said:

"If it weren't for the idea of ​​having a family reunion dinner, he would have left before the New Year."

Chen Luyang asked in surprise, "What's the matter that's so urgent?"

He Dahua replied, "The first phase of the Baobao Steel project has just started production, and it has already rolled out cold-rolled thin plates and automotive steel."

"Their Shishan Steel Plant mainly produces common products like rebar and I-beams, which are useful for the construction industry, but are completely useless for automobiles and home appliances."

“If we don’t catch up soon, we’ll have to watch helplessly as the factories in the south and Baobao Steel take over the market first. Do you think he wouldn’t be anxious?”

"Besides, the atmosphere in Pian'er City is already tense; the higher-ups are keeping a close eye on things."

“As soon as the Shijiazhuang Iron and Steel Group’s furnace is turned on and black smoke billows out, the Environmental Protection Bureau and the city government come looking for trouble.”

"If we don't come up with some new methods in areas such as coal saving, pulverized coal injection, and dust removal, we will not only be criticized in the future, but our production capacity will also be limited."

"Old Lu's trip south was aimed at two things: new types of steel and energy conservation and emission reduction. He had to bring back something of value from both."

Chen Luyang's heart skipped a beat, recalling what the Economic Commission had said yesterday about "prioritizing light industry, automobiles, and transportation."

He lowered his voice: "Uncle He, is our country going to start vigorously developing automobiles and light industry?"

Upon hearing this, He Dahua put down his wine glass and nodded.

Then, in a lowered voice, he said:
"Light industry should take the lead, transportation should be accelerated, and cars should take the lead."

"Don't underestimate these three sentences; they represent the general direction for this year."

"Light industry can boost consumption, transportation can break through bottlenecks, and automobiles can drive a large number of upstream and downstream industrial chains."

"This is the one thing the ministry is keeping a close eye on."

He paused, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes, and said:
"This wind will eventually blow over our heads."

"In the past two years, the ministry has been talking about 'military-to-civilian conversion' every day. No matter how good the old methods are, you can't rely on them forever. If we can't find a new way out as soon as possible, we will fall behind sooner or later."

"Our factory also needs to upgrade its technology!"

"The ministry has already hinted that we need people to work on tractors, construction machinery, and auto parts. If we don't seize the opportunity, those small factories in the south will get ahead of us."

Chen Luyang paused, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air, and couldn't help but speak:
"Uncle He, our Shishan Machinery Factory is a big factory, with a solid foundation, lots of equipment, and a full complement of staff. How could we possibly worry about not having work?"

"No matter how flexible those small workshops and factories are, can they compare to you?"

He Dahua sneered and slammed his wine glass down: "Xiao Chen, you're just young and haven't seen the real world in the factory."

He lowered his voice, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Our factory is big, but it's also cumbersome. It takes months to get a single process approved, with instructions passed down layer by layer. Who dares to make an extra step?"

“Those small factories in the south are different; they adapt quickly and act on any opportunity they see.”

"They hear a rumor today, can produce a sample tomorrow, and dare to launch it on the market the day after. While we're still waiting for approval, they've already made a deal."

He seemed to realize that his words had been a bit harsh.

He Dahua's eyes darted around, and he smiled:
"You shouldn't underestimate your own little plot of land."

"Although the repair shop is small, it has its advantages. It's quick to make decisions and get things done on the same day, without having to go through many layers of bureaucracy."

"To put it bluntly, big companies are afraid of being slow to act, while small companies are afraid of having a weak foundation." "But you are now right in the middle, able to benefit from the technology and connections of big companies, while also using the flexibility of small companies to develop the market."

Oh crap...!
Chen Luyang, who had just been injected with adrenaline yesterday and hadn't fully digested it yet...
Today, I was once again furious and got a huge dose of motivation from someone!

He couldn't help but pick up two pieces of red sausage to suppress his excitement.

One yuan, two yuan, three yuan, four yuan...

Five or six yuan!!!

He Dahua stared in astonishment at Chen Luyang, who was proudly displaying her red sausage, and slowly, subtly, moved her chopsticks to another dish.

Leave all the red sausage for Chen Luyang to eat!
This meal was absolutely delicious!

The aroma was so strong that Chen Luyang immediately gave the red sausage she had given to Lu Yongqiang to He Dahua as well!

The weather in Pian'ercheng is not as good as in the provincial capital.

Red sausages contain no preservatives and spoil easily after a few days.

Instead of waiting for Lu Yongqiang, let He Dahua have his fill first.

In the afternoon, after having a full meal, Chen Luyang took the bus back to the repair shop.

Before I could even settle in, the repair shop door was pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in, carrying large and small bags and looking travel-worn.

"Zhang Nan!"

Chen Luyang stood up happily and practically ran over to help take his luggage.

"Isn't school supposed to start next week? Why are you back so early!"

Zhang Nan happily took off her frosted glasses, her nose and cheeks red from the cold, and said happily:
"Haha, I thought the factory was empty, I didn't expect you all to be back!"

"I had already bought a train ticket, and I was supposed to arrive in Pian'ercheng the day after tomorrow."

"I was itching to stay at home, so I thought I might as well come back early. I went straight here as soon as I got off the train to see if the repair shop was open."

"To my surprise, when I opened the door, everyone was already there!"

Chen Luyang laughed and said, "That's perfect! We'll stay at the factory for the next few days, and then we'll go back to school together when it starts!"

Saying,

Chen Luyang put her arm around Zhang Nan's shoulder and pushed him inside.

Before they had even taken a few steps...

Chen Luyang noticed Zhang Nan's hand and immediately frowned.

"Senior brother, how did your hand get so badly injured?!"

Zhang Nan's hands were covered in purple patches from the cold, and her knuckles were cracked, with thin streaks of blood visible seeping out.

They were covered in chilblains.

Zhang Nan glanced down and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing, it's like this every year when I go home."

"Helping to chop firewood and carry water at home, my hands would get sores as soon as they got wet and were exposed to the wind."

Chen Luyang frowned: "This is nothing? Look how cracked your hand is!!"

"I'll buy you a bottle of frostbite cream and some hand oil later. Your hands are the most valuable treasure in our repair shop, so you have to take good care of them."

Zhang Nan felt embarrassed by what was said.

"It's not that exaggerated... My hand is just a tool at best, not a treasure."

Chen Luyang's eyes widened.

"Come on, if your hand is really ruined, where am I going to find another Tu Wang?"

After settling Zhang Nan in, Chen Luyang turned around and went out to buy him some frostbite cream and hand oil.

After dinner,

Zhang Nan put her luggage away, tidied up her bed and the table where she usually drew blueprints, and then went downstairs with a half-stack of unfinished blueprints in her arms.

Spread the drawings out on the familiar lathe.
Zhang Nan bent down to examine the brake cylinder assembly placed to the side closely, rubbing his fingers back and forth on the outer wall of the part, and then made a few strokes on the paper.

Currently, the repair shop has completed the work in two batches, producing six parts in total: universal nozzles, universal gaskets, universal spark plugs, brake push rods, couplings, and ignition coil modules.

Before the holiday, the repair shop held a brief meeting and tentatively decided to focus the next phase of parts production on brake cylinder repair kits and suspension bushings.

The reason for choosing these two as the next parts to be produced is quite simple:
It's stable, fast, and effective.

Both brake cylinder repair kits and suspension bushings are among the most common and easily damaged parts in frontline repair work.

It has a wide range of vehicle compatibility, with demand for almost everything from passenger cars to light trucks, making it an essential component that "everyone's car needs."

If it's made universal, even if it's launched on the market, it will never be a liability.

Moreover, the brake cylinder repair kit can directly solve major problems such as "brake oil leakage and slippage" in vehicles; while the suspension bushings can significantly improve bumps and abnormal noises.

Once these two parts are launched, car owners and drivers will immediately feel the effects, which will quickly build a positive reputation.

Zhang Nan already had a plan in mind.

Unfortunately, I had to go home for the holidays, so I could only hastily shove a few sketches into my notebook, and many details were not accurate.

Now that he finally has a physical object to refer to, Zhang Nan can't stop. He spread out the blueprints and got to work!
The blank corners of the drawings were gradually filled with the dimensions of the relief groove, the code of the tolerance zone, and even the process sequence of "0.3 allowance after heat treatment".

Chen Luyang and the others were chatting idly, talking about who got drunk and made a fool of themselves during the New Year.

When they saw Zhang Nan, they were all stunned.

Chen Luyang asked in surprise, "Senior brother, you're drawing as soon as you get back? Don't you want to rest?"

Zhang Nan said apologetically, "At home, I can only think about it, and I'm not sure about many details. Now that the parts are in front of me, I'm thinking of filling in the gaps in the details."

Looking at Zhang Nan's focused drawing,
Chen Luyang: I got caught up in it...

He originally thought that since everyone had just returned to the repair shop, there was no rush to get back to work; they should have a week to get back into the swing of things.

But who would have thought that the mechanics department's drawing expert wouldn't care about anything else and would just come back and start drawing right away.

In this case……

Then I won't stand on ceremony!

Turn around,
Chen Luyang ran upstairs, thumped around for a while, and then ran back downstairs carrying a large pile of blueprints.

In Zhang Nan's bewildered expression,
Chen Luyang said, "Senior brother, these are the blueprints that our factory's engineers revised. Take a look."

Ok? !

The engineers revised the blueprints?!
Upon hearing these ten words, Zhang Nan's eyes lit up instantly.

This is real stuff, earned through hands-on experience!

It's important to understand that engineers in the workshop don't just draw from books; behind every line they make lies the experience of machine tool roars and metal shavings flying.

Zhang Nan eagerly unfolded the pages one by one.

Upon seeing the dozens of detailed alterations on the drawing, Zhang Nan's breath hitched, and her face flushed red.

shame……

(End of this chapter)