The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 143 Meeting with All Factory Cadres [Please Subscribe]

"Factory manager, I'm not entirely sure if what you're saying about this technology is actually effective, but if it can be implemented, then we can truly manufacture the most precise boring machine in China right now."

Ding Zhixue said excitedly, "Our factory's greatest achievement before was imitating our big brother's planer and achieving domestic production."
But I must say with shame that the copied planer is slightly inferior in performance to its older sibling.

Their industrial support system is incomplete, and many things cannot be produced on a large scale, so they can only lower their production requirements.

If you reduce the speed a little here and a little there, the overall performance will fall behind.

This was a last resort; their industrial base was too weak.

Even though it has developed for several years now, its industrial base is still very weak, and many things still need to be imported.

"That's true, but we'll catch up step by step, starting with this boring machine."

Zhou Zhiqiang pointed to the blueprints and said, "Starting tomorrow, I will work with your technical department to tackle the research and development and strive to develop and manufacture this boring machine as soon as possible."

Ding Zhixue, still somewhat hesitant, asked, "Factory Director, some high-precision spindles and bearings can be manufactured with near-perfect precision by experienced senior technicians experimenting hundreds of times."
However, our factory simply doesn't have the capability to manufacture some of the equipment. We have to buy lithography equipment from our big brother, as well as prisms and lenses.”

"I will coordinate these things. To be honest, the reason I set a six-month timeframe is because I need to coordinate these things."

Zhou Zhiqiang reassured Ding Zhixue, saying that if it weren't for the lack of so many high-precision components, he wouldn't have needed to set a six-month plan.

This time, we will definitely need the help of the ministries to find a university or research institute with strong professional research and development capabilities.

Zhou Zhiqiang provided theoretical guidance and financial assistance, and they helped research the technological achievements.

The ministry is still withholding the more than two million yuan. Zhou Zhiqiang plans to get it all back and then allocate 500,000 yuan for the factory's emergency reserve funds.

The remaining 1.7 million was used entirely for the technological research and development of high-precision components.

The ministry also had to help buy things from abroad. Fortunately, this year we only had a slight falling out with the Russians and haven't completely broken ties yet.

Trade can still proceed, and we should buy back the goods and imitate them to achieve breakthroughs as soon as possible this year, otherwise we'll have to wait until next year or the year after.

The Russians refused to provide support and withdraw their troops, which gradually escalated into a military conflict.

This year is their best opportunity, which is why Zhou Zhiqiang demanded that it be manufactured within six months.

"Section Chief Ding, researching this kind of thing is very time-consuming, not to mention that many people in the technical department are unfamiliar with the boring machine technology I've presented."
If you don't spend time learning and understanding, you probably won't be able to participate at all, nor will you be able to offer any help.

Zhou Zhiqiang stopped speaking at this point, but Ding Zhixue understood what he was saying.

So Ding Zhixue assured him, "Factory Director, I understand what you mean. For the sake of industrial development, our technical department should be the first to work overtime."

Zhou Zhiqiang praised, "Okay, I'll ask the factory to approve a special fund to help the procurement department buy up some unplanned materials and then give them to those who work overtime."

"It's not just the factory that's facing difficulties; there are signs of hardship all over the country. As the deputy factory director, all I can do is try my best to ensure things go smoothly."

Ding Zhixue quickly said, "I understand, factory director. Actually, our family also received a notice from the neighborhood committee. Last year was like that... well, let's not talk about this anymore."

At the beginning of the year, Zhou Zhiqiang's family was also notified by the neighborhood office that their grain supply would be reduced by 10%, and the ratio of coarse grains to refined grains would also be adjusted.

Zhou Zhiqiang's family didn't need this, so they accepted it calmly. In fact, Zhou Zhiqiang even exchanged some national grain coupons and sent them to his father-in-law.

Buy as much as you can while things are still adjusting, because there will probably be another adjustment by the time of the autumn harvest, and then even with ration coupons you won't be able to buy any more.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. Go back and ask the people in the technical department. Don't force it. If there really is a situation at home, then we shouldn't pressure you."

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then continued, "Those who stay will receive some technical training."

I'm a Level 5 engineer, so I should be able to teach you some technical issues. This will make your future assessments easier and help you advance to the technician level.

"That's great!"

Ding Zhixue was the first to be happy after hearing this, as it was equivalent to "advanced training" under the deputy factory director, a truly rare opportunity.

Unless they have absolutely no ambition, they would definitely choose to stay.

"Alright, you can go back now. I still need to talk to the other factory managers."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't stand on ceremony and directly told Ding Zhixue to go back and talk to the people in the technical department about it.

He has a lot to do today; it's his first day at the factory, so it's bound to be his busiest.

Next, Zhou Zhiqiang met with nine workshop directors and talked to them about production tasks.

The nine workshop directors had no intention of fooling Zhou Zhiqiang, the deputy factory director who could accurately call out the names of everyone in their workshop, even the apprentices who had just arrived last year.

They answered whatever Zhou Zhiqiang asked.

All the workshop directors truthfully reported the difficulties they encountered in production to Zhou Zhiqiang.

The approaching Mount Tai will definitely lead to a downturn in production. This year's planned targets will be lowered, and the total output value by the end of the year will decrease. The factory's remaining profits will also decrease.

This is a vicious cycle, and it won't end unless there's a new technological breakthrough. Zhou Zhiqiang hasn't made any changes to production recently; he's just told them that he might be transferring some senior technicians to join the machine tool research group he's preparing to form.

There aren't many people; there might be around fifteen to twenty senior technicians, roughly two per workshop.

This will not affect production at all. All the workshop directors immediately agreed and assured each other that they would be ready to send manpower at any time.

After meeting with the workshop director, Zhou Zhiqiang asked Director Liu of the factory office to notify Tian Wenguo of the logistics department to come to the office.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door, and Zhou Zhiqiang immediately called out, "Come in."

"Deputy Factory Director Zhou, I'm here. What can I do for you?"

Director Tian Wenguo of the logistics department walked in with a smile, his kind smile making anyone who saw him feel a sense of closeness.

Zhou Zhiqiang pointed to the chair and said, "I wouldn't call it giving orders, I just came to talk to you about work."

Director Tian, ​​what are the latest standards for the procurement department regarding the purchase of unplanned materials?

"Um, Deputy Factory Director Zhou, what is this you're asking about?"

Before Tian Wenguo could finish speaking, seeing Zhou Zhiqiang's expressionless and indifferent face, he couldn't help but feel a chill, so he quickly changed his words.
"The recent unplanned procurement standard is fifteen yuan per month, Deputy Factory Director Zhou. Although it's a bit low, there's nothing we can do about it."

Last year, each person in the purchasing department received a standard payment of thirty or even fifty yuan, but this year even twenty yuan is barely enough; money is no longer a necessity.

Tian Wenguo, the logistics director, explained that fifteen yuan represents the total monthly procurement target, which can be broken down into how much is grain and how much is meat.
They usually have a purchase price, and they won't buy from those that are too expensive.

After all, the factory's budget is limited. If they buy meat at two or even three times the price, it could lead to the purchasing agent lining their own pockets.

After thinking it over, Zhou Zhiqiang said to Tian Wenguo, "I'll approve some funding for the purchasing department in a few days and ask them to purchase as much as possible."

The price for external purchases can be increased by 10%. You can discuss the specifics with the head of the purchasing department, but it can't be too high. The amount I approve for you won't be much, so try to spend it sparingly.

Director Tian was taken aback upon hearing this, then quickly said, "Deputy Factory Director Zhou, does our factory still have any money? The money I applied for from the finance department before hasn't been approved yet; they said we have to wait for approval from higher authorities."

"I'll apply for it in the next couple of days. You don't need to worry about the money, just complete the task."

Zhou Zhiqiang continued, "Once the money comes through, you should also apply for the money you've saved up. I'll give you a receipt then."

"Deputy Factory Director Zhou, should we discuss this with Deputy Factory Director Sun?"

"That's all for now, Director Tian. If there's nothing else, you can go back now. Remember to pass on the tasks to the purchasing department."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiqiang ignored Tian Wenguo and went about his other business.

'Just do the tasks I assign you.'

Seeing Zhou Zhiqiang's attitude, Tian Wenguo knew that nothing he said would make a difference, so he simply got up and took his leave.

Zhou Zhiqiang now needs to devote all his energy to the research and development and production of the new machine tool. He has no energy for anything else, and if anyone tries to sabotage him...
He can handle what he can handle himself, and if he can't handle it, he can go to Director Ren and Deputy Leader Wu to complain and get it resolved.

Zhou Zhiqiang had made a pledge, and anyone who stood in his way before the pledge expired would be a criminal.

After meeting with the logistics director, Zhou Zhiqiang called over the head of the security department and chatted with Section Chief Kong Yongqiang for a while.

After the conversation ended and Section Chief Kong left, Zhou Zhiqiang made a note of Section Chief Kong in his notebook.

Well, all I did was express my determination, but when I asked about the specific security work and improvement measures, I started to scratch my head.

Handling security work was also one of the tasks assigned to him by Director Ren. Kong Yongqiang didn't need to hide it from Zhou Zhiqiang, which meant that he was incompetent.

No wonder the security was so lax. It's also fortunate that the Second Machine Tool Factory didn't have any important secrets, nor any spies or big thieves.

The security department's normal duties are to catch internal thieves and patrol inside and outside the factory.

However, they can't relax like that anymore. Once Zhou Zhiqiang succeeds in developing and producing machine tools, they will definitely be among the most advanced in the country.

If the security measures of the security department are insufficient by then, the Second Machine Tool Factory will be in danger.

However, we'll give Section Chief Kong Yongqiang a chance first; Zhou Zhiqiang has already sent him back to make some changes.

If the rectification is not effective, then he will bring up the matter with Secretary Li again.

On his first day at the Second Machine Tool Plant, Zhou Zhiqiang dealt entirely with internal affairs. Only after all these affairs were settled could research and manufacturing begin.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang hadn't even collected the two million yuan in investment funds from the ministry yet.

He needs to summarize the preliminary research and development plan today, and then go to the ministry to ask the leaders for funding.

　Third update, please vote for me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)