The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 150 Catching Up with International Excellence: Leaders Visit the Factory
Staff sent by the Ministry of Agriculture devised a renovation plan at the factory, intending to transform the empty workshop space into a place that could be used to develop agricultural and sideline products.

The renovation will certainly require some investment, but if it can yield a large amount of agricultural products to fill the factory's food shortage, then the investment will be worthwhile.

Moreover, Professor Liu praised Zhou Zhiqiang for his good eye, saying that mushrooms and rabbits are harvested in multiple batches over a year, and as long as they are carefully cared for, there will definitely be a harvest.

It's not surprising that someone studying agriculture or animal husbandry would think of these things, but it's quite remarkable that someone working in the mechanical industry would know them.

In particular, the technical experience in mushroom cultivation was something that the Shanghai Agricultural College had only researched two months ago.

If they succeed in cultivating it in the factory of the Second Machine Tool Plant, they will gain another valuable experience in promotion.

That's why the Ministry of Agriculture sent people to provide technical guidance. Now, every additional region that starts mushroom cultivation provides valuable experience and feedback, which can be considered a testing ground for them.

After entrusting the matter to Professor Liu and Tian Wenguo, the logistics director, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't pay much attention to it.

For Zhou Zhiqiang now, the most important thing is the assembly of the high-precision coordinate boring machine.

The next day, after everyone and the optical reading equipment returned to the factory workshop, Zhou Zhiqiang was the first to step forward and inspect them.

After carefully taking it out and placing it on the workbench, Zhou Zhiqiang examined each part meticulously.

After a while, Section Chief Ding couldn't help but ask, "Factory Director, how is it?"

"There are no problems for now, but ultimately it depends on the precision of the manufactured parts. Let's assemble them first."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said that even with his sharp eyes, he couldn't spot the problem immediately, but the parts that were visible were perfectly fine.

The final precision of the manufactured parts must be the standard; there's no faking that.

At Zhou Zhiqiang's command, the machine tool they had been working on for nearly half a year began its final assembly.

Zhou Zhiqiang watched the whole process, intending to stop it immediately if he noticed anything wrong, but he didn't expect that the technical staff and assembly workers were so skilled that Zhou Zhiqiang didn't need to remind them at all.

It took several hours, almost until the end of the day, for the high-precision coordinate boring machine to be successfully assembled.

After the boring machine was started, Ding Zhixue, the head of the technical department, saw the final product and his eyes turned a little red with excitement.

"Don't get excited yet, let's test the final processing effect first."

Zhou Zhiqiang took out a pre-prepared blueprint of a component, a gear shaft, and handed it over, saying, "Make this and see how much precision you can achieve."

"Okay, director."

After the worker finished speaking, he took the blueprints and the pre-prepared parts and began processing them.

The hissing sound of machining continued. After it was finished, the boring machine operator in front of the workbench hurriedly said to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Factory manager, it's done. Come and check it."

After Zhou Zhiqiang got his hands on it, he carefully checked it over. After using the micrometer, he also used an optical measuring instrument that he had bought from the Russians.

After that, he conducted other measurements and checked them several times before Zhou Zhiqiang announced with a big smile, "It's a success! The accuracy is just as expected. You are all heroes of the factory!"

With a coordinate accuracy of three micrometers, it has absolutely caught up with the world's top boring machines. I'm afraid that the machine tools in Russia are at the same level. But that might not be the case.

Their style has always been characterized by 'roughness', which is reflected in all aspects. While the Russians' industrial level is indeed high, the precision of their machine tools is not necessarily so.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have secretly sought to buy machine tools from Japan more than a decade later.

"Oh!! It finally worked!"

"Great! That's fantastic! Our factory can finally manufacture high-precision machine tools!"

"Factory manager, it really worked? That's fantastic! We've done a great job, haven't we? Could you ask the canteen to treat us to a meal?"

"Hey, Zhao Laoniu, all you know is how to eat! Don't you know anything about the factory? Don't give the factory manager a hard time."

"I...I just said it offhand."

"That's not OK!"

Amid cheers and celebrations, some arguments broke out, but they were quickly drowned out by the joyful cheers of the other workers.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang still heard that the food at the factory hadn't been very good lately. Although there was meat, it was only once or twice a month, and even then, it was just small bits of meat.

That's barely even half a meat dish.

Zhao Erniu is an experienced craftsman with a level six skill. He was the one who suggested that the cafeteria prepare a nice celebratory meal.

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the other workers.

Most of these frontline workers have great respect for Zhou Zhiqiang.

Their processing skills are superior to theirs, they know more, and they work far more overtime hours than they do. They are also generous in offering guidance on any technical issues that may arise.

Moreover, since coming to the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang has never been seen eating at the special canteen. It can be said that Zhou Zhiqiang's performance at the factory has earned the admiration of these workers from the bottom of their hearts.

They naturally didn't want to put Zhou Zhiqiang, the deputy factory director, in a difficult position. What kind of situation is this now? The street office has even adjusted the grain rations, and the meat and oil quotas have been reduced.

It's considered good if they can get a little meat at the factory. When they go home, their family of several people only eat a few ounces of meat, which is not as good as what they get at the factory.

"Comrades!"

Zhou Zhiqiang shouted loudly, causing all the workers and technicians in the workshop who were cheering and celebrating to stop and look at him.

"We did succeed, and the boring machines we manufactured are almost on par with those of Western countries. This is all thanks to the efforts of everyone in our factory."
Tomorrow I will report to the leadership and invite them to visit our factory to see our achievements; I can tell you in advance that the machine tools we develop and produce are absolutely the most needed in China's cutting-edge manufacturing sector.

Zhou Zhiqiang paused here, then looked around at everyone before continuing.
"I just heard someone wanting a nice meal. Logically speaking, given the excellent results we've achieved, it's not unreasonable for the cafeteria to provide a good meal."
But I won't lie to you about the situation at the factory. If you eat your fill of something good, you probably won't see any meat or oil for the next two or three months."

"Things are tough right now, we have to plan our meals. But!"

When the leaders come to see our results tomorrow, I'll have to beg them to give our factory a batch of supplies. I can't guarantee anything else, but at least they'll give you all an extra meat dish.

Upon hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's guarantee, the workers and technicians in the workshop cheered once again.

Being able to eat a meat dish is already a blessing. Now they only eat meat pieces once every two weeks, and it's the kind where two pieces of radish are served with a few meat pieces.

After the workers in the workshop had their moment of joy, Zhou Zhiqiang instructed, "Alright, it's getting late. Let's tidy up the workshop. Put away this boring machine and any other unused parts. We'll wait for the supervisor to come and inspect tomorrow."

After arranging the next tasks, Zhou Zhiqiang returned to his office and began working again.

Next, we will definitely need to arrange the production of new boring machines, and the demand is quite large. Boring machines that can process such high precision will probably be used in many places.

However, their factory's production volume just couldn't be increased, so Zhou Zhiqiang could only try to improve production efficiency as much as possible.

Now is not a good time to expand the factory. Hiring people is fine, but since there is a shortage of materials, it is better to hire a batch of temporary workers first.

Temporary workers can't buy food coupons from the factory; they only get paid 10.5 yuan a month. They don't care much about the money, but they can only hire people with urban household registration.

This way, the factory won't have to worry about increasing its food supply, and when the factory expands, these newly recruited temporary workers can be converted into permanent employees.

Zhou Zhiqiang was not only planning the upcoming production tasks, but also considering the temporary expansion of the factory. If the ministry couldn't approve the grain quota, then surely the wages for the temporary workers should be approved; otherwise, relying entirely on the factory to solve the problem itself would be too much of a burden.

However, with the new high-precision boring machine, the factory's financial problems will be greatly alleviated by this time next year.

I worked from near the end of the workday until after nine o'clock.

During this time, Zhang Yaoguo came in and knocked on the door, asking Zhou Zhiqiang if he wanted to eat, but Zhou Zhiqiang refused.

The thought process of arranging production tasks must not be interrupted, and at least there's something to eat when you get home.

"Also, we can further reduce the number of planers produced in the current production schedule and transfer a batch of people to workshops six, seven, and eight."

After making the last few adjustments, Zhou Zhiqiang looked up at the window and saw that it was already completely dark outside.

I glanced at my watch; it was almost ten o'clock.

"You've been busy until so late again."

Many times, Zhou Zhiqiang has been busy until this late without realizing it. He doesn't like to take breaks while working unless he really can't help it or someone disturbs him.

If his health permits, he estimates he could sit for a whole day.

This often caused Zhou Zhiqiang to miss his stop. Today, he had planned to go home at nine o'clock sharp, but he got so busy that he neglected everything around him.

Zhang Yaoguo seemed to have come in and reminded him once, but Zhou Zhiqiang didn't reply and waved for Zhang Yaoguo to leave.

After tidying up his work documents, putting the necessary ones in a locked drawer and the rest in his briefcase, Zhou Zhiqiang got up and walked out.

After leaving the office, Zhou Zhiqiang soon saw Zhang Yaoguo still at his desk. He went up to him a little embarrassed and said, "Yaoguo, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for so long."

"Factory manager, are you done with your work?"

After Zhang Yaoguo finished speaking, he stood up and continued, "I wasn't really waiting. I was just helping you, Factory Director, calculate the procurement matters submitted by the logistics department. You, Factory Director, are the one who is busy with the most important things for the factory."

I heard the new machine tool was developed today? The factory's future depends on you, factory manager.

"You, as the assistant, have also contributed to the factory's development."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking with a smile, he glanced at the documents on the table and asked, "What are you calculating?"

Zhang Yaoguo quickly picked up the document and said, "The logistics department plans to send people to purchase mushroom spawn and rabbits to bring back for cultivation. This is their application."

"Factory manager, didn't you ask me to calculate all the applied figures? I'm almost done."

"Okay, just hand it in to me by tomorrow afternoon. Don't do it today, it's too late."

Zhou Zhiqiang patted Zhang Yaoguo on the shoulder and said to him, "You've worked hard today. I'll have Master Ma take you home first, and then he'll take me home."

"Factory manager, let me take it to you first."

"Why argue over such a small thing? Come on, pack your things, I'll go call Master Ma, he'll wait for you at the factory gate later."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yaoguo hurriedly packed his things. He not only had to pack his own things, but also had to pack Zhou Zhiqiang's office and lock it.

This is something an assistant should do, and it can't be reduced every day.

Although working late while following Zhou Zhiqiang, Zhang Yaoguo had no complaints; he saw that Zhou Zhiqiang was even busier than him, and that he had to go down to the workshop to help out.

If even the boss is like this, it would be a bit embarrassing if his assistant were even lazier than the boss.

Moreover, as long as no fundamental mistakes are made, Zhou Zhiqiang will not be too harsh on some work-related errors.

------

Early the next morning.

After receiving a phone call, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately called Zhang Yaoguo in.

"Boss, is there anything I can do for you?"

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Go tell Secretary Li and Deputy Factory Director Sun that Deputy Leader Wu and Director Ren will be coming to our factory in thirty minutes. Meet at the factory office building in twenty-five minutes."

Also, notify Director Liu and ask him to make the necessary arrangements; call the security department as well, and make sure security is handled properly.

"It's not just the leaders from the Ministry of Machine Building who are coming this time; leaders from other ministries are also coming."

"I understand, boss."

Zhang Yaoguo was about to turn around and leave to make the notification, but then asked, "Sir, should we also tell the workshop directors? Tell them to..."

"No need. Leaders hate acting, and I don't like it either. I'll be the same as always."

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and said, "Go quickly."

"Yes, leader."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yaoguo immediately went to inform the other leaders, and Zhou Zhiqiang also made some preparations.

The rest is secondary; he'll have to find Deputy Leader Wu and complain to him properly later.

The factory's expenses are too high, and it hasn't had meat for a long time. We need to approve a sum of money to expand production, and then approve the amount of meat for a meal to reward the factory's heroes.

Zhou Zhiqiang had planned it out yesterday: to build four more workshops and then hire 800 temporary workers.

They were called temporary workers, but they were actually regular employees waiting for supplies to be restored. They were sent to the factory to learn the technology first.

This will increase the factory's production efficiency by at least one-third next year.

Zhou Zhiqiang was confident that he could quickly train the temporary workers; he had experience in this area, so he was about to get busy.

Although it is said that the capable should do more work, he did too much work.

It didn't take long.

Seeing that it was almost time, Zhou Zhiqiang went downstairs.

As I was leaving the office, I ran into Zhang Yaoguo, who was waiting at the door.

Upon seeing Zhou Zhiqiang emerge, Zhang Yaoguo hurriedly said, "Factory Director, you've finally come out! I was just about to knock on the door and ask when you went down."

"Yaoguo, don't worry, the leader hasn't arrived yet."

Zhou Zhiqiang pointed to his watch and said, "There's still a little time to spare, and the leaders won't be too demanding. You'll understand once you spend more time with them."

　Second update!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)