The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 180 Project Confirmation, Chief Engineer
"From now on, all production tasks that do not require high precision will be assigned to the branch factory."

Inside the office, Zhou Zhiqiang said to the head of the dispatching department, "Our main factory has a lot of mid- to senior-level workers, so we are confident in processing parts with high precision requirements."

The branch factory isn't working; the workers there have a lower skill level. For now, we'll assign them tasks that are high-volume but low-difficulty.

The head of the dispatching department nodded and said, "Yes, factory manager, I will adjust the production allocation when I get back."

"And Section Chief Ding, the branch factory will also set up a technical department, but their technical department is mainly a maintenance team."

The technical training will still be handled by the head office's technical department, three times a month, three days each time.

Zhou Zhiqiang then assigned tasks to Ding Zhixue in the technical department, saying, "This is a long-term task. We must also improve the technical skills and production processes of the branch factory's workers."

Upon hearing this, Ding Zhixue quickly replied, "I understand, Factory Director."

"The branch factory manager has also confirmed it. When you come to the factory for a meeting this afternoon, you should confirm it with the branch factory manager."

Zhou Zhiqiang then talked to the two of them about some other things before letting them leave.

The framework of the branch factory was quickly set up, and the factory buildings are now under construction.

Once the new factory is completed, the equipment and personnel will be moved in, and then production tasks can be assigned to start producing the parts needed for the machine tools.

Tomorrow, the branch factory director and secretary will come to the factory for a meeting, and Deputy Director Liu will also be there to announce an appointment.

Zhou Zhiqiang was appointed as the acting factory director for a period of six months. If nothing goes wrong during these six months, he will be officially appointed.

Based on Zhou Zhiqiang's performance last year, becoming the factory director would have been no problem, but he is still too young.

If the Second Machine Tool Plant truly develops better and better in the future, and its machine tools break into foreign countries and become the number one in Asia, then...

If they had continued to build branch factories in other places at that time, the factory's level would have been upgraded again, and Zhou Zhiqiang would probably still be the youngest factory director in the country.

The reason they're making him go through the agency process now is to prevent others from having so many complaints later. Anyway, they're correct in terms of procedure; at most, it just means Zhou Zhiqiang's personal abilities are outstanding.

Despite Zhou Zhiqiang's frequent claims that he's not very good at production management, his superiors look at the actual situation.

The Second Machine Tool Plant has never had any production problems, even with increasing workloads and a shortage of supplies last year.

The Second Machine Tool Plant successfully completed its production tasks and even exceeded them.

Furthermore, the internal production of agricultural and sideline products solved a significant portion of the factory's material needs.

Judging from Zhou Zhiqiang's performance as deputy factory director and in managing production last year, he is absolutely qualified to be the factory director, and there are probably few factory directors who are even better than him.

So when he said things like he 'prefers technology research and development' or 'is not good at production management,' the leaders just listened and never took it seriously.

The first statement may be true, but the second statement is definitely false.

Zhou Zhiqiang was busy until noon, then got up to go to the cafeteria for lunch.

Two days have passed, but Deputy Leader Wu hasn't sent back any news.

This prevented Zhou Zhiqiang from fully dedicating himself to his work. If the CNC machine tool project didn't receive support, he would have to turn his attention to developing medium-sized machine tools.

He would identify the type of machine tool that was lacking in China and then develop that type of machine tool.

However, when it comes to the importance of medium-sized machine tools and CNC machine tools, Zhou Zhiqiang still thinks the latter is more important.

Whether it will work out depends on what Mr. Zhou thinks.

While thinking about this, Zhou Zhiqiang ate, so much so that he barely tasted the stir-fried mushrooms.

The Second Machine Tool Factory has recently gotten tired of eating stir-fried mushrooms. Although they are nutritious, it's hard to eat them every day.

Mushroom soup, stir-fried mushrooms, and pickled mushroom sauce—they ate more mushrooms than radishes last year; however, although the factory workers sighed when they saw the mushrooms, they didn't complain.

Having something to eat is already a blessing; eating mushrooms is better than not eating anything at all.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Zhiqiang returned to his office and worked for a while. Only after Zhang Yaoguo knocked on the door and came in to remind him that the department leaders had arrived did Zhou Zhiqiang get up and go downstairs.

When Zhou Zhiqiang arrived downstairs, he saw that in addition to Deputy Director Liu, there were also the branch factory's secretary and factory director.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, from today onwards you can call me Director Zhou."

Deputy Director Liu said with a smile, "Come and get acquainted. These two are Secretary Sun Zhi and Factory Director Wu Jun from the Second Machine Tool Supporting Plant."

This is Zhou Zhiqiang, the acting director of the Second Machine Tool Plant. You'll be working together in the same trench from now on, so get to know each other beforehand.

"Director Zhou, hello. I am Sun Zhi, and I am in charge of the discipline, ideology and personnel management of the Second Machine Tool Support Plant."

"Director Zhou, this is Wu Jun. You can arrange any production tasks the main factory needs in the future."

After Secretary Sun and Factory Director Wu introduced themselves, Zhou Zhiqiang shook hands with them to exchange information.

The branch factory is not a high-level factory, but that's only in comparison to the main factory.

In Changping, the Second Machine Tool Supporting Plant is a factory with nearly 3,000 employees and is also a deputy-departmental unit.

After the ministry merged these small factories and transferred workers, it became one of the top factories in Changping.

Following Sun Zhi and Wu Jun were some cadres from the branch factory, who were also there for the meeting. The branch factory's cadre positions weren't fully filled. Today, some people would be transferred from the head office to the branch factory's cadre positions to replenish the workforce and also to get the branch factory into production as quickly as possible.

"Alright, let's go to the meeting first."

After Deputy Director Liu finished speaking, he followed Zhou Zhiqiang toward the conference room.

The meeting mainly focused on two things: announcing that Zhou Zhiqiang would become the acting factory director, in charge of production management at the main factory and production guidance for the branch factories.

Then they announced that the branch factory could start production. It has been more than a month since the start of work after the Spring Festival.

The factory building has been completed. It is an expansion of a mechanical parts factory in Changping. The equipment and workers have been allocated and are ready to start production at any time.

The main factory is still expanding. The factory area has just been expanded, but the workers have not yet been transferred over.

In addition to these two things, Deputy Director Liu also arranged for some people from the main factory to go to the branch factory.

The production scheduling department, the technical department, and so on, are staffed by cadres or clerks who are very familiar with production.

These days, transferring a worker can be a bit troublesome, because if the worker is unwilling to go, then the union members have to go to their homes to do some ideological work and persuade them.

But if it's a transfer of cadres, then there's no question about it. Once you receive the assignment, you'd better set off immediately; cadres must take the lead, or you'll be removed.

After finishing discussing everything at the meeting, Deputy Director Liu swiftly prepared to leave. He stood up and said to Zhou Zhiqiang and Li Younian, "Director Zhou, Secretary Li, write down the matters concerning the production task guidance discussed between your main factory and branch factories."

I have some other things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. Oh, by the way, Director Zhou, come to the ministry after your meeting; Director Ren needs to speak with you.

"Okay, Deputy Director Liu, I'll come over after I've finished talking about this."

After Zhou Zhiqiang agreed, he talked to Secretary Sun and Factory Director Wu of the branch factory about the production tasks.

The branch factory's task is to produce supporting parts for the main factory. When Zhou Zhiqiang was researching and designing the two types of machine tools, he tried his best to standardize all the parts that could be made universal.

The current approach is to outsource the production of these high-demand components to the branch factories, while the main factory tackles the other more demanding tasks.

Zhou Zhiqiang was only concerned with the production tasks, and after explaining them, he left the scene early.

As for matters such as the construction of the branch factory's labor union, women's federation, and discipline, those are matters for other comrades.

------

dong dong!

After knocking and hearing an echo, Zhou Zhiqiang pushed the door open and asked directly, "Director Ren, what's the matter? Has the CNC machine tool project been approved?"

Seeing Zhou Zhiqiang's anxious expression, Director Ren put down his pen and smiled helplessly, "Comrade Zhiqiang, you look so anxious that I feel bad for teasing you."

"That's right, it's been approved. But let's go see Vice Leader Wu together to discuss the specifics. This time, our department is in charge, with other units assisting, but the specific arrangements still need to be finalized by Vice Leader Wu in a meeting as soon as possible."

After Director Ren finished speaking, he immediately stood up and walked with Zhou Zhiqiang toward Deputy Leader Wu's office.

Now they work efficiently and decisively, never dragging their feet, and finishing as quickly as possible.

Director Ren called Zhou Zhiqiang over to discuss something without beating around the bush. He took him directly to Deputy Leader Wu's office, knocked on the door, and entered, then spoke to Deputy Leader Wu.

"Sir, Comrade Zhiqiang has arrived."

"Okay, just a moment, I'll be right there."

Deputy Leader Wu seemed to be dealing with something important. After saying a few words, he looked up and then went back to work.

Zhou Zhiqiang and Director Ren sat on the sofa, looking very familiar with each other. Zhou Zhiqiang even got up and quietly made two cups of tea, and also refilled a cup of water for Deputy Leader Wu.

Ten minutes later.

Deputy Leader Wu stopped what he was doing and said, "Comrade Licheng, Comrade Zhiqiang, come here for a moment."

After the two arrived, Deputy Leader Wu continued, "After China Overseas approved it, I discussed it with other departments and units. These are the personnel and opinions they submitted earlier."

Comrade Zhiqiang, all the comrades you wanted to join are here, and they've even brought in quite a few more."

"This project is led by our department, with assistance from other departments and units. If you have no objections, then we'll appoint you as the chief engineer and person in charge of this project."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang immediately replied, "I have no objection, leader, but are there any requirements from above? For example, when should the results be produced?"

"I didn't say that, I've never asked that question before."

Deputy Leader Wu shook his head and said, "We don't understand the technology, so you researchers or engineers can handle the technical matters. As for Comrade Licheng, although I plan to make him the deputy leader, he won't offer any suggestions for your research and development."

Regarding the last large hydraulic press project, wasn't all the research and development work handled by Team Leader Shen and Deputy Team Leader Lin? Comrade Bo Rui never interfered in these matters.

"In short, leave professional tasks to professionals. If you think it will take a long time to develop and manufacture, then give us your estimated timeframe."
"Comrade Zhiqiang, this is your first time serving as chief engineer, so I've appointed Comrade Licheng as deputy team leader. If you have any questions, just ask him."

"But don't ask him about the technical stuff, you guys take care of that."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said, "I understand, sir."

(End of this chapter)