The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 214 reminds you

"Mr. Lin, it seems that these are the problems that need to be solved for now. It's a pity that we can't borrow the computer."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with some regret, "If we could use the computer, it would greatly improve both the efficiency of motion calculation of the linkage axis and the efficiency of drawing, and might even shorten the research and development time by one year."

The motion accuracy parameters of heavy machine tools, the strength and rigidity of structural components, the precision control of supporting parts, and the joint debugging and control of the CNC system.
These are roughly the most critical issues. With the assistance of a computer, many parameters can be obtained quickly.

"Forget it, Comrade Zhiqiang. I've only seen a computer twice since it was invented, and both times it was that old computer at Tsinghua University."

I've heard of second-generation computers; I know our country's computers have been upgraded, but I have absolutely no idea what they look like.

Engineer Lin said with a smile, "Our country may not have many computers, but when there are more computers in the future, maybe every project will be able to use them."

But for now, we'll still rely on manual calculations.

There are probably more than ten computers in the whole country now, and there are many vacuum tube computers, so you have to be very careful when using them.

The best computers were supplied to the Northwest Research Base, and the rest were distributed to important research institutes.

It seems there was only one in the submarine project, but it was made of vacuum tubes and was extremely precious; everyone handled it with utmost care.

Heavy machine tools are important, but compared to the major national engineering projects mentioned earlier, they are far inferior and won't be included in the queue for now.

Zhou Zhiqiang then asked, "Have the R&D personnel for the other groups been finalized?"

"It's almost finalized. You weren't here the day before yesterday, so Deputy Director Liu asked me to give you the list. However, most of them are from Liaoyang or the Northeast. Only two groups are like ours, from Beijing."

After handing Zhou Zhiqiang a personnel list, Lin asked, "We're leaving next Monday; the tickets have already been bought."

Zhiqiang, remember to arrange everything before you leave, both at the factory and at home.

"Okay, Engineer Lin, everything is almost arranged in the next two days."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he looked through the personnel list. He didn't recognize many of the people, but it didn't matter. They were all in the same research and development team, so whether he recognized them or not was secondary.

There were quite a few participants, more than eighty people in total.

Then Zhou Zhiqiang took another look at the difficulties that the heavy machine tool needed to overcome, and soon he had an idea in mind.

He already has some solutions in mind, and the rest can be solved quickly by collecting simulation assistants a few more times.

In addition, Team Leader Shen is a decisive person. If Zhou Zhiqiang were fully confident and had been persuaded by him, Team Leader Shen might have skipped the unnecessary test steps and gone straight to the final assembly.

This could potentially save three to five months of time.

However, saving time means succeeding on the first try; there can be no mistakes, not even the slightest deviation.

The requirements at that time will definitely be ten times stricter than those for previous projects.

Zhou Zhiqiang suddenly remembered something and asked, "Engineer Lin, how's the resource allocation application going?"

Once a project is approved, the resource requirements must be reported immediately. If their project team can produce a design plan within a few months, the forging plant on the other side must free up production time for that period.

Once they've finished setting this up, they need to start production immediately on the other side. All of this requires prior application so that other factories can be prepared.

"Don't worry, Team Leader Shen and Deputy Team Leader Liu will definitely communicate. I mentioned Team One to them last time, but the specific time will have to be confirmed after we go to Liaoyang."

"Yes, there are some now."

dong dong!

Before Zhou Zhiqiang could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.

Then Wu's assistant pushed open the door and came in, saying, "Director Zhou, the leader needs to speak with you. He's asking if you're free right now?"

"Yes, we just finished discussing it on our end."

Zhou Zhiqiang and Engineer Lin simply discussed the list of R&D tasks for each stage, and that was all that needed to be said.

When Lin heard that the leader was looking for Zhou Zhiqiang, he also said, "Zhiqiang, I'll go first. We'll meet again on the day of departure."

"Okay, Engineer Lin."

After Lin left, Zhou Zhiqiang followed his assistant to Wu's office. After knocking and hearing Wu's voice, Zhou Zhiqiang pushed the door open and went inside.

"Boss, is there something you need from me?"

"We're leaving next week, is everything ready?"

Deputy Leader Wu asked with a smile, "You've been sent on a business trip to work on the project so soon after your daughter was born. Zhiqiang, you've really had a tough time."

"Boss, you shouldn't say that. I'm a file clerk; this is my job."

Zhou Zhiqiang shook his head and said, "Besides, the country treats me so well, what's a business trip? I, as a leader, am aware of this, and so is my wife."

His wife, Guo Yuting, was only unhappy for about ten minutes before she quickly understood.

Moreover, Guo Yuting often deals with resident statistics issues at the subdistrict office, and she knows best how many impoverished families there are in Jiaodaokou Subdistrict. Zhou Zhiqiang is working hard on industrial development.

In other words, it's about contributing to national development. Only when the country develops well will impoverished families gradually disappear. Guo Yuting has this kind of awareness.

Moreover, their family's standard of living is already among the top 5% in the country. If they don't work hard for the country's development, they would really be letting down the benefits the country has given them.

"Okay, that's good. Comrade Licheng has already told you about the expansion of the Second Machine Tool Plant, right? This time, you're expanding the CNC workshop, which will be used exclusively for the production of CNC machine tools."

After speaking, Deputy Leader Wu paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and then asked, "During your time in Liaoyang, did you have any thoughts on things at the factory?"

"Ideas. Everything that needs to be arranged has been arranged."

Zhou Zhiqiang thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Secretary Li will also be involved in the expansion, and Deputy Factory Director Liu and Deputy Factory Director Sun will be in charge of production. There won't be any problem if I leave for a year."

Furthermore, production will be the primary focus going forward, and there won't be any new R&D tasks for at least a year and a half, at least until I return. Currently, the technical department of the Second Machine Tool Plant doesn't yet possess the capability to develop large-scale machine tools.

"The ministry also allows you to make external contacts, but only when there are special circumstances in the factory. The Second Machine Tool Plant will contact Comrade Licheng, and then Comrade Licheng will contact Comrade Nianjun to relay the message to you."

Deputy Leader Wu continued, "Before you leave, we will arrange a new deputy director for the Second Machine Tool Plant, Comrade Hou Yufeng."

He will be in charge of the factory's day-to-day operations. If your factory continues to expand, it will soon have 10,000 employees. In China, factories with more than 10,000 employees usually have three deputy factory managers to handle the work.

Especially since Zhou Zhiqiang was going to participate in the project, the deputy leader Zhao had even more compelling reasons.

Leader Sheng and Deputy Leader Wu couldn't refute it either. They didn't object to recommending a deputy factory director to help, but they objected to the fact that this deputy factory director wasn't someone they had appointed.

The Second Machine Tool Plant is now the 'flagship' factory of the First Ministry of Machine Building, and it is poised for development, with everything thriving.

As a result, someone came and made things difficult for them.

"This is a good thing. More people mean more strength. But the wrong people came?"

Before Zhou Zhiqiang could finish speaking, he noticed that Vice Leader Wu's expression remained completely unchanged.

At this point, it was quite obvious that if he wasn't smiling, something was wrong, so Zhou Zhiqiang quickly inquired about the details.

"Sir, you seem quite reluctant to have Comrade Hou Yufeng come?"

"To be honest with you, this isn't a comrade from the Ministry of Machine Building or even the Ministry of Machinery Industry. He used to be from the Economic Committee. The person who suggested he go to your factory was Vice Leader Zhao, the one who previously criticized your work style as being somewhat autocratic."

Deputy Leader Wu said, "But don't worry. The Second Machine Tool Plant is directly under the ministry, and there's also Comrade Li Younian. The new deputy director must also prioritize development. This is the keynote and the task."

"I see. I understand."

After listening, Zhou Zhiqiang felt a bit troubled. The issue of the route had divided the people who all wanted to develop into two groups. They certainly didn't have selfish motives, but it was uncertain whether their ideas were right or wrong.

He felt that he and Deputy Leader Zhao's group were not on the same page, and he still thought that the big leader's bamboo stick was better.

"I understand, leader. Continue with the existing development strategy. The Second Machine Tool Plant hasn't become the number one in Asia yet."

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Before achieving this goal, I will definitely not allow any problems to arise in the development of the Second Machine Tool Plant."

"That's good. I was just reminding you that you don't need to worry about anything else in the Ministry of Machine Building. Go ahead and do your job with confidence."

Deputy Leader Wu said with a smile, "You should go back to the factory first. Comrade Licheng will bring the new deputy factory director to your factory this afternoon."

(End of this chapter)