The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 222 What an all-around factory manager!
"Director Zhong, I'm sorry to bother you."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang opened the door and called Zhong Zhishang in.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Zhishang quickly replied, "Director Zhou, you're too kind. It's just a phone call, and you're here to help out at our factory."

Putting aside his role as a member of the project team helping out at their heavy machinery factory, Zhou Zhiqiang is also the director of a large machine tool factory directly under a ministry, and one that once ranked first in foreign exchange earnings.

To be honest, their heavy machinery factory only benefited from being built a few years earlier and being one of the aid projects from Russia.

Without these two points, we would probably have been left far behind by the Second Machine Tool Plant by now, and wouldn't even be a shadow of it.

Moreover, even with these two advantages, Liaoyang No. 1 Heavy Machinery Plant still failed to catch up with Sijiucheng No. 2 Machine Tool Plant. Their annual output value was far behind, which gave them an advantage in manufacturing heavy machinery and equipment.

"Director Zhou, has something happened at the machine tool factory?"

"It's nothing serious. They're just unsure about some production matters at the factory and wanted to ask me for advice and discussion. Once that's over, everything will be fine."

Zhou Zhiqiang casually remarked that he had known for a long time that Hou Yufeng would not behave himself, but he hadn't expected him to cause trouble so soon.

It was just a minor disturbance, the methods were nothing special, and it seemed like they were trying to make some contribution to production.

Let him do whatever he wants. No matter how much he does, he can't surpass Zhou Zhiqiang, the factory director.

"Director Zhong, I need to use your office phone again."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Zhishang pointed outside and said, "Then I'll go have another smoke."

"No need, no need. This time, we're talking about the heavy machine tool project team, which is also related to your heavy machinery factory. Director Zhong, there's no need to avoid the topic."

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and said that the heavy machine tool project was no less important than the First Heavy Machinery Plant, especially since their deputy factory director in charge of technology was involved in the project's progress throughout.

It is estimated that he will report to Director Zhong every few days, and there is no need to hide anything about the project team from him.

"I just wanted to ask about the materials research institute in Heilongjiang Province. Our plan is almost finished, but if the materials experiments can't keep up, we'll have to redesign it."

While explaining, Zhou Zhiqiang dialed a number: "Hello, this is Liaoyang No. 1 Heavy Machinery Factory, please transfer me to the 117 Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province."

"Team Leader Shen, how's it going? Can they do the test over there?" "Okay, I'll wait for your good news. Our design plan is almost finished; we just need to complete the drawings for some components of the transmission system."

"Okay, then I'll wait for your message."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang explained to Director Zhong: "The Liaoyang Materials Research Institute is a bit slow. They don't have the necessary testing facilities. They wanted to apply to their superiors to build them now. Team Leader Shen didn't know this and thought they could actually conduct the tests, which delayed things for several days."

Upon hearing this, Factory Director Zhong immediately complained, "How could they do that? Isn't this just delaying things?"

"Yes, our project team is quite fast. At their pace, even if the approval is granted immediately, it will still take more than a month before we can start testing."

"We'll have to wait this long; we don't have time to waste with them."

Zhou Zhiqiang explained that otherwise Team Leader Shen wouldn't have gotten so angry, and after reporting to his superiors, he would have taken a few people and fled to Heilongjiang Province.

The Liaoyang Materials Research Institute is likely to be criticized now, but it has nothing to do with them anymore.

How could they try to play dirty tricks on such an important project? They're showing a lack of consideration for the bigger picture.

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "Then, Director Zhong, I'll head back now. There's still some work to be done over there."

"Okay, okay, Director Zhou, you're busy."

Zhong Zhishang greeted Zhou Zhiqiang and saw him off.

After returning to the heavy machine tool project team office, Engineer Lin asked a couple of questions. Upon learning that it was unrelated to the heavy machine tool project team, he continued with his work.

Zhou Zhiqiang continued to draw the blueprints for the transmission system components. With a large team, the work could indeed be done quickly.

The main reason is that Team Leader Shen trusts Zhou Zhiqiang, and Engineer Lin also trusts him.

According to the project's research and development process, it is impossible to finalize the high-strength cast iron required for heavy machine tools without calculation and testing.

However, Shen Changlin and Engineer Lin were persuaded by Zhou Zhiqiang's proposal and were willing to take the risk. They split into two groups, one urging the production of high-strength cast iron for the heavy machine tool, and the other rushing to complete the overall design and component drawings.

If Zhou Zhiqiang is wrong, then all the time and resources they invested in the early stages may be wasted, and they will have to start all over again.

Fortunately, they all trusted Zhou Zhiqiang, which saved them a lot of time.

According to the procedure, they are currently in the stage of calculating and verifying the overall design scheme.

After exchanging a few words with Engineer Lin, Zhou Zhiqiang continued working on drawing up the parts blueprints.

He had previously told Team Leader Shen that if any difficulties arose during the high-strength cast iron experiment, he could come and help. But Team Leader Shen didn't call him, which means things must be going quite smoothly.

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After returning to the Second Machine Tool Plant, Secretary Li summoned Ding Zhixue from the Technical Section to his office and then spoke to him with a stern face.

"Section Chief Ding, did Factory Director Zhou consider implementing a shift system in the factory before? But in the end, for some reason, it was not implemented."

Upon hearing this, Ding Zhixue's heart skipped a beat. He had been busy teaching the technicians at the First Machine Tool Plant the process technology of CNC machine tools these past few days and had forgotten about this matter.

He remembered it a couple of days ago and originally wanted to find Director Zhou's summary of the factory's production plan, but then he thought that Deputy Director Hou hadn't made any moves, so he postponed it.

The factory manager was the one who initially mentioned it, and he wrote it down, then compiled the report; because at that time, they were improving the factory's production process, so he, as the head of the technical department, was involved. Otherwise, the head of the scheduling department should have been in charge of this matter.

"Secretary, yes, that's true. I was doing a survey in the factory workshop with the factory director. After the director came up with his conclusions, he handed them over to me since they weren't used."

Ding Zhixue said somewhat guiltily that he should have found it and submitted it immediately after the meeting, but he was so busy that he forgot about it.

It was only when Secretary Li personally inquired that he remembered this matter.

"Secretary, I've found the research report left by the factory director. It was the one we were busy with later to entertain the technicians from the First Machine Tool Plant."

However, before Ding Zhixue could finish speaking, Li Younian interrupted him, saying, "Don't make excuses. You can forget about meetings you've already had. Do you need an assistant to remember?"
"Right now, find the research summary that Comrade Zhiqiang left behind and send it to Deputy Factory Director Hou."

As Li Younian spoke, he took out a piece of paper and wrote, "In a moment, send this note along with this note to Deputy Factory Director Hou."

"Yes, Secretary."

Ding Zhixue quickly said that although he had been scolded, it seemed that the matter was over.

Even though he was curious about what Secretary Li had written on the note, he didn't dare to peek.

After Secretary Li finished writing, he handed the completed approval note directly to Ding Zhixue and said to him, "Give this approval note, along with the research summary on production shift work left by Factory Director Zhou, to Deputy Factory Director Hou."

And please convey this message: If Comrade Yufeng is not entirely satisfied with the handling of this matter, please continue to investigate and compile reliable implementation plans for discussion at the meeting.

"I understand, Secretary Li."

Ding Zhixue took the approval slip and glanced at it; his heart skipped a beat.

The replies written on these slips were not very polite; if Deputy Factory Director Hou saw them, he would probably be furious.

When the time comes, he, the one who goes there with the approval slip, will probably be used as a punching bag, right?

However, there was nothing he could do. He had been so busy with his own affairs that he had forgotten. Even though Ding Zhixue knew he would have to endure the sullen attitude of Deputy Factory Director Hou, he could only bite the bullet and say goodbye.

First, he went back to the technical department and found the research summary left by Zhou Zhiqiang, and then went to Deputy Director Hou's office.

After knocking on the door and hearing the voices inside, Ding Zhixue pushed the door open and went in.

Upon seeing that the visitor was the head of the technical department, Deputy Factory Director Hou greeted him with a smile and asked, "Section Chief Ding, what brings you here?"

"Um, Deputy Factory Director Hou, Secretary Li asked me to give you this, and this is Factory Director Zhou's research and summary on the production shift system."

I meant to find it last time, but I was busy hosting the technical staff from the First Machine Tool Plant and forgot."

Ding Zhixue was a little embarrassed when he said these words.

However, Deputy Factory Director Hou's expression changed even more, especially after hearing Ding Zhixue bring over a research summary from Factory Director Zhou regarding the production shift system.
What about all his hard work and research these past few days?
You didn't mean it? You can even forget this? Was it really unintentional, Chief Ding Zhike?

The smile on Deputy Factory Director Hou's face vanished. He stared at Ding Zhixue for a while before smiling again and saying, "Is that so? Then let me take a look."

After seeing the reply note written by Secretary Li, Deputy Factory Director Hou's face darkened even more.

Director Zhou replied that the cadre incentive mechanism did not need to be discussed; if there were any questions, one could personally go to Liaoyang to discuss it with him in detail, or a factory-wide vote could be held.

"The production shift system has been surveyed and summarized. Section Chief Ding has submitted it to Comrade Yu Feng for review. If there are any objections, a detailed survey summary will be conducted and discussed at the next meeting."

Factory Director Zhou replied that the welfare benefits for senior management have been cancelled, and that the factory's finance department will keep detailed records, allowing any manager to inquire about welfare expenses.

There were three replies. Two of them were almost like Zhou Zhiqiang's comments, and the other was to show him a summary of Zhou Zhiqiang's previous research on shift work.

Deputy Factory Director Hou opened the document and slowly began to read the research summary written by Zhou Zhiqiang.

Moreover, Deputy Factory Director Hou quickly discovered something he had overlooked: the product qualification rate.

If the product qualification rate hasn't decreased, then implementing a shift system is completely pointless. Anyone can see at a glance which production efficiency is higher.

"You can go back now."

Deputy Factory Director Hou's gaze towards Ding Zhixue was a bit off; he no longer used polite forms of address.

If I had told him earlier, or even given him the document immediately after the meeting, he wouldn't have wasted several days running around the workshop.

After Ding Zhixue left, Deputy Factory Director Hou picked up the phone again and dialed the Inspection Department: "Hello, Inspection Department? This is Hou Yufeng. Could you please provide me with a summary of the product qualification rates for each workshop over the past six months?"

Yes, right now, I need it urgently.

After finishing the story, Deputy Director Hou hung up the phone. He was a little unwilling, but he knew in his heart that it was probably useless to be unwilling. Zhou Zhiqiang would definitely have thought of this, otherwise he would not have made such a detailed summary.

Furthermore, it was suggested that he conduct another inspection and then make a judgment based on the product qualification rate.
In this way, even if the factory's product qualification rate drops and a shift system is needed to allow frontline workers to rest, it will be thanks to Zhou Zhiqiang, the factory manager.

The product inspection department quickly sent over the summary document of the product pass rate. They compile it monthly, so finding these documents is very convenient.

After reading it, Deputy Factory Director Hou completely gave up hope.

Although he felt angry and powerless, he also admired Zhou Zhiqiang. He was unlike any other young man; he was incredibly thoughtful in the factory.

He was able to lead the Second Machine Tool Plant, which was on the verge of being relegated to the Industrial Bureau of Beijing, to its current state of development. He not only understands research and development, but also has a deep understanding of production management.

(End of this chapter)