The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 233 Swift and Decisive Handling

Threatening him is not an option.
If Zhou Zhiqiang is still being threatened by others after becoming the factory director, then he's wasted his time as factory director.

He planned to compile a driving tips manual and vehicle maintenance instructions. Back when he was at the Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory, those senior workers couldn't threaten him, and now these truck drivers shouldn't even think about threatening him.

After Zhou Zhiqiang dealt with the truck driver harshly, Section Chief Tang and others from the Publicity Department quickly admitted their mistakes.

They also stated that everything was a mistake caused by their own selfish motives and that they were willing to accept any punishment from the factory.

With Secretary Li also speaking up in their favor, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't impose a particularly severe punishment. Instead, he made them pay for the factory's losses and gave them a major demerit for their self-criticism.

He originally intended to transfer directly to another position. Since he likes to use his leadership power for personal gain so much, then he should become the boiler room team leader.

However, Section Chief Tang quickly knelt down to admit his mistake, and with Secretary Li saying a few words in his defense, the punishment was changed to a major demerit.

After sitting down, Section Chief Tang wiped away his cold sweat with lingering fear. Fortunately, he knelt down quickly. Although a major demerit meant he would have little chance of promotion in the future, at least he was still the head of the propaganda department.

The cadres in the meeting room were all surprised to find that Zhou Zhiqiang had such a tough temper.

The truck drivers in the transport team could stop whenever they wanted, without any threat whatsoever.

Having a transport fleet is crucial for any factory, since once the machine tools are produced, they can't simply let the customer come to pick them up. They need to transport the machine tools in batches.

Whether transporting goods to the train station or other warehouses, truck drivers are needed to help.

But they saw that Director Zhou was very firm, saying he didn't want it and that was it.

Although only eight people's work was suspended, they knew that Captain Niu had a lot of influence in the transport team and might be able to get the other truck drivers to stop working as well.

The transport team has more than 30 people, including five small car drivers, while the other large truck drivers are definitely clustered together.

Moreover, because Zhou Zhiqiang dealt with their team leader, the other truck drivers in the transport team might become unusually united.

Small car drivers certainly wouldn't do that, because they usually drive for leaders and don't receive that much in subsidies, so they basically don't leave Beijing. Of course, it's unrealistic to expect them to drive large vehicles.

We don't have enough staff, and it will take some time for them to get familiar with the procedures.

Zhou Zhiqiang already had a solution in mind, but there was no need to say it now, so he went on to talk about other things at the factory.

They were all related to correcting factory rules and regulations, and they also talked about how Zhao Tiandong and Wu Xiaojun were ostracized and voluntarily withdrew from the selection of model workers.

He didn't shy away from recommending people from his own family. Zhao Tiandong and Wu Xiaojun were transferred over by him, but they performed very well and were among the most hardworking in the factory.

It's an honor for him, the factory director, to say this. If both of them had reached the level of senior technicians, they would be worthy of competing for the title of advanced individual.

In the few years that Zhou Zhiqiang served as the factory director, the only thing he did that was to abuse his power for personal gain, which was to give Zhao Tiandong's wife a job during the recruitment process.

The rest of the time he just did what he was supposed to do, like transferring Zhao Tiandong and Wu Xiaojun to the factory.

That time, each cadre in the factory was allocated a number of positions, but Zhou Zhiqiang never did that again.

"Let's leave it at that for the minor matter of factory rules and regulations. Take this as a warning and don't fall into my trap again. I can forgive you the first time, but if there's a second time..."

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't finish his sentence, but the cadres present knew what he meant by what he was about to say.

Their factory director, Zhou, doesn't threaten people; he takes action without hesitation.

"There's one more thing, which I just received from Deputy Leader Wu before the meeting."

We're going to build a branch factory, mainly responsible for the research and development of semiconductor components for CNC machine tools and the research and design of integrated circuits. The initial plan is to locate it over the abandoned city wall, about six kilometers southeast of our current factory.

When Zhou Zhiqiang got to this point, he turned to look at Secretary Li, and then continued...

"I didn't expect the ministry to help our factory get the deal so quickly. The plan was submitted a couple of days ago, and the result came out today."

The branch factory plans to employ around 2,000 people. Although the Fourth Ministry of Machinery Industry will provide some support, technical and process training will depend on the factory's own development.

They say it depends on their own development, but it definitely depends on Zhou Zhiqiang to solve it alone.

Only he understands the technical processes and training in this area, and Zhou Zhiqiang spent more than half a year at Factory 190 when he was developing the CNC system.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, is the CNC branch factory going to be completed this year?"

Secretary Li asked with some surprise. He really didn't know about this, but the factory was going to build a new branch factory with 2,000 employees, which was considered a major event for the factory.

The branch factory in Changping only has a little over two thousand employees, and this CNC branch factory is built so close by.

"Yes, not only should it be completed this year, but we should also train the technical staff to the point that they can produce results."

Zhou Zhiqiang explained, "Actually, if our factory had space to expand further, we might have built a CNC workshop right inside the factory."

However, from a research and development and production perspective, establishing a branch factory is more suitable, and the ministry has now agreed. The next step is to discuss and finalize the details.

"This matter is expected to be completed within three months, followed by two months of training in technical processes. My focus will likely shift to the branch factory from now on."

Upon hearing this, Secretary Li nodded and said, "That's only right; the head office should also support and assist in the establishment of the branch factory."

The other cadres were also staring intently at Zhou Zhiqiang, hoping he would say something they wanted to hear.

However, they did not hear this from Zhou Zhiqiang until the end of the meeting.

Although it's a branch factory, if I'm transferred there, I might get promoted. Besides, the branch factory isn't in the main factory, so I have a bit more autonomy.

But Zhou Zhiqiang had no intention of transferring people from the factory, and even if he were to transfer people, it wouldn't be to transfer people in production management.

He's currently thinking about two people: Director Tian, ​​who's in charge of logistics, and Deputy Section Chief Yu, who's in charge of production scheduling.

One used to be the deputy factory director, and the other became the section chief directly; both were considered to have been promoted one level.

These two people can quickly set up these two departments; Zhou Zhiqiang will handle the rest himself. After clarifying the matter, Zhou Zhiqiang announced the end of the meeting, and no one else had anything to say.

Back in his office, Zhou Zhiqiang picked up the phone and called Director Wang of the First Machine Tool Plant.

"Hello, is this Factory Director Wang? This is Zhou Zhiqiang."

"Director Zhou? You're back? I was just thinking of calling you these past couple of days, but I didn't expect you to call me first. What a coincidence."

On the other end of the phone, Factory Director Wang said with a smile, "Factory Director Zhou, what's the matter? You can tell me first. I'll do my best to handle everything, whether it's possible or not."

"I didn't expect that Director Wang would guess my intentions before I even opened my mouth. Well then, I won't be polite. I'd like to borrow one of your factory's transport drivers."

Zhou Zhiqiang bluntly stated, "I dealt with our factory's transportation team today, and as a result, they threatened me that I would stop working."

As it happens, I'm the kind of person who doesn't respond well to threats, so I've come to Director Wang for help.

"It won't take long, three months will be enough. I'll also train an apprentice for our factory while I'm at it. I'll also be preparing some training for driver apprentices."

In addition to training apprentices, Zhou Zhiqiang also plans to temporarily suspend transportation tasks outside of Beijing and coordinate with other units to have them pick up goods in Beijing.

If he gets threatened by a few drivers this time, will he still be able to be the factory manager?
"Director Wang, I also know about driving and car training and repair techniques, but one person can't teach so many, so I need your factory's drivers to help me out for a while."

The subsidies and fuel consumption will all be accounted for through our factory's accounts; we'll definitely settle everything clearly on a business-to-business basis later.

After listening to Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Director Wang on the other end of the phone quickly said, "This is a small matter. Don't worry, Director Zhou, I will have the factory's transport team driver report to your factory this afternoon."

When there are transportation tasks, our two factories discuss and coordinate, making sure that the tasks between our sister factories don't interfere with each other.

Previously, the No. 1 Machine Tool Plant had taken on machine tool tasks, as well as learning CNC machine tool production technology, and the No. 2 Machine Tool Plant agreed to them without hesitation.

They even organized training sessions and provided technical guidance, and the Second Machine Tool Factory agreed without hesitation.

If their factory hesitates on this matter, then if the Second Machine Tool Factory has any good opportunities in the future, they won't get a chance.

"Okay, thank you, Director Wang. I still need to make a few more phone calls. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

"Okay, okay, then Director Zhou, you go ahead with your work, we'll talk another day."

Factory Director Wang originally wanted to talk to Zhou Zhiqiang about the Canton Fair, but he now knew that Zhou Zhiqiang was probably busy dealing with the transportation team, so he didn't disturb him.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang contacted Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory and the Second Steel Rolling Mill.

Both of these are large factories directly under ministries, and they have quite a few transport drivers. Borrowing them to help train some apprentices would be enough.

Moreover, they all had connections with Zhou Zhiqiang. After he made a phone call, both Factory Director Zhao and Factory Director Chen agreed and said they would send someone as soon as they received a call from the Second Machine Tool Factory.

After making the contact, Zhou Zhiqiang called over the head of the dispatching department, told him about the matter, and handed over the task of arranging the transportation to him.

If there are any transportation tasks in the next three months, then contact the transportation teams of these three factories.

In addition, we will recruit 30 more driver apprentices, with priority given to those who can transfer within the factory, but they must be able to endure hardship and learn diligently.

Upon hearing this, the head of the dispatching department immediately went to handle the matter.

Zhou Zhiqiang also took advantage of the fact that he wasn't particularly busy recently to pick up a pen and paper and summarize vehicle repair techniques.

The large trucks used in the factory were no challenge for him at all. He could figure out what was wrong and how to repair them after just one look.

Previously, regardless of whether this matter was a priority in his plans, the transportation team should just focus on doing a good job with transportation; the factory's subsidies were so generous.
A few short trips a month can earn you sixty or seventy yuan. If you take a long trip, the travel allowance, meal allowance, and accommodation allowance can easily add up to over a hundred yuan.

Not satisfied with that, they took advantage of their important position in the factory and tried to establish some kind of privileged class. Even the factory director didn't have any special privileges, but the transport team did, and they even dared to threaten him.

Zhou Zhiqiang made no attempt to hide his actions of contacting others; the information was quickly disseminated through the dispatch department.

Moreover, there was a transportation task scheduled for that afternoon, so after the head of the dispatching department returned, he called the First Machine Tool Plant and asked them to arrange a driver to help.

The First Machine Tool Factory also received the factory director's order, and immediately inquired about the number of people needed, and then arranged for a driver to drive there.

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Transportation team.

A dozen or so truck drivers gathered together, looking at Captain Niu, who was leading the group. One of them couldn't help but ask, "Captain, are we really going to leave it like this? Won't the factory manager be even angrier when he finds out?"

"So what if we're angry? Are we going to send the factory parts over? Without us truck drivers, are we going to have the workers carry them over?"

Captain Niu said nonchalantly, "It's not that we don't want to admit our mistakes, it's just that he insists on holding onto them and wants to transfer us to different positions."

"If we reassign all of us truck drivers, who will transport goods for the factory then?"

"Yes, Captain Niu is right. We must unite and not let those officials control us!"

One of the drivers immediately said, "We drive big trucks, and every time we risk our lives. It's already tiring and dangerous, and now we can't even stay in the factory's dormitory?"

What else can be said! We'll see who transports the factory's goods without truck drivers!

The driver who spoke was the same person who had cut in line at the cafeteria last week at noon and had been reprimanded by Zhou Zhiqiang.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang was busy with other things and forgot about this person. Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang felt that such a trivial matter as cutting in line was not worth mentioning in the meeting. But he seemed to remember it very well, fearing that Zhou Zhiqiang would punish him, so now he was urging the transport team to take a tougher stance.

Just then, Master Ma walked into the transport team and overheard their conversation. He couldn't help but smile and say...
"Are you still stirring things up here? Several large trucks just drove into the factory and are loading and unloading goods in the warehouse right now!"

He drives a car and had previously worked as Zhou Zhiqiang's driver for a period of time, so he had a good impression of Zhou Zhiqiang.

Moreover, even though he was a driver, Master Ma couldn't stand those who drove large trucks. There was a hierarchy of contempt among the different jobs in the production workshop, let alone for drivers like them.

(End of this chapter)