The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 258 Pre-New Year Conference: Finalizing the Research and Development Direction
"You don't need to worry about the finances. This is the R&D team for the integrated system of composite machining CNC machine tools. Special R&D funds will be approved next year."

Zhou Zhiqiang patted Tian Wenguo on the shoulder and said, "How much money can researchers afford? Besides, they are all very dedicated researchers. All they do every day is eat, drink, and keep warm. Just take care of their logistics."

Once the research and development is successful, the CNC branch will have the most advanced photolithography technology in the country. At that time, a bunch of electronics factories might come knocking on your door, Director Tian.

To say that these people are pure is by no means an exaggeration.

But once they get into the research and development phase, they can eat whatever they want.

They are content as long as they are not hungry or cold. Filling their stomachs and ensuring their hands are not so cold that they can't write are their minimum requirements.

Moreover, if there is overcapacity in CNC machining factories, it is unlikely that there will be overcapacity, as the domestic electronics industry has a huge shortage.

Even if the CNC machining plant really does exceed production limits,
Upon hearing this, Tian Wenguo assured him, "Then don't worry, Factory Director, I can definitely do it. But shouldn't we ask first? Just in case someone is planning to go home?"

"Okay, I'll ask first."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he also mentioned this matter to Zhao Chenghui. The latter thought about the distance between his home and his usual research and development work, and estimated that he would finish work after 11 o'clock every day.

Riding a bicycle for another ten miles or so at this time would indeed be quite dangerous.

So Zhao Chenghui planned to stay nearby, but he couldn't control everyone's thoughts, so he and Zhou Zhiqiang asked everyone together.

After inquiries and surveys, it was finally decided that they would stay at the guesthouse. The suitcases they brought were filled with changes of clothes; they had no intention of going home at all.

They used to live in the factory, but since they weren't in Factory 190 this time, they thought about staying in the CNC branch factory.

Living together would solve the problem, but if a few people actually wanted to go home, Zhou Zhiqiang would have to consider their safety.

After all, it was he who invited Zhao Chenghui and his group to participate in the project at the CNC branch. If anything were to happen to any of them, he, as the person primarily responsible, would be held accountable.

After Zhao Chenghui and his group warmed up by the stove for a while, Zhou Zhiqiang led them to familiarize themselves with the CNC branch factory.

After touring the semiconductor production workshop and the integrated circuit manufacturing workshop, Zhao Chenghui couldn't help but say with some surprise, "Zhiqiang, your branch factory is huge! It feels even bigger than our Factory 190."

"There's still a large vacant lot over there that hasn't been used yet, but our factory has already fenced it off."

Zhou Zhiqiang pointed to the fenced-off, undeveloped land and said, "It's estimated that there won't be enough funds to continue construction this year, and we also don't have enough semiconductor production technicians."

However, if the production demand of the CNC division increases next year or the year after, it may continue to invest in expansion.

The production scale of the CNC branch depends on the production efficiency of the main plant, and Jiuzhou Machine Tool's main plant is now relying on the popularity of CNC machine tools, so its annual production volume will only increase and not decrease.

Even if they stop all research and development now, their CNC machine tools will still be sold all over the country for the next fifteen years.

Moreover, if Zhou Zhiqiang were still alive, there would be no way he could stop Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory from conducting scientific research and development.

After touring the workshop, they took Zhao Chenghui and his group to see the canteen; of the three canteens, only one was in operation.

The remaining two canteens have basically become classrooms, where students are currently learning the basic theories and production processes related to semiconductor components.

This teaching has been going on for more than a month, and an assessment will be conducted before the end of the year. After the New Year, the apprentices who pass the assessment will be placed on the production workbench for practical production.

After the tour, Zhao Chenghui and his team had a better understanding of the CNC branch factory, so they wouldn't get lost there in the future.

Back in the conference room, after Zhou Zhiqiang and Zhao Chenghui's group rested for a while, he pulled over a blackboard and began to speak.

"Comrades, we're old acquaintances, so let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point."

The core objective of this joint research and development between our two factories is to overcome the current bottlenecks in photolithography processes, laying the foundation for the development of high-performance integrated CNC systems that meet the needs of composite processing.

As Zhou Zhiqiang spoke, he wrote down his recently compiled research and development ideas on the blackboard.

"The photolithography process we use now involves attaching a photomask and a coated silicon wafer together. Friction reduces the number of times the photomask can be used and also limits the improvement of precision and yield."

Next, we need to consider changing the photolithography process, and using a sophisticated optical system to project the pattern on the photomask in smaller size.

While explaining, he drew a rough schematic diagram on the blackboard, roughly demonstrating the theory of this photolithography process with practical diagrams.

At the same time, Zhou Zhiqiang also mentioned the unexpected events and difficulties that might occur during the research and development process. These were previously mentioned by Engineer Lin and Engineer Wang from Factory 190, and Zhou Zhiqiang summarized them today.

Although they still felt that optimizing the coating process or the light source was more reliable, this project was initiated by Zhou Zhiqiang. Lin and the others could offer suggestions, but they could not assist Zhou Zhiqiang.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang's domineering nature is only in his work style; he is never domineering in scientific research.

Explain any questions raised by the project team so that they can understand before proceeding with research and development experiments.

It wasn't until almost the end of the afternoon that they continued.

Zhou Zhiqiang then finished explaining his research and development plan in detail. The goal of the photolithography process research and development team was to achieve a highly integrated optomechanical-electronic-computer system engineering project.
He couldn't stay in the CNC branch factory for an extended period to help the lithography process R&D team solve problems; the main factory's technical department also needed Zhou Zhiqiang. Moreover, from the perspective of R&D personnel, the CNC branch factory was much stronger than the main factory. Zhou Zhiqiang needed to keep track of the overall project progress; he couldn't have the project almost finished here while the main factory hadn't even started.

"Comrades, this is our experimental plan and division of responsibilities. If there are no problems, shall we officially begin the research and development task tomorrow?"

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished tapping the blackboard, he turned to ask everyone in the room.

Zhao Chenghui said, "This division of labor is reasonable, let's do it this way. But we still have plenty of time tonight, right? We can sort out the design parameters first."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand and said, "Hey, Comrade Chenghui, let's just let it go today."

Even if you're busy, half an evening won't make a difference. Besides, you need to familiarize yourselves with the accommodations and settle in at the guesthouse.

"Director Tian has prepared toiletries for you. Have dinner tonight, and then get some rest at the guesthouse."

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then continued with a smile, "I'll treat everyone tonight, but we can't go out. I'll treat you all to a meal in the cafeteria."

He had previously told Tian Wenguo that he would set up a few tables in the factory canteen tonight to entertain Zhao Chenghui and the others.

The ingredients and the chef were all transferred from the main factory, and Zhou Zhiqiang also paid for them out of his own pocket; if they went to a restaurant outside, Zhou Zhiqiang would have money but no ration coupons, let alone thirty or so people, he couldn't even afford to feed five people.

After agreeing on the terms, Zhou Zhiqiang called over someone from the factory office to inquire about the special meal for the guests. The person from the factory office made an errand and returned to tell Zhou Zhiqiang that the special meal was already being prepared and that the meal would be ready in about twenty minutes.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang called Zhao Chenghui and the others, as well as the factory director Tian Wenguo, and together they headed to the canteen.

For the next month or so, Zhou Zhiqiang will likely be spending a significant amount of time at the main factory.

Tian Wenguo still needs to keep an eye on the branch factory.

Zhou Zhiqiang also told Tian Wenguo about Wu Youcai, the head of the purchasing department. There had been a mix-up with the position of logistics director, and he felt a little apologetic.

If Wu Youcai wants to come to the branch factory, Zhou Zhiqiang can make arrangements. He will ask Tian Wenguo to inquire and then inform him.

Zhou Zhiqiang remembered that Wu Youcai did a good job in procurement, and the CNC branch also needed a section chief who could procure materials.

------

It's almost time for the Lunar New Year.

The workers at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory have finally waited for this day they've been looking forward to the most.

Year-end commendation meeting.

Today, all the workers in the factory participated, and then the workers who received awards and honors were selected one by one.

At Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory, honors are linked to prizes; the better the honor, the more valuable the material prize.

This is not only an honor in terms of reputation, but it also adds a big item to the home.

Workers in other factories might work hard all year but not necessarily save enough to buy a bicycle; however, at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory, those who perform well can indeed receive a bicycle from the factory.

After receiving their benches, groups of workers headed towards the large assembly hall set up at the factory site, where they found their seats according to the workshop and department locations.

Some of the workers got bored while waiting, so they started smoking and chatting with each other.

"Hey, did you know? Our factory's logistics director got a real dressing down from the factory manager. I know why: the new logistics director tried to withhold his year-end bonus, and Factory Manager Zhou pointed at him and forced him to reprimand him."

Upon hearing this, another worker grinned and said, "I know about this too. It happened a long time ago. I know Grandpa Gao from the warehouse. He said that there were originally only five bicycles."

Five more trucks arrived later. Tsk tsk, if it weren't for our factory manager, this year's bonus would probably be half as much.

Upon hearing this, a worker with a short temper immediately retorted, "What does our workers' bonus have to do with him? What's wrong with this logistics director?"

"Who knows? Anyway, he got a scolding from the factory manager for this, and it seems like he was punished pretty severely. If you ask me, it has to be the factory manager."

As the workers talked, the topic turned to Zhou Zhiqiang again.

Unless it's something extremely confidential, it's impossible to keep secret in the factory, especially last month when Zhou Zhiqiang reprimanded Chang Zhiwei, the logistics manager, in front of all the factory's cadres.

The news spread within a few days.

However, at that time the workers were busy producing CNC machine tools, and even if they heard the news, they didn't have much energy to gossip about it.

But things are different now. It's the year-end commendation meeting, and the factory's production tasks have all been completed, so they can't talk freely about what's going on in the factory.

(End of this chapter)