Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

Chapter 273 Director Zheng Wants Li Feng to Become Deputy Director of the Director's Office

After listening to Director Zheng's plan for the ceramics factory, Li Feng couldn't help but admire Director Zheng's boldness. As far as Li Feng knew, neither Director Wei nor even the earlier directors had such an industrialization idea.

But the fact that Director Zheng made such a decision so soon after arriving was something that Li Feng had to admire.

Things like this require taking on a lot of responsibility.

Often, if a wrong decision leads to the failure of a plan, the price to pay can be quite severe.

of course!

If successful, then promotion will definitely not be a problem.

Moreover, this could be considered a personal achievement, since it was proposed by Director Zheng.

Most importantly, this requires coordinating many things both above and below.

Whether it's the ministry or the factory, Director Zheng needs to be meticulous in every aspect. It has to be said that Director Zheng's ideas are already very close to modern.

Ultimately, to achieve mass production of everyday porcelain, industrialization is indeed necessary to support production, and this applies to other products as well.

To modernize daily-use porcelain, the first step is to design machinery. Everything must be designed according to the production standards of ceramics. After the machinery is designed, worker training and the production of ceramic decals are equally important.

Both are indispensable.

According to Li Feng's prediction, with the current technology, even if the factory achieves industrialization of daily-use porcelain, it can at most achieve a medium level of refinement in its daily-use porcelain.

If the precision is even higher, then high-precision computer-aided plate making is required.

Because the designs for high-end industrial-grade everyday porcelain require sophisticated screen printing, it would be too time-consuming to do it by hand.

Therefore, computers are needed to assist.

But right now, it's completely impossible.

Modern computers are mostly bulky machines without window-based operating systems, not to mention software.

Therefore, at present, plate making can only be done manually.

These things are very complicated and cannot be solved in a short time.

However, most of the equipment in the factory is traditional porcelain-making equipment, so...

It's like starting a business all over again.

When Li Feng thought of this, he took a deep breath and then began to answer Director Zheng.

"Director Zheng, our factory does not yet have the conditions to do what you're talking about, and there are too many aspects involved, not only in terms of equipment, but also in terms of funding and the plate-making of decorative paper."

"All of this requires support from above."

"And most importantly, as far as I know, there is no fully automated porcelain-making equipment in the whole country."

"The porcelain-making equipment needs to be re-examined, so it will be difficult for our factory to industrialize the ceramics industry."

At this point, Li Feng had already explained most of the difficulties in the industrialization of ceramics.

After all, these are problems that will be encountered in the future.

Therefore, Li Feng decided to tell Director Zheng about these difficulties first, as he had considered these issues before.

However, after Li Feng finished speaking about these issues, Director Zheng's eyes were filled with admiration for Li Feng.

Because Director Zheng didn't expect that Li Feng had already thought of so many problems that would be encountered. Logically speaking, this is not something a painter needs to consider, but Li Feng has.

Moreover, he considered everything very comprehensively, so if Director Zheng thought that Li Feng was just drawing in the factory, then it was indeed a waste of his talent.

Director Zheng has been at the ceramics factory for some time now, but he hasn't yet found any young people with the same insightful vision for the factory's future as Li Feng.

Therefore, he needs young people like Li Feng to help him.

During his time at the factory, he had been trying to promote some people who were bold and decisive to work with him. However, after observing them, Director Zheng felt that most of them were not very suitable, because he felt that there were very few people like some middle-level leaders who had innovative ideas for the ceramics factory.

Therefore, it's difficult to implement one's ideas on them.

Although Director Zheng did not initially intend to produce everyday porcelain, he still thought he needed a subordinate who could carry out his ideas.

It's rare to find a young person nowadays who shares my thoughts, actions, and understanding of the ceramic industry system.

No matter what, Director Zheng will definitely find a way to get Li Feng to do things for him.

At this moment, Director Zheng paused for a moment, and then asked Li Feng.

"If our factory starts to promote the industrialization of daily-use ceramics, what equipment will we need?"

After hearing what Director Zheng said, Li Feng thought about it carefully.

Then Li Feng began to answer Director Zheng.

“For everyday porcelain, it is generally made by slip casting, so a slip casting machine, an automatic ball mill, a trimming machine, and equipment for extracting vacuum air are needed.”

"But these devices are all semi-automatic."

"So we need to buy it back and modify it."

"Machines for throwing and trimming pottery also need major modifications."

"At the beginning, I was a potter in the factory."

"I have some knowledge about this."

When Director Zheng heard Li Feng's words, he was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that Li Feng wasn't a painter before.

Just as Director Zheng was thinking about these things, Li Feng continued.

"After we resolve these issues, we still have some procedures to go through, such as glazing."

"Therefore, we still need to improve the equipment for glazing and dipping."

“If it’s glazing, it’s easier to solve, but it requires a production line with manual glazing.”

"However, with some modifications, automation can also be achieved."

"But this will take a lot of time."

"After completing the above steps, we arrive at the most crucial firing stage."

"Ideally, our factory should be equipped with an electric kiln that can regulate temperature."

"It seems that some factories have already equipped themselves with electric kilns."

"Currently, our factory uses wood-fired kilns to fire porcelain, while electric or gas kilns can be fired using electricity or liquefied petroleum gas."

"This makes it easier to control the temperature and also improves the yield rate."

"Moreover, our factory needs a lot of people with mechanical expertise, so that we can ensure the industrialization of daily-use porcelain."

"And most importantly, we need to establish a system to improve the operation of the machine."

When Li Feng got to this point, he let out a soft breath, and then looked at Director Zheng in front of him.

"These all require human, material, and financial resources to advance."

"Can the ministry really allocate that much money to promote this?"

After listening to Li Feng's words, Director Zheng immediately replied to Li Feng.

"Regarding the electric kiln, I have resubmitted the application to the ministry, and I believe that the ministry will approve it in a while."

"And then there are the things you just mentioned, I have some thoughts on them now."

“It is indeed very difficult to promote the industrialization of daily-use porcelain, but that is exactly what I need to do.”

"But you're right, to a large extent, this all needs to be approved by the ministry."

"It also requires strong support from the ministry."

"Minister Jiang had already spoken with me when I first took office."

"The ministry will definitely support my plans for the factory."

"You can rest assured about that."

After hearing what Director Zheng said, Li Feng was very surprised.

He didn't expect that while the applications for temperature-controlled electric kilns from Deputy Factory Director Zhu and Factory Director Wei were not approved, Factory Director Zheng was confident that they would be approved.

However, Li Feng was unaware that it wasn't that the ministry was refusing to approve the purchases; rather, it was because Factory Director Wei was retiring, so the ministry had temporarily frozen the factory's procurement of large equipment. Once a new factory director took office, the ministry would soon lift the freeze on the factory's procurement applications.

However, Li Feng was thinking that Director Zheng's background was too powerful. He was so young to become the director of the Five Star Ceramics Factory, and it seemed that he could apply for resources from the Ministry so easily.

If the ministry provides strong support, then this is not impossible.

If we only rely on the factory's financial resources, it's simply impossible to do.

Li Feng knew that although the ceramics factory made a lot of money, almost all of the profits had to be handed over to the state.

All factory expenses are budgeted by the factory, approved by the department, and then deducted from the profits turned over to the government.

Therefore, without the support of the ministry, this is completely impossible.

Since we have the support of the ministry, the only remaining issue is the availability of talent.

However, even after both are in place, it's not something that can be done well in a short time; it takes a considerable amount of time.

Once the industrialization system of daily-use porcelain at Wuxing Ceramics Factory is established, Wuxing Ceramics Factory will have no rivals in the field of daily-use porcelain in Beijing, or even nationwide.

Because Li Feng knew that once the industrial system for daily-use porcelain was established, it could be used indefinitely.

of course!

This needs to be updated and replaced.

However, by that time, the factory had a very strong reserve of both equipment and talent.

In the future, the factory will need all kinds of talents. At that time, the factory will not only need a single type of craftsman.

Because industrialization inevitably involves the supply of chemical materials, as well as the formulation and updating of chemical formulas.

The complexity involved is self-evident.

This is not something that one or two people can do well.

This requires a large number of professional chemistry experts to do well.

However, Li Feng thought that since Director Zheng came from the chemical industry, he should be able to get a lot of talent in the field of chemistry.

Therefore, Li Feng was not too worried about this.

However, Li Feng didn't know if Director Zheng was capable of doing these things.

Although Li Feng believed that Director Zheng had a strong background and was a capable person, this project was very complicated.

So Li Feng told Director Zheng what he had just thought of.

After thinking for a moment, Director Zheng answered Li Feng directly.

"Um!".

"Our factory doesn't need many people in the fields of machinery and chemical engineering for the time being."

"We can start small."

"I'll figure out a way to handle these things."

"Li Feng!"

"Are you interested in helping me with something?"

"As for the position, I'll start as the deputy director of my office."

When Li Feng heard what Director Zheng said, he was completely stunned.

He didn't expect that Director Zheng would directly ask him to be the deputy director of the director's office.

The deputy director of the factory director's office and the deputy director of the workshop are not the same thing, because the deputy director of the office is a full-fledged cadre, while the deputy director of the workshop can be either a worker or a cadre.

However, Li Feng is currently just a worker, both in his personnel file and in his official status.

When Li Feng thought of this, he couldn't help but whisper a reminder to Director Zheng.

"Director Zheng, I am just a worker now."

"The deputy director of this office."

Li Feng stopped there, confident that Director Zheng understood what he meant.

At this moment, after hearing Li Feng's words, Director Zheng smiled at Li Feng and said...

"That's easy."

"Just transfer the personnel."

"Workers can be promoted to cadres."

After listening to what Director Zheng said, Li Feng realized...

In reality, the promotion of cadres is just a matter of a word from the top two leaders.

If the top two leaders in the factory want to promote someone to a higher position, they can usually get it approved as long as they recommend them to their superiors.

However, they generally don't specifically promote anyone.

Unless the person who was promoted was of great help to him.

However, if Li Feng becomes the deputy director of the office, he certainly won't have that much time.

So Li Feng immediately explained to Director Zheng.

"Director Zheng, if I become the deputy director of your office, I won't have that much time to work as the deputy director of your office if I get into university."

"You know, I spend a lot of time at school."

However, at this moment, Director Zheng shook his head at Li Feng and said...

"You don't need to worry about that. You're not the only deputy director in the office."

"The director and two other deputy directors were also in the office."

"Your position as deputy director is just a figurehead."

"It doesn't need to be done full-time."

"Your job is to help me establish a system for the industrialization of daily-use ceramics."

"As for other things, I will arrange for others to do them."

"If you have no further questions, then this matter is settled."

"Regarding your transfer, I will arrange for personnel to handle the procedures."

Now, Director Zheng's goal is to get this done well, and once it's done...

Then I'll be close to getting a promotion.

With a little effort, it's not impossible to get a full-time position in a department within the ministry.

At this stage, it's no longer something you can achieve by relying solely on yourself.

If Secretary Chen in the factory doesn't get promoted in a few years, then he'll have to retire like Director Wei.

Factory Director Zheng is only around forty years old.

With his powerful connections, he definitely has a chance to be promoted.

Seeing that Director Zheng had already gone this far, Li Feng agreed.

"Since you've said so, Director Zheng."

"I will definitely do my best to cooperate with you in promoting the industrialization system of daily-use ceramics."

At this moment, Director Zheng saw that Li Feng had agreed.

So he stood up and walked over to Li Feng, then patted Li Feng on the shoulder with a smile.

"very good!".

"I need young people like you around me."

"Work hard with me, and your future will be much brighter than this."

(End of this chapter)