The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 64 This Year's Mission [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The matter was quickly approved at a meeting held by the Industry Bureau, with support from all levels of leadership.

The machine tool modification team will draw 30 people from Dafeng Machinery Factory itself, and another 50 people from other machinery factories.

Including some members of the project team, the machine tool modification team, totaling ninety people, plans to complete the modification of more than 80% of the machine tools at Dafeng Machinery Factory within a total of five months.

In the first two months, 30% of the machine tools were modified, and then production of small hand-held tractors began.

After that, they continued to modify and produce at the same time. It's only April now. Director Qiao of the Municipal Bureau of Industry has given Dafeng Machinery Factory the task of completing the production of 1,000 vehicles by the end of the year, which would be considered a success.

Factory Director Zhao and Deputy Factory Director Liu patted their chests and guaranteed that they would complete the task, but Zhou Zhiqiang felt it would be somewhat difficult, even arduous.

Simultaneously modifying and producing is an extremely difficult task; both sides will definitely require technical and process guidance, and ultimately the blame will fall on him.

But Zhou Zhiqiang is just one person; even if he worked himself to death, he couldn't split into two.

Moreover, the production process had to be rearranged, and there were production adjustments, so it's already quite impressive that production could start smoothly within two months.

Although the Municipal Bureau of Industry guaranteed that it would grant Dafeng Machinery Factory a recruitment approval in August, which would add about 900 permanent employees and 200 temporary employees.

After production began, Dafeng Machinery Factory immediately changed its name to Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory.

However, these workers don't help production much after they come in. It takes six months to get used to them and a year and a half to learn how to operate. If they can join the production team within two years, that's already considered good.

The name change was mostly just a morale booster, and it didn't really help production. Even if the production nature of Dafeng Machinery Factory was changed later, it wouldn't increase the initial production volume.

However, these things cannot be said openly.

Otherwise, if the leader says he can definitely do it, and Zhou Zhiqiang jumps out and says he can't, then it's not just a slap in the face, it's like using the leader's face to clean up his mess.

Zhou Zhiqiang hopes to transfer a batch of junior and intermediate workers from other factories so that they can quickly start production after a little adjustment.

But that's unlikely; other factories would probably not agree unless the city's industrial bureau fully supports it.

But to be honest, the support from the Municipal Bureau of Industry was substantial.

If the entire factory's machine tools were to be upgraded, the 30,000 yuan provided by An Xiangjie would definitely not be enough. The Municipal Bureau of Industry approved a total of 700,000 yuan to purchase some specific parts.

Fortunately, this was a modification; if we had to reorder the machine tools, the 700,000 yuan would have been wasted.

It would take several million to make a decent living.

The meeting didn't last long before it ended.

There was basically no idle talk at this meeting; we discussed the renovation needs, finalized the support, and made the decisions.

Emphasis should be placed on efficiency.

The meeting ended before dinner time, thwarting Zhou Zhiqiang's plan to mooch a meal at the Municipal Bureau.

After the meeting, Director Qiao glanced through the minutes and nodded. Then he looked up at Zhou Zhiqiang and said, "Comrade Zhiqiang, I noticed you had something to say earlier. Do you have any thoughts on the year-end production targets?"

"No, sir."

"If it exists, it exists. When we do things and carry out production, we must proceed from reality. Moreover, the leaders have said that we must respect the opinions of professionals."

When you heard about the 1,000 vehicles by the end of the year, you clearly wanted to say something, but then hesitated to speak because of some concerns. Director Qiao said with a smile, "Just say what you want to say directly. Otherwise, if you wait until halfway through the work, it will be too late."

"Young man, you need to have some drive. You're just like those old cadres now, not at all like someone who just graduated from university."

Zhou Zhiqiang said somewhat embarrassedly, "Boss, you have a good eye. I was thinking that it might be a bit too late to achieve the production target of 1,000 vehicles by the end of the year."

After all, our factory needs to first carry out special modifications to the machine tools, and then train production technicians. Only after both of these steps are completed can we smoothly begin production.

"Other measures like expanding the factory and increasing the number of workers will take at least two years to show results; for now..."

Upon hearing this, Secretary Yan and Factory Director Zhao showed no change in expression, clearly indicating that they were aware of the situation.

However, regardless of the situation, they plan to go back and find solutions, such as providing more unplanned supplies in terms of logistics, or organizing more cultural and recreational activities to boost the morale of the workers and encourage them to work harder.

Zhou Zhiqiang was purely considering things from a production perspective. It was already good enough if the apprentices didn't cause trouble when they first entered the factory; it was impossible to count them as productive forces.

“I am aware of this situation, so I do not intend to formally record the production target of producing one thousand vehicles by the end of the year in the documents.”

Director Qiao said, "This is a test to motivate your factory. If you can do it, you will give us and the leaders above a surprise!"
The Municipal Bureau of Industry will naturally provide corresponding rewards for your Dafeng Factory; however, if that's not possible, then proceed with the normal factory expansion process, so don't feel guilty.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang relaxed slightly and said, "Boss, if you put it that way, then I'll relax a little."

"Relax a little? That won't do, Comrade Zhiqiang, you can't let your guard down on this matter."

The task ahead is the most challenging for you.

"Boss, I certainly won't let my guard down."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang smiled and said, "It's enough to know that it's not mandatory to complete, otherwise I really wouldn't be confident."

YTO (Yituo) copied the Russian tractor for several years, but an accident occurred just before production was about to begin, forcing a postponement.

Although Zhou Zhiqiang can handle technical issues, production and manufacturing involve various aspects.

After chatting about some other issues, Zhou Zhiqiang and the others prepared to leave the Municipal Bureau of Industry.

When Secretary Yan came out, he saw the three tractors parked in front of the Industrial Bureau. He wanted to try driving one, but he had no driving experience at all.

I was afraid of hitting someone on the road or causing problems if I learned to drive on the spot, so I gave up the idea.

Afterwards, Secretary Yan drove back, and Zhou Zhiqiang, along with factory directors Zhao Guangzheng and Liu Fuhua, drove the tractor back again.

The tractor isn't fast, but it's about the speed of a normal bicycle ride, and it doesn't require much effort.

Not long after, the group returned to Dafeng Machinery Factory.

After parking the tractor back in the workshop, Zhao Guangzheng clapped his hands and turned to Lü Yi and Zhou Zhiqiang, saying, "Section Chief Lü, Deputy Section Chief Zhou, you two discuss it today, and then tomorrow or the day after. The day after tomorrow, come up with a modification process, and then we'll discuss it at the meeting."

"Yes, I understand, factory manager."

Lu Yi immediately said so, but he knew in his heart that he would definitely have to listen to Zhou Zhiqiang, the deputy section chief, more when it came to the machine tool modification.

After Director Zhao finished speaking, he left. However, Liu Fuhua did not leave immediately. He called Zhou Zhiqiang outside the workshop and said to him...
"Zhiqiang, don't overthink it. What you said at the Industry Bureau was quite good. The factory director and I have no objections to what you said."

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(End of this chapter)