The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 74 The Master Craftsman Shows Off His Skills [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Deputy Section Chief Zhou."

Inside Workshop 9, Zhou Zhiqiang was explaining the assembly and modification work to several other workers while holding blueprints.

Before he could finish speaking, Ping Yanchang ran over, interrupted him, and patted him on the shoulder.

Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand to signal a pause, then turned around and asked, "What is it?"

Ping Yanchang said in a low voice, "The machining accuracy of the spindle still doesn't meet the requirements. Several technicians have tried, and the best result is only 0.3 millimeters off."

After listening, Zhou Zhiqiang frowned and said, "Although I said that not a single detail can be checked, the allowance is within five millimeters. What do you mean by bringing me 0.3 millimeters?"
Where's Master Hua? Let him try processing it.

Ping Yanchang said somewhat awkwardly, "This is what Master Hua processed. Several other level-eight craftsmen tried it, and Master Hua's processing is the closest to the original."

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Zhou Zhiqiang picked up the parts in Ping Yanchang's hand and looked at them. Then he frowned and said, "It's not difficult, but you need to be steady and patient. Find a young level 7 or level 6 worker to try. This bearing part is not difficult, you just need to be steady."

Master Hua's skills are superb, but he is now over forty years old. With his age and his fondness for drinking, he may not be as steady as some of the younger ones.

Upon hearing this, Ping Yanchang immediately nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll ask the other masters. What about Master Hua?"

"There's so much work to do, assign the rest to Master Hua; it's already been delayed for too long, if the spindle can't be machined out, I'll have to do it myself!"

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he told Ping Yanchang to go back and arrange the production of parts, while he went back to explain the blueprints for the machine tool modification to the others.

It's been almost half a month since the machine tool modification project started, and everything else is going smoothly except for the spindle, which has been a sticking point.

Logically, the first modified machine tool should have been able to start producing parts for small tractors five days ago, but because of this problem, it has been delayed for five days.

When Zhou Zhiqiang said he would personally handle the processing, he wasn't just saying it out of anger. He knows how to use machine tools and is familiar with the work processes of fitter and lathe operator.

Moreover, after receiving several simulation rewards, his brain and physical abilities were greatly enhanced.

Now Zhou Zhiqiang has both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. He has also learned a lot in the past few days. With a little practice, he will become a qualified old craftsman. Moreover, he is an all-rounder in machining, fitting, and welding.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang had too many things to do. He was busy with technical processes and production arrangements, and he also had a pregnant wife at home, so he couldn't work overtime until late.

The municipal industrial bureau still has a deadline for the task. If he had enough time, he would have gone to process high-precision bearings himself.

After seeing Ping Yanchang off, Zhou Zhiqiang continued to explain the technical processes to the machine tool assembly team.

However, after a short while, Zhou Zhiqiang could no longer continue speaking because of the arguing that came from afar.

Zhou Zhiqiang looked up at the other side, frowned, and said, "What are they doing over there? Making such a racket during work hours."

Workshop 9 is quite large, capable of accommodating over a hundred workers. Zhou Zhiqiang had no idea what had happened since the area was fenced off.

A worker in the factory's repair station glanced over and said, "It looks like Hirahiko Masakazu is arguing with one of the older workers."

"Wait a moment, I'll go take a look."

Zhou Zhiqiang put down the blueprints and then walked towards the place where the argument was taking place.

As soon as he got close, he heard Ping Yanchang arguing with another person. After listening for a few moments, Zhou Zhiqiang understood what had happened.

Master Hua, an eighth-grade worker at the Second Machinery Plant, felt that Ping Yanchang was looking down on him, an eighth-grade worker, by assigning the main shaft parts to another seventh-grade worker.

So he went to Ping Yanchang and demanded an explanation.

Unfortunately, the part processed by this level seven worker was also substandard, missing the mark by 0.2 millimeters. This made Master Hua a little upset, and he raised his voice, saying some things that showed he didn't trust these experienced workers.
Ping Yanchang was not old, but he was provoked by these words and got a little angry, so he argued with Hua Gongtian, an eighth-grade worker.

After understanding the reason for the argument, Zhou Zhiqiang walked past the crowd and stood in front of Ping Yanchang. He then said to Hua Gongtian, "Master Hua, I arranged all the production tasks in the renovation team. If you have any opinions, you can let me know."

“Hey, Deputy Section Chief Zhou, I can’t explain this to you. We’re all old, what can we explain to the young people?”

Zhou Zhiqiang spoke politely, but Hua Gongtian still spoke with a defiant tone.

He felt that it was an insult to him, an eighth-grade worker, to have a seventh-grade worker machine the parts instead of him, an eighth-grade worker.

"Everyone who's watching, stop looking and go back to work. We're pressed for time and have a heavy workload. If we don't finish the task, we won't be able to explain the progress."

Zhou Zhiqiang first called out to the people around him, telling them to go back to work, before turning to Hua Gongtian and saying, "Master Hua, I understand you have a problem with me, but the task is important. This project is crucial for our factory, and it's a task assigned by the Municipal Bureau of Industry. Could you perhaps complete the task first, and then I'll treat you to a special meal after the project is finished? Is that alright?"

"Trying to pressure me with the Municipal Bureau of Industry? I was working in the workshop back in the Republic of China era. Back then, everyone called me Master Hua."

I did nothing wrong, what can the Industrial Bureau do to me? And at the Second Machinery Factory, nobody said I was doing a bad job either.

Upon hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Hua Gongtian's anger not only didn't subside, but actually rose again.

Now that the workers are in charge, he, the master craftsman, is respected by many people in the Second Machinery Factory. Even the factory director greets him with a smile as "Master Hua".

What was Hua Gongtian afraid of? Besides, he felt he had done nothing wrong. How could a young man who had become a team leader possibly take advantage of him, a veteran?

"Okay, Master Hua, you can take a break first. If you get tired, have a cigarette."

Zhou Zhiqiang was too lazy to persuade him any further. He had already tried to reason with him twice, and he wasn't without temper. He turned to Ping Yanchang and said, "Go and ask Zhao Jiabao to come here."

Upon hearing this, Ping Yanchang immediately went to call Zhao Jiabao over.

Upon seeing the people arrive, Zhou Zhiqiang instructed Zhao Jiabao, "Jiabao, please take this opportunity to explain the installation team I'm leading. I'm busy here, so once you're ready, take them to Workshop 8."

Zhao Jiabao nodded and said, "I understand, Deputy Section Chief Zhou."

Then Zhou Zhiqiang turned to Ping Yanchang and said, "Bring me three blanks. I want to test how difficult this part is."

Ping Yanchang was taken aback when he heard this, but he quickly realized that Zhou Zhiqiang was planning to make the car parts himself.

Hua Gongtian, who was standing nearby, quickly realized what was going on. He chuckled and couldn't help but think to himself: "Young punk, does he really think just anyone can get a car part?"

"Go quickly, I don't have much time."

Zhou Zhiqiang urged again, and Ping Yanchang immediately went to get the blank, and soon brought back a pre-formed blank.

After receiving the blank, Zhou Zhiqiang stood in front of the machine tool, ready to start. Some people noticed and looked over curiously, but they had just been sent back to work and did not dare to approach again out of curiosity.

The others didn't have Hua Gongtian's stubborn temper and didn't want to clash with Zhou Zhiqiang, the project manager.

Zhou Zhiqiang mentally reviewed the steps involved in processing the parts. He now knew the dimensions of the parts, the machine operation, and the processing sequence. He knew all the steps and could replay them in his mind like a movie.

Moreover, he has a clear mind and sharp eyes, keen senses, and can steadily control his work; it can be said that he has everything a master craftsman should have, except for experience.

Once the machine tool was started and processing began, Zhou Zhiqiang devoted himself entirely to the workpiece.

Hua Gongtian, who was standing to the side, initially thought that Zhou Zhiqiang was just making things up, but as he watched, he became more and more surprised.

This technique is similar to that of some veteran lathe operators.

The first blank was quickly processed, and after Zhou Zhiqiang looked it over, he handed it to Ping Yanchang for inspection.

After completing the inspection, Ping Yanchang looked up with a troubled expression and said, "The journal is off by five millimeters, the inner hole is off by four millimeters, and there's more..."

"Okay, I see."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said that he did not expect to succeed on his first attempt. He stopped when he felt it was almost done, but now it seems that it was a bit too early.

Zhou Zhiqiang then took another piece of raw material and continued processing it.

After the successful processing this time, Ping Yanchang was shocked when he tested it again.

Although there are still a few errors, the largest error this time has been reduced to two millimeters, which is the level of many seventh-grade workers, or even eighth-grade workers.
During the third processing, Zhou Zhiqiang was extremely careful. Learning from his previous two failures, this time his hand was so steady that even if a fly landed on it, he wouldn't feel any wobbling.
After the processing was completed, before Zhou Zhiqiang could even speak, Ping Yanchang eagerly picked it up to inspect it.

This time, he checked every part several times to make sure there were no mistakes. Then, with a look of surprise, he shouted to Zhou Zhiqiang, "Deputy Section Chief Zhou, the maximum error is only three micrometers, it's perfectly qualified!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Gongtian, who was standing nearby, felt as if he had stepped on a stone and was almost unsteady on his feet.

"If it's qualified, it's qualified. Why are you making such a fuss? Don't disturb the other workers. Go and get me two more blanks. I'll process two more later."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking to Ping Yanchang, he turned to Hua Gongtian and said with a smile, "Master Hua, would you like to have a smoke? These parts are really worn out. Why don't you have a smoke and take a break?"

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)