The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 57

For example, the large and small hammers used for blacksmithing, as well as the iron felt, all had very high quality requirements, which kept us busy for several more days.

"Young Master Xu, now that the ironworks is almost complete, what should we make next?" Chai the blacksmith asked Xu Tian one day.

"Foreman Chai, please wait a moment. I'll go and call Song Liang over as well, so we can discuss this together."

A few days ago, Yang Qi's nephew Zhang Donglai left, and now he can only rely on himself.

With limited staff at the factory and management stabilizing, there isn't much work to be done in this area. Song Liang participates in the workshop's production activities in his spare time, but his focus is currently on the woodworking workshop.

He's young and energetic; it would be a waste to only put him in management. With limited manpower, Xu Tian intends to cultivate him into a well-rounded talent proficient in both management and technology.

Song Liang came over covered in sweat, apparently he had been working.

"Song Liang, what's wrong? You're all sweaty. Once you've basically learned and mastered the skills, that's enough. Don't just focus on the work; think more about what aspects of production can be improved."

This was also Xu Tian's requirement: a qualified manager must have a thorough understanding of the factory's processes, which is similar to how factory managers in later generations had to go down to the workshop.

"I know, I was just too engrossed in what I was doing. Carpentry is quite interesting, and once I started, I got so absorbed in it that I forgot all about it."

In the office, several people sat around a table.

"Now I'd like to talk about the next steps in production. After this period of adjustment, things are gradually getting back on track."

These days, thanks to everyone's efforts, many new production tools have been manufactured, both for the ironworks and the woodworks, which have greatly improved the workshop's production efficiency.

"I'd like to thank Foreman Chai first. The carpentry workshop at least has a few skilled craftsmen, but the ironworks is still in its early stages, so the work mainly relies on you, which is quite tough," Xu Tian said first.

"What's so hard about this? It's just making a few small things, very easy. It's just a warm-up," the old blacksmith said casually.

As the saying goes, "A skilled craftsman must first have the right tools; sharpening the axe will not delay the work of chopping wood."

In recent days, through my observation, the woodworking workshop has become quite well-equipped with processing tools, but the tools are somewhat rudimentary, resulting in low processing efficiency, which will affect our future mass production.

Based on my initial analysis, there is room for improvement in the production efficiency of at least two processes.

One of the two men was a blacksmith, and the other was a novice. Neither of them was skilled in carpentry, so they just listened.

Xu Tian continued, "There are two very frequent and time-consuming processes in woodworking: one is cutting and sawing large pieces of logs into planks, and the other is drilling holes in the wood."

These two processes are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also require highly skilled operators. Currently, there are only three experienced masters who can do them.

For a novice apprentice to master these two skills, I reckon it will take at least several months of practice, and to catch up with an experienced person, it will probably take even longer.