Chapter 335 Yan Ta Brake Pads Just how many goodies are you hiding, family members of yours...?
"Principal Qin, why don't you give me some advice? Where can I put my skills to use?"
Jiang Guohua was originally quite shy, but under these circumstances, he was "not ashamed to ask questions." When going into business, of course, "making money" and "finding a way out" are more important.
He also guessed that since Qin Xiangxiang had chosen him to be a teacher at the business school, she must have come up with a way to "commercialize technology." He and Zhu Chonggui, these highly educated intellectuals, were "experts" in technology, but in terms of commercial application, Principal Qin was the real "expert."
Having experienced entrepreneurial failure, Jiang Guohua also realized that no matter how skilled one is, one cannot rely on technology to act recklessly.
Qin Xiangxiang said, "Professor Jiang, I think you should turn your attention to small businesses and workshops in rural towns."
Jiang Guohua remained silent for a moment. The blueprint he envisioned was an unmanned factory in the United States, while in his eyes, the large factories in China were already considered "technologically backward."
Qin Xiangxiang, however, still asked him to pay attention to township enterprises and even small private workshops.
Jiang Guohua hesitated for a while before saying, "Even large factories can't afford the cost of machines, so how can these small and micro-sized enterprises... these small workshops accept the technology?"
Qin Xiangxiang said, "Professor Jiang, under the current circumstances, I think small workshops need technology more, and they crave 'technology' even more than large factories. Haven't you heard of 'weekend engineers'?"
"Small factories are more willing to spend money to hire technical experts to help improve their production processes."
"Your idea for automation is excellent, but it's not fully automated yet. However, you've already done a great job by optimizing some production processes with your technical skills."
"Why don't you go visit Aunt Shen's small tofu workshop now and see how they make tofu? Can you help me think of ways to make tofu more easily and conveniently for Aunt Shen, thus freeing up manpower?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Guohua nodded. He had heard of Aunt Shen's story, a top-selling woman in the vegetable market, and he was willing to learn from her.
The next day, Jiang Guohua visited Aunt Shen's small tofu-making workshop and was greatly impressed. If ordinary factories in China at that time could be considered "barely modernized," then these small workshops seemed to be still in the agricultural society era.
Thinking about Qin Xiangxiang's suggestion to "help Aunt Shen free up manual labor," Jiang Guohua had many ideas in his mind. Aunt Shen, on the other hand, said that it was not difficult at all, "We make tofu here entirely based on experience and feel."
Jiang Guohua: "..."
He felt that this experience-based production method was too outdated. Even if it didn't make money, Jiang Guohua wanted to help Aunt Shen optimize the production method and add some machines that could replace manual labor and save time.
For example, designing an automatic curdling system, or reminding you of the tofu setting time...
Having learned from the failure of his previous cannery, and considering that it was a renovation of a small workshop, Jiang Guohua didn't care about other materials. Instead, he chose some scrap parts and basic sensors to optimize the production line.
After his initial modifications, Aunt Shen's tofu workshop saw a significant improvement in the stability of tofu quality, increasing both output and overall quality while greatly saving on labor costs.
Aunt Shen: "Oh my—this really saves me a lot of trouble!"
"Professor Jiang, thank you!"
...
After experiencing the benefits from Aunt Shen, Jiang Guohua recalled Principal Qin's words and wrote a reflection at night. He then turned his attention to the "low-cost automation transformation" of township enterprises and small workshops.
"Principal Qin has shown me the way forward! Yes, our country's development is still in a transitional phase, and these emerging small and micro enterprises need technological transformation even more..."
When Jiang Guohua turned his attention to small workshops and township enterprises, his market suddenly opened up.
Professors from Jiaotong University, highly educated intellectuals... These small workshops, which usually find it difficult to even meet a high school student, would be extremely welcoming if a former Jiaotong University professor came to help improve their production processes!
Soon, Jiang Guohua took on a lot of work and even took on apprentices.
"Principal Qin, you have excellent judgment! Our school hasn't even started yet, but all those technical professors you invited who failed in their startups have now become successful business owners!"
"I could never learn your unique insight, even if I studied for a lifetime." The entire preparatory team for the business school now admired Qin Xiangxiang immensely.
They also felt that the city leaders' decision to entrust the management of the "Business School" to Qin Xiangxiang was absolutely the wisest one.
"Should we find a few more senior professors who have failed in their startups to become teachers in our business school?"
Qin Xiangxiang: "..."
This senior professor isn't like fruit that falls from a fruit stand; you can't just pick it up whenever you want. There aren't that many cheap deals to be had.
For Qin Xiangxiang, the most pleasant surprise was actually the chemical genius "Meng Lingyun" she had invited. This guy helped Feiyan Textile Factory optimize the dyes for its textile products and also helped Qin Xiangxiang improve the formula and production of her lipstick!
This is crucial!
The lipstick he improved became smoother and the color adhesion was significantly improved. Moreover, he also listened to Qin Xiangxiang's advice and began to develop a "non-sticky" lipstick.
The preparatory group for the Shanghai Business School anticipates that the business school will open in October 1985 and enroll its first batch of students in September.
However, until the sweltering summer of 1985, outsiders still regarded the "Shanghai Business School" as a "makeshift organization".
"Director Qin doesn't know how to handle this situation."
"I haven't heard of them hiring any financial or business geniuses."
"A business school like this should hire professors who have studied abroad to teach, and be geared towards an international audience..."
...
At this moment, Qin Xiangxiang felt that the business school was optional, because she had tasted the sweetness of "technology" and had brought in several teachers, including a professor of physics and materials from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a professor of automation from Jiaotong University, and a chemistry professor named Shen Wenbo.
Her Flying Swallow Oriental Charm cosmetics have been optimized!
Furthermore, something very unexpected happened this summer, which stemmed from the Feiyan Special Zone Factory and the transportation team associated with veteran Jiang Dayou and others.
As the business volume of the special zone branch increased, the size of the transportation team also continued to grow, which actually brought great challenges to the transportation team.
And it exposed a great many problems.
"Director Qin, our transportation team is in big trouble right now. The quality of domestically produced auto parts is unstable, and imported ones are expensive and hard to find. We don't lack cars, we lack parts."
"Especially the brake pads, they wear out very quickly, and I'm always terrified when going down long slopes in South China."
"And the engine..."
"Leaf springs also have a lot of problems; they break easily..."
...
When the workload is light, these problems are not a problem, but when the workload becomes too heavy, these accumulated small problems begin to drag down the transportation team.
If there are problems with the parts, it will delay the time and the goods. If there are problems or accidents along the way, the vehicle and the goods will be damaged together, which is even more infuriating.
"Director Qin, we need to think of a solution."
After hearing about these things, Qin Xiangxiang also felt quite troubled, so she contacted several technical professors to ask for help in finding a solution, and they actually came up with one.
Zhu Chonggui, a physical materials expert, discovered that these domestically produced brake pads were not durable. The reason, he concluded, was a problem with the material itself. It was not resistant to high temperatures, and after continuous braking, its effectiveness diminished quickly, potentially leading to brake failure, which was extremely dangerous.
Then he thought of the space shuttle materials he had studied when he was at the Chinese Academy of Sciences institute... Based on a similar system approach, Zhu Chonggui used the principles of aerospace materials to create a special "ceramic-metal composite material".
This composite material has extremely high hardness, high temperature resistance, friction resistance, and low wear. Brake pads made from this material have excellent braking performance under any circumstances.
However, the production of this "metal composite material" requires the use of some special minerals and metals, many of which are imported.
Fortunately, the special zone factory had a large amount of foreign exchange, which allowed them to directly import a batch of materials and produce the first batch of brake pads, named "Yan Ta Brake Pads".
"Factory manager, after installing these brake pads, the braking distance has been reduced by one-third! And after a long trip, the wear is almost negligible! Our experienced mechanics are saying it's unbelievable!"
"These brake pads are amazing."
Qin Xiangxiang was secretly pleased to find the results so good, and Zhu Chonggui did not charge a technology fee. Instead, he said, "This is the technology from our business school's R&D center!"
On the other side, Jiang Guohua was also very enthusiastic. He had originally participated in the automated production line of automobiles in the United States, which inspired him to resign and start his own business. Therefore, he had a greater interest in and passion for automobiles.
Jiang Guohua helped optimize the entire truck's structure. Qin Xiangxiang couldn't understand the specifics of the technology, nor could Jiang Dayou and the others. However, the principle seemed to be the "lever principle," which, after modifying the springs, reduced vehicle bumps and made the steel frame more durable...
After receiving new brake pads and undergoing modifications, the Flying Swallow transport fleet created a "transportation miracle" in Hong Kong, Macau, and other special administrative regions. The vehicles ran faster, had better brakes, and broke down less frequently, resulting in a sharp drop in operating costs, almost halving the expenses. Even the drivers of the military logistics vehicles that traveled along the border knew about it.
"Are those Yan Ta brake pads really that amazing?"
"These brake pads are unavailable; they're for internal use."
Li Jianzhi received several phone calls in a row, and even the logistics minister of a certain military region came to the naval base to see him in person.
"Comrade Li, just how many valuable things has your family member been hiding?"
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