Chapter 314 Half for honor, half for profit
In the 1980s and 1990s, many large factories, provinces and cities had Beijing offices in the capital.
The restaurants opened by various Beijing offices once became classic restaurants of local cuisine.
Many people in later generations did not understand the significance of the existence of this organization. In fact, when China was founded, a close liaison mechanism needed to be formed between the capital and the provinces to discuss construction projects and approve plans and allocate materials.
At that time, transportation and communications were not developed, and local leaders could not be on call in the capital every day.
In order to maintain constant contact with the capital, it is necessary to have an office stationed in the capital to be responsible for document transmission and communication.
Of course, in addition to these tasks, various reception and communication tasks, and even inquiring about some news, are also the focus of the Beijing Office's daily work.
For example, FAW's office in Beijing has one of its most important tasks: keeping an eye on the movements of ministries or units that have a close relationship with FAW, such as the First Machinery Department, Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant, Capital Polytechnic University, and Capital Steel Plant.
The Capital Institute of Technology reported its heavy-duty truck project to the First and Fifth Machinery Departments, and then formally approved the project for the Balong 100 heavy-duty truck. Naturally, FAW quickly learned about it.
After all, everyone has someone in the ministry, and the transmission of some information is actually very fast.
The day after the Capital Institute of Technology formally submitted the project application letter, the FAW Beijing Office found out the news and immediately reported it to the factory.
"Director, the Ligong Special Vehicle Factory is applying for the Balong 100 heavy truck project this time. It is said that both the Fifth Machinery Department and the First Machinery Department are very supportive."
"But they have not actually developed heavy trucks in the past, but they have received such great support."
"I think the relevant departments are simply seeking medical treatment in a hurry, which is too unserious."
"In order to get more funds, can we start a heavy truck project first and apply for the funds later?"
Zhao Guangming was in charge of the work of the Beijing Office, and immediately reported to Geng Weidong after receiving the report.
Obviously, he didn't quite believe that Capital Institute of Technology, a university, could handle a heavy-duty truck project that other domestic automobile manufacturers could not handle.
In order to apply for funds, these people have no bottom line at all.
Since other units can do this, he thinks FAW can do the same.
"Even if the Fifth Machinery Department supports it, why does the First Machinery Department also support it?"
Geng Weidong is actually quite dissatisfied with the First Machinery Department now.
In his view, the ministry has provided too little support to FAW in the past two years.
On the contrary, the ministry's support for the Capital Automobile Manufacturing Plant and even the Second Automobile Works Group is relatively strong.
"The heavy truck project proposed by Ligong Special Vehicle Factory this time is called Balong 100. It is a heavy-duty truck with a load capacity of 12 tons. Many units under the First Machinery Department should also have great demand."
“Even the relevant departments originally expected the factories under the First Machinery Department to make breakthroughs in heavy trucks.”
"I guess the ministry also felt a lot of pressure, so this time it gave strong support."
Zhao Guangming gave his judgment based on the information he learned.
Not to mention, his judgment still makes sense.
"If I really told you this, then the First Machinery Department would really be in a hurry and seek medical treatment."
"The leaders did not communicate with us at FAW at all, so they chose to cooperate with outside units and gave very limited funds to them."
"This kind of thing really dampens everyone's enthusiasm."
When Geng Weidong said this, Zhao Guangming immediately took it up and said: "So this time we don't have to be polite. Just like the Balong 100, we will launch a project to liberate the 100 series of heavy trucks."
"In the future, Jiefang 100, Jiefang 200... we can also develop a series of heavy trucks."
"As long as the funding from the ministry is sufficient, we can also develop heavy-duty trucks."
Anyway, Zhao Guangming would definitely not be polite if his superiors' funds were not wasted.
FAW's position in China's automobile industry is very special. He did not believe that after seeing the Jiefang 100 project proposal, the Ministry of Machinery did not approve any funds.
If that was the case, he would be ready to make a fuss himself.
No matter what time it is, only children who cry will get milk.
"Okay, you can arrange for someone to come up with a plan as soon as possible, and then our factory committee will discuss it and submit it to the First Machinery Department."
"No matter when the heavy truck project is launched, it is necessary to start it now."
Geng Weidong can take the position of FAW plant director, so he is certainly not an incompetent person.
He is also very clear about the significance of heavy trucks to China's future economic development.
However, due to the lack of technical strength at FAW, he did not dare to easily propose the development of heavy trucks before.
Apart from anything else, he was not confident that he could handle just the key components of the engine, gearbox and axle.
Otherwise, he would have started this project long ago.
As a leader, how can you demonstrate your authority and power if you don't have a few projects in hand?
FAW can get the news quickly, and Second Automobile Works is certainly not bad either.
"General Engineer Han, if you are put in charge of developing a heavy truck project, are you confident that you can produce results within the next five years?"
As the factory director of Second Automobile Works, Chen Liangrong did not feel like FAW did when he heard that the Capital Institute of Technology had approved a heavy truck project.
Heavy-duty trucks are very important. The First Machinery Department even wants to build Sanqi Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. for heavy-duty trucks.
Since Sanqi Automobile Group failed to succeed, it seems that it is not impossible for China Erqi Automobile Group Co., Ltd. to develop heavy-duty trucks.
At least Chen Liangrong felt that he could do it.
The premise, of course, is that the people below have the confidence and ability to do it.
So after hearing the report from the Beijing Office, he called chief engineer Han Hao to his office to have a private discussion first.
In China, big things are usually handled in small groups, and small things are handled in large groups.
Failure to communicate well in private and hastily bringing it up at the factory committee meeting will lead to no results.
If the topic raised by the factory director has no results, it will also be a damage to Chen Liangrong's prestige.
Therefore, leaders often do not easily make uncertain suggestions.
Once he brings it up, it often means that the matter has been communicated to all parties before, or that they have no intention of accepting any objections.
Anyone who dares to oppose at this time will often become a key target of attack.
"Director, to be honest, I also want to build a heavy-duty truck, but the technical threshold is too high."
"Not to mention the three big mountains of engine, gearbox and axle, even parts such as steering gear, shock absorber and air compressor are very difficult to get."
"So I definitely support the development of heavy-duty trucks in the factory, but the time cannot be set too tight, otherwise it will be very embarrassing."
Han Hao knew that if he could not accurately convey the difficulties at this time, he would be the passive one.
"If it takes too long, other factories will have already done it, and we will be left eating dust."
Chen Liangrong naturally understood the difficulty of heavy trucks, otherwise he would not have communicated with Han Hao in private first. But if it couldn't be done in five years, or even longer, it would be a bit hard for him to accept.
Even five years felt like a long time to him. Whether he was still at the Second Automobile Works Group at that time was a question, let alone much later.
This is also a drawback. Many factory directors are unwilling to promote projects that will take a long time to produce results.
Because no matter how good this result is, it is likely that the peaches will be picked by the successor.
"Or we can consider introducing some technologies from abroad and developing them based on these technologies. This can shorten some time."
When Han Hao saw that Chen Liangrong did not agree with his plan, he immediately came up with another option.
Anyway, the purpose is to let the leader know that heavy trucks are not that easy to work on. If there is a problem with this project in the future, he will not be criticized too badly.
"We have had some contact with Cummins before and want to introduce their B-series diesel engine products and manufacturing technology."
"You can communicate with them again, make some concessions appropriately, and finalize the cooperation plan as soon as possible."
"In this way, there is hope that the most difficult diesel engine problem on heavy trucks can be solved."
"As for other parts, they can also be solved through various means."
Regarding the plan proposed by Han Hao, Chen Liangrong not only did not object, but also directly gave a specific instruction.
With the rise of the wave of reform and opening up, China's economic development has continued to accelerate.
Against this background, my country's commercial vehicle industry has experienced insufficient production to meet the needs of economic development.
In order to expand production capacity and narrow the technology gap, relevant departments are preparing to introduce a large amount of foreign truck technology during the Sixth Five-Year Plan and the Seventh Five-Year Plan.
In terms of engine technology, Cummins is one of the most important partners of all parties.
Up to now, the other party already has a cooperation project in Shuangqing City.
Therefore, Chen Liangrong feels that cooperation between FAW and Cummins should still be very feasible.
"No problem. Cummins is also optimistic about the Chinese market and is relatively open in terms of advanced technology transfer."
"Especially in recent years, the relationship between our country and the United States has become closer, and Cummins has become much less worried about technology transfer."
"If they are never willing to transfer those technologies to us, the relevant departments will not have so much foreign exchange to directly import them."
"Then Cummins has no way to make any profits in China."
"It would be better to transfer technology, or directly establish a joint venture to produce engines. It should be very promising."
“And when the time comes, not only can our factory use these engines, but we can also consider selling them to other customers.”
"These diesel engines can be used on trucks, buses, and even as generator sets. They have great application prospects."
Seeing that his plan was recognized, Han Hao became more motivated.
Although he had only solved the engine problem, he would still be under a lot of pressure if Second Automobile Works officially launched the truck project, but at least it was a good start and gave him a lot of confidence.
“Since this project is worth pursuing, let’s do it properly.”
"Don't let a layman like the Ligong Special Vehicle Factory build the truck. Our faces will look bad."
For Chen Liangrong, the issue of face is related to the position under his butt.
If the leaders above feel that the existence of the Second Automobile Group is of little significance, then the intensity of various support will be much smaller in the future.
Therefore, it is very necessary to produce heavy-duty trucks before the Ligong Special Vehicle Factory.
They already have part of the truck business, and it is entirely possible to upgrade on this basis.
Soon, the Second Automobile Works Group took action, and relevant reports were submitted to the First Machinery Department.
"Xiao Jiang, as soon as our truck business started, both FAW and Second Automobile Works submitted applications for the heavy truck business to the First Machinery Department. It seems that domestic heavy truck technology has made a huge breakthrough in one day."
"Do you think they are just causing trouble this time, or are they planning to cooperate with foreign manufacturers to build heavy trucks before us?"
Zhu Jiansheng naturally got the relevant news immediately.
He was a little unsure, so he called Jiang Hui to communicate.
"First Automobile Works and Second Automobile Works Group have always regarded trucks as their own territory and feel that this market belongs to them."
"As a product that has received key national support, heavy trucks are inevitable and everyone wants to achieve some results in this area."
"So even without our stimulation, they will produce heavy trucks sooner or later."
"It's just that this time the rhythm was disrupted by us."
Jiang Hui was not surprised at all by the information Zhu Jiansheng shared.
As long as FAW and Second Automobile Works still have some pursuit, they must do something under this pressure.
Otherwise, the relevant departments may give up on them in the next few years, which is not impossible.
"The funds within the ministry are limited. The more manufacturers participate, the fewer resources we can obtain."
"They are causing us trouble."
Zhu Jiansheng was still a little unhappy.
If you don’t do it early, you won’t do it later.
After their project was submitted, they started working on it.
Isn’t this just trying to get in trouble with the Capital Institute of Technology?
"Dad, I think if we look at this problem from another angle, the situation will be completely different."
“Whether a product is good or whether something is done well is difficult to tell without comparison.”
"First Automobile Works and Second Automobile Works are willing to engage in heavy truck projects at the same time. When the time comes, we will compare the products of the three companies together, and we will be able to tell the difference."
"The school may be able to obtain higher honors by then and completely establish its position in the automotive industry."
Obviously, Jiang Hui does not think that FAW and Second Automobile Works can achieve particularly big technological breakthroughs in a short period of time.
If we really had this technical background, we wouldn't have been unable to achieve any particularly decent results in the past few years.
For Jiang Hui, the project at the Ligong Special Vehicle Factory was done for the sake of honor.
The BMW project is for direct economic benefits.
Both projects must be carried out without leaving any behind.
Only in this way can the father-in-law reach a higher position in a shorter period of time, and at the same time, he can gain more economic benefits and voice.
(End of chapter)