Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

For those seven days, the entire Five Star Ceramics Factory headquarters seemed to have transformed into a high-speed, precision machine.

The lights on the third floor of the office building stayed on all night, never going out before midnight.

Li Feng practically lived in his office. A cot was placed in the corner. When he was sleepy, he would take a nap for an hour or two. When he was hungry, he would ask the canteen to send him a few steamed buns and a bowl of hot soup, which he would eat with some pickled vegetables.

His office became the central brain of the temporary command center for tackling key challenges in the entire project.

"Director Li, the process team still has some questions about a few key parameters of the automated mud mixing process. What do you think..." Wu Qing, with dark circles under his eyes and a stack of draft paper covered with various flowcharts, hurriedly walked in.

"Let me see." Li Feng took the blueprints, quickly scanned them, and circled a few places with a pencil. "The problem is here, and here too. Traditional formulas rely on the experience of master craftsmen, but automated production lines require precise data."

“You need to conduct component analysis on each ingredient in the formula, build a database model, and then use sensors to provide real-time feedback and use a computer to make dynamic adjustments. I will draw up the specific data model framework for you later.”

Wu Qing's eyes lit up as he listened, and he nodded repeatedly: "I understand! Director Li, you have a clear vision and perspective. We were only thinking about how to turn the master craftsmen's skills into machine actions, but we forgot to solve the problem from the root with data!"

No sooner had Wu Qing left than Deputy Factory Director Liu followed him in, his voice already a little hoarse: "Factory Director Li, the equipment selection team has encountered a problem. There is almost no equipment in China that meets our technical requirements, especially the temperature control system for the kiln and the automatic robotic arm. They do have them abroad, but the price... is simply astronomical. Moreover, they impose a technology blockade on us and refuse to sell us core components."

"Most importantly, we also need to modify the robotic arm."

Li Feng had anticipated this. He took out a thick stack of blueprints from his drawer and handed them to Deputy Factory Director Liu: "These are some equipment concept diagrams and core structure diagrams that I drew before. Your equipment team should organize the technical backbone to see if we can build it ourselves."

"We don't need to achieve everything at once. We can start by exploring semi-automatic systems. The key is to master the core technologies ourselves."

Deputy Factory Director Liu took the blueprints, glanced at them, and his hands began to tremble slightly.

The design on the drawings was ingenious. Many of the structures were unheard of to him, but upon closer inspection, they were completely in line with mechanical principles and cleverly avoided some so-called patent barriers from abroad.

"This...this...Director Li, this is simply...a stroke of genius!" Deputy Director Liu was so excited he was incoherent.

"Don't get excited yet. This is just a concept. To turn the blueprints into a physical object, your equipment department colleagues will need to conduct repeated demonstrations and experiments. Tell them to think boldly and act boldly. I'll take responsibility if any problems arise!"

In this way, problems from the process group, equipment group, civil engineering group, etc., were gathered and brought to Li Feng, who then resolved them one by one in a way that was beyond everyone's imagination.

The automatic control system team led by Zhou Miaomiao and Wang Ping became Li Feng's "personal disciples".

Li Feng simplified the vast knowledge system he had acquired from the system into clear modules and processes, and taught them step by step how to use logic gates and basic programming languages ​​to build the framework of the entire control system.

The two top students from Jinling University learned more and were more awestruck in these seven days than they had in their entire four years of university combined. Their gazes towards Li Feng had shifted from initial admiration to near worship.

The entire command post was filled with a strong, burning atmosphere of fighting spirit. The aroma of instant noodles, the smell of ink, the occasional heated debate, and the rustling of drawing intertwined to create a stirring prelude to the battle.

Finally, on the afternoon of the seventh day, when the last punctuation mark was typed and the last drawing was archived, a 1,200-page, heavy "Master Plan for the Demonstration Project of Fully Automated Ceramic Production Line" was officially completed. When Wu Na's budget team reported the final total budget figures, everyone gasped.

That's an astronomical figure that would deter any factory from even trying.

But Li Feng simply nodded calmly and solemnly put the plan, which embodied the hard work of nearly a hundred people, into a kraft paper file bag.

"Director Jin, prepare the car, we're going to the ministry."

The jeep came to a steady stop in front of the Ministry of Light Industry building. Li Feng, carrying a thick plan, walked into the familiar building.

Zheng Guowei was already waiting for him at the office door. Seeing the bloodshot eyes in Li Feng's eyes and his slightly haggard but still energetic face, he patted Li Feng's shoulder heavily: "You've worked hard!"

"Director Zheng, I have accomplished my mission." Li Feng handed over the proposal.

Zheng Guowei took it, and his arm suddenly felt heavy, almost causing him to lose his grip.

"Wow! So thick!" he exclaimed, then strode quickly with Li Feng toward Minister Jiang's office.

Minister Jiang was reviewing documents when he saw them enter. He slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the huge file folder that Li Feng was holding, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Minister Jiang, Comrade Li Feng has brought the project proposal." Zheng Guowei's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Li Feng stepped forward and respectfully placed the proposal on Minister Jiang's large desk with a dull thud.

"Minister Jiang, please review the master plan for the construction of the fully automated ceramic production line at Wuxing Ceramics Factory."

Minister Jiang did not immediately look through it. His gaze lingered on Li Feng's face as he slowly said, "One week. I thought you would apply for an extension."

“There is no joking in the military. Since I have promised you and Director Zheng, I must fulfill my promise,” Li Feng replied, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Okay." Minister Jiang nodded, then turned his gaze to the thick plan that looked like a large dictionary.

He put on his glasses, untied the drawstring of the file folder, and pulled out the documents inside.

On the title page, a line of bold black text stands out clearly: "Feasibility Study and Detailed Implementation Plan for the Construction of my country's First Fully Automated Intelligent Ceramic Production Line".

The title alone made Minister Jiang's breath catch in his throat slightly.

He turned to the first page, which was the project's overall outline. From the project background and the necessity and urgency of its construction, to the overall goals and phased implementation steps, and then to the technical approach and expected benefits… every point was well-structured, logically clear, and insightful. (End of Chapter)