Chapter 78: You Go First

Feiyu Technology’s workshop two was a nearly unmanned production workshop containing twelve large-scale, high-end CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining centers, as well as twenty-eight mid-size high-end CNC machining centers, alongside other assorted equipment.

This workshop was responsible for the processing tasks of the most precision-required components in Feiyu Technology’s products.

However, this morning, while one of the processes was underway, an anomaly occurred in the software of one large CNC machining center, leading to a chain reaction that incapacitated all forty high-end CNC machining centers in the workshop.

Because the workshop was producing components for the Mars project, the security personnel reported the issue upwards, which is why Ning Shuangshuang ended up here.

Ning Yuzhe led the two of them all the way to workshop two. Outside the workshop, Du Qiu saw armed police soldiers standing guard, indicative of the stringent security.

Tang Country’s Mars project aims to achieve orbiting, landing, and patrolling in one launch—an accomplishment no other country has achieved. Even the United States, the most accomplished in Mars exploration, had accomplished these three tasks separately.

Therefore, the precision requirements for components used in Mars exploration are extremely high.

At this moment, Ning Yuzhe was deeply anxious because workshop two, which was undertaking the component processing task, was experiencing issues.

The trio donned dust suits and entered the workshop.

Inside, the CNC machining centers were neatly organized according to the production process flow. In the middle of the workshop, around five or six people were gathered around one machining center, discussing.

“Dr. Ye, do you think there’s a problem with the electric motor driving program?”

“I can’t jump to conclusions just yet. Based on what we’re seeing now, it seems likely, but we should first address the tool magazine’s misalignment error.”

“Teacher, should we check the production line control program?”

“That’s not necessary. Right now, the problem lies with this particular machine. The other machines stopped automatically due to the disorder in the operation caused by the malfunction of this machine.”

…

Amongst the group, one individual, upon seeing Ning Yuzhe and the others, quickly approached them.

“Chairman, you’ve arrived? I invited Dr. Ye Haibin here from the Machine Tool Research Institute. He’s an expert in the field of CNC software within the country, having studied abroad in the United States and is quite familiar with Haas’ equipment…”

“Chief Engineer Tang, have you identified the cause of the problem?” Ning Yuzhe inquired.

Upon hearing the conversation, the others stopped and listened.

A middle-aged man with an average build approached and said, “Chairman Ning, hello, I am Ye Haibin.”

“Dr. Ye, thank you for your hard work. Have we determined the cause of the malfunction?”

Ye Haibin furrowed his brows and responded, “We haven’t fully confirmed it yet. We’re checking each possibility. Initially, we think it might be a problem with the electric motor driving program, but we also have an issue with the tool magazine misalignment due to an interrupted stop, which we need to address first.”

At this moment, another shorter middle-aged man came over with a hint of doubt in his voice, “I don’t think we should draw conclusions so quickly; at least the servo motors seem to be in good condition now, not like there’s an issue with the drivers…”

“Vice President Zhao, we’ve invited Dr. Ye here to help diagnose the malfunction, and it’s best to trust his expertise instead of just watching and not dealing with incongruent opinions,” Chief Engineer Tang said, already displeased, cutting off Vice President Zhao’s words.

Witnessing this scene, Du Qiu instantly understood that Vice President Zhao and Chief Engineer Tang’s relationship wasn’t very harmonious; otherwise, they wouldn’t be arguing in such a situation.

Ning Yuzhe said, “Continue to work on this closely. Du Qiu, you go take a look.”

He gestured to Du Qiu, surprising everyone.

Who is this young man? The chairman is letting him check the malfunction.

Dr. Ye Haibin’s expression soured slightly. He looked at Chief Engineer Tang and, seeing him shake his head, held his peace.

Du Qiu, however, was unfazed by these dynamics. He approached the problematic CNC machining center, circled the machine once, and started examining the fault codes reported by the equipment’s console.

To most people, such a long list of fault information would be overwhelming.

But to Du Qiu, it seemed he could see something more profound within it.

After about ten minutes, Du Qiu moved away from the machine to examine other equipment.

One of the student assistants that came with Ye Haibin couldn’t help but sneer, “What’s he looking at other equipment for if the problem is with that machine? Does he even know what he’s doing?”

“Xiao Wang, don’t talk nonsense!” Ye Haibin scolded, albeit feigned.

Chief Engineer Tang approached Ning Yuzhe and asked, “Chairman, who is this person?”

“Oh, he’s a rising star I’ve hired in the field of CNC software.”

Chief Engineer Tang was stunned. Since when was there a rising star in the CNC software field?

Meanwhile, Vice President Zhao followed Du Qiu and asked, “By looking at the other equipment, are you suspecting there might be an issue with the production line control program?”

Du Qiu smiled and replied, “I can’t be certain yet. I need to check them all to know.”

Switching topics, he asked, “Oh, Vice President Zhao, all this equipment is from Haas Corporation? When you have malfunctions, why don’t you call Haas’ people for maintenance? They have a branch in Magic City.”

Vice President Zhao showed a bitter smile, “The components processed here are part of a confidential mission. If we let Americans maintain the equipment, wouldn’t that be a security leak?”

“In the past couple of years, some aviation and military industrial enterprises have switched to domestic software for core data. Why haven’t you?”

“Our precision requirements are high. If we were to switch, there would be numerous problems.”

After Vice President Zhao spoke, he took the opportunity to ask, “The chairman brought you here; are you confident you can fix our problem?”

Du Qiu gave a noncommittal answer, completing his inspection of the workshop’s CNC machining centers before asking, “Before the malfunction, was anyone in the workshop?”

“Oh, this is an unmanned processing workshop but there were two duty engineers. They weren’t inside when they saw the alarm on the equipment, so they stopped the production line in time.”

“Which company did the production line layout, and what about the entire line’s automation control system?”

“The production line layout was done by us, and we used Hu Hai Jing Control for the full line automation control system.”

“Hu Hai Jing Control? Is that the one that was acquired by the American company last year?”

Vice President Zhao looked dejected, “Yeah, there used to be three big domestic automation software options. In the last two years, the founder and chairman of the company in the capital left and it was acquired; the company in Magic City wasn’t spared from a foreign takeover, and the founder from Hangzhou city just got out of prison. Although they have products, we’re not so confident to use them.”

Having finished his checks, Du Qiu dusted off his hands and remarked, “Are you worried that if the chairman gets arrested again and the company collapses, there would be no follow-up service? But if you’ve used software from Hu Hai Jing Control and the problem occurs, you can’t ask for help, so isn’t it the same issue?”

Vice President Zhao’s eyes brightened as he asked, “Did you find out the problem with the automated control system of the production line?”

“Very likely.”

The two returned to the malfunctioning equipment, and Ning Yuzhe inquired, “How’s it going? Did you figure out the cause?”

“It should be an issue with the production line automated control system. And this problem isn’t a simple one.”

Dr. Ye Haibin, with disdain on his face, interjected, “Young man, the problem is clearly with the processing stage of the equipment. Why are you pinning it on the production line control system? Haas equipment handles processing programs independently, and the transfer of the finished product is the responsibility of the production line control system.”

After criticizing Du Qiu, he turned to Ning Yuzhe and said, “Chairman Ning, I’m sure it’s the equipment’s own fault. Please allow me to fix it.”

Seeing Ning Yuzhe look towards him, Du Qiu replied casually, “Sure, then let Dr. Ye go first.”