In 2017, the sales of diesel engines of FAW Jiefang Engine Co., Ltd. increased by 5.61% year-on-year, achieving sustained growth at a high base. Operating profit increased by 63% year-on-year. Quality and efficiency achieved year-round targets.
Where does this emboldenment come from?
Recently, the China Automotive News conducted an exclusive interview with Qian Hengrong, general manager of the Party Committee of the FAW Liberation Engine Division.
From here we will get the answer.
Do not introduce joint ventures, defeat domestic imports
Qian Hengrong confessed that there are two major difficulties in the branding of Xichai products. One of the difficulties is that the engine is an intermediate product and does not directly touch consumers. The second problem is the nature of the company. It is a non-independent engine company. However, it is difficult to do it again. Only in the fierce competition in the future will it be possible to increase the sales peak for emancipation.
The capabilities of Xichai Engine are obvious to all. It took the lead in the industry to set a record of 2 million kilometers without major repairs, took the lead in realizing the oil change of 100,000 kilometers long, and took the lead in implementing the '36-month limit unlimited long three guarantees policy', winning the 15th session. National Quality Award...
“The Xichai brand does not consider joint ventures and cooperation, and independent products do not consider technology introduction.” This is the consistent persistence of Xichai. After 20 years of hard work, Xichai has repeatedly overcome difficulties, and has the ability to fully develop positively. But it is also Xichai’s non-joint venture is not introduced, and it has encountered some doubting voices. Some logistics companies that originally purchased imported brand trucks are hesitant to replace the Volvo with the liberation of domestic engines. Many domestic brands of heavy trucks cooperate with multinational companies. Engine, or choose to have imported pedigree, right?
'This is the biggest problem we face. In fact we are not bad, this is the brand problem. Consumers need to have a process to change the concept - the import is not necessarily better than domestic. ' Qian Hengrong said.
Qian Hengrong breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to create high-end products that rivaled world-class brands. He wanted to compete with imported pedigree engines without introducing joint venture products. He used three indicators to achieve this goal: Is to increase power, torque and other performance indicators to achieve high-end level. Second, product quality. 12 months, the number of failures of 1,000 vehicles must be ranked in the top three. Third, whether there is no 'black technology' and create for customers The unique value, 'We insist on one of the fuel-efficient, any one of your imported brands to take over, I will save you more than you save the oil. Another example is the engine brake, brake power leading. China's terrain is complex, long downhill engine braking power Drivers don't need watering, and they don't even have to install retarders. This brings real value to the user!'
"Wuxi engines have to be used in two years to be level with the Volvo engine and exceed Volvo in five years. 'Dare to say this, because ten years ago, Xicca began to benchmark Volvo, choosing 30 key zeros on the engine. The parts compare various performance indicators. At that time, the data was that one component had an index that exceeded Volvo, and 12 were similar to it. The remaining gap was large. Through the quality improvement in recent years, there have been more than one-half of the zero. Parts index exceeded Volvo, leaving only a few gaps. "The quality of Volvo engines is recognized globally, so we closely follow and bite the benchmark. We are confident that in two years, zero about engine quality. Parts, I can do no worse than Volvo. And then through three years of hard work, over it. ' Qian Hengrong will be in reach.
More than 90 million investment to deepen intelligent manufacturing
The intelligent manufacturing planning route of the engine division is divided into three stages. The first stage is from 2011 to 2015. The construction of a heavy-duty vehicle engine production base is completed. The basic automation, digital, and networked production modes are adopted. The second stage is from 2016 to 2016. In 2020, intelligent upgrading will be carried out under existing conditions to build a smart factory. The third stage will be to promote the construction of smart manufacturing to the design and sales of the business department, and to realize intelligent manufacturing throughout the life cycle.
At present, the second phase of the intelligent manufacturing program of the engine division has been approved, and it is estimated that 90 million yuan will be invested. As early as ten years ago, Xichai has already started to carry out the intelligent transformation of production management. Qian Hengrong is highly respected for lean production. It is known as the “Lead Director.” He believes that lean manufacturing must first emphasize lean design from the outset. Through cooperation with professional companies in the United States, you can experience many of the essence of lean design. There are Japanese lean production experts. Visited the engine business department and said, 'You guys have done very well and we don't need guidance from us.'
Qian Hengrong said that there may be some difficulties in smart logistics, because heavy-duty engine parts are relatively heavy. Therefore, it is necessary to innovate and design a smart driving vehicle in the production area, and automatically walk according to the instructions given by the system, using laser navigation technology. 'I demand that I can't integrate with existing technologies and be innovative.'
Entering Europe and the United States, building an international brand
Qian Hengrong always had a dream to sell the Xicaba engine to Europe and the United States. He believes that it is now a national brand and a product of a developed country that competes in the Chinese market. But when will the war go to the European and American markets? Only our car The industry is truly powerful. This goal can be achieved. He is willing to work hard for it.
His second dream is to extend the lifespan of traditional engines through innovation to cope with the impact of new energy. According to his arrangement, the engine business department has focused on the research and development of 'three best' engines, the most fuel-efficient, most reliable and most environmentally friendly. He also proposed the concept of 'super fuel'. This super fuel burns more completely than diesel, and at the same time the combustion temperature can be controlled. Next we will try how the combustion process does not produce contaminants. Finally, we engage in a kind of post-processing. Technology, to absorb all pollutants, to achieve zero pollution to the environment. It can even attract pollutants in the environment to achieve negative pollution. In this way, the vitality of our internal combustion engine will be always strong.
After the engine division was integrated, it had 1,160 R&D personnel. They will be dedicated to the development of forward-looking technologies, products and manufacturing technologies. No one has counted the largest number of domestic engine companies in R&D, but as a non-independent engine factory. With thousands of R&D personnel, it is definitely ranked high. Qian Hengrong said, 'Innovation is my instinct'.