Women Are No Less Than Men: Showcasing Excellence in Ordinary Roles — Zhou Luling, Team Leader of the Gold-Processing Finished-Products Section

Unite and Strive to Win the Future

I joined the Yizheng Camshaft Factory (the predecessor of ASIMCO Camshaft Company) in 2000, and I was fortunate to witness the camshaft business evolve from a small enterprise serving the mid- to low-end aftermarket into a “young” company whose primary customers are leading domestic and international mid- to high-end engine manufacturers. Here, I’d like to share a brief story that looks back on our team’s journey of hard work and perseverance. On April 7, 2007, thanks to the efforts of the company’s senior management, we received a global project development assignment from Cummins: DEP plant was tasked with developing an AVALON 3.8L engine and sourcing Chinese suppliers, with projected annual sales of 150,000 units by 2015. Prior to this, we had no experience collaborating with international clients on new-product development. The customer required that a sample be shipped from China to the UK plant by June 8, yet as of April 7, the engineering drawings had not yet been finalized—there were more than twenty outstanding issues that needed to be discussed and confirmed by both parties. However, these challenges did not deter us; instead, they ignited an unwavering spirit of determination within the team. First, the project team compiled a comprehensive list of issues identified in the drawings. To stay on schedule, we obtained approval from Cummins’ SQI department and engaged directly with the product designers, thoroughly preparing for the task. We presented the design engineers with two clear options—YES or NO—and over the course of two weeks, we resolved the major outstanding issues through mutual agreement, then moved on to planning the mold design, manufacturing, machining process, tool selection, and procurement—tasks that naturally require considerable time. Second, before commencing production, we identified potential risk points in the manufacturing process and conducted a process FMEA analysis. Engineers used physical models of the product to simulate each operation on the relevant equipment, checking for interference, verifying the suitability of cutting tools and grinding wheels, assessing compatibility with existing tooling, and ensuring that machine travel distances were adequate. Every single risk was meticulously documented, reviewed by the project team, and discussed to develop appropriate solutions. Third, in early May, the mold components arrived, but the chills had not yet been delivered. After deliberation, the team decided to use trial machining to validate whether the previously planned processes, tools, equipment, and tooling were effective. We used 20 raw blanks that had not undergone chill treatment and ran a trial run of the machining process. During this trial, several new issues emerged—for example, the AVALON camshaft features a through-hole in its middle section, which could not be machined using the initially prepared tools; even after switching to carbide tools, the problem persisted. We promptly communicated with the design engineers, explained the current difficulties and proposed follow-up measures, and worked together with the customer to formulate a solution. During product assembly and inspection, we encountered various other challenges as well. By tapping into our internal resources and leveraging our collective expertise, we ultimately resolved all these issues. At the same time, we maintained seamless communication with the design engineers and SQI, while also seeking external support when necessary. Throughout the project, team members worked around the clock, day and night, tirelessly. On June 7, 2007, Cummins’ SQI personnel visited the factory to conduct an on-site quality inspection and approve the release of the first batch of samples, which were successfully delivered. Subsequently, after more than a year of preparation, leveraging existing resources and making only a modest investment, our team established a Cummins AVALON production line that passed the customer’s PPAP audit. In November 2008, the production line entered SOP, and the company officially began supplying finished products to Cummins on a large scale. In 2011, Cummins praised our company, stating: “Using second-hand equipment that would normally be considered obsolete, you have produced world-class products.” Through this project, our company has consecutively won eight years of awards from the customer, including Best Supplier, Best Quality, Best Continuous Improvement, and Best Lean Production, bringing great honor to the company. Moreover, the success of the AVALON project has enabled our team to accumulate valuable experience, laying a solid foundation for the company’s sustained, high-quality development. This story demonstrates our team’s indomitable spirit in the face of adversity, highlighting the boundless potential and entrepreneurial drive of the entire camshaft team—qualities that are truly invaluable assets for our company. As the enterprise continues to grow and thrive, it is precisely this spirit that will ensure our continued success and enable us to eventually become a company respected by both customers and the market.

Delivery of the first batch of Cummins 6C blank samples

Pang Jinjun, Executive Deputy Director of the Hualing Automobile Engine Research Institute, and his delegation visited ASIMCO Camshaft.

Team building: striving for excellence

Carry forward the spirit of our martyrs and cultivate lofty ideals.

Carrying forward the spirit of our martyrs and fostering lofty ideals On April 4, 2019, during the Qingming Festival, members of the Party branch of ASIMCO Camshaft (Yizheng) Co., Ltd., led by Branch Secretary Zhou Quan, paid their respects at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Yue Tang Yinghua Park, commemorating the revolutionary martyrs. Yinghua Park was founded in 1983; its grounds are lush with pines and cypresses, where the spirits of 133 revolutionary martyrs rest in eternal peace. Upon entering the park, all Party members conscientiously wore their Party badges and solemnly proceeded to the Monument Square. Branch Secretary Zhou Quan stepped forward to present a mourning couplet, and all Party members observed a three-minute moment of silence in respectful remembrance. Commemorating this chapter of history enables us to keep firmly in mind the suffering that war has inflicted upon the Chinese people.

Cost-Reduction and Improvement Case — Sand-Removal Modification of the Floor Rail Base Plate on Line B

During the molding process on Casting Line B, sand drops and fragments of the sand mold shell inevitably fall onto the floor, leading to significant accumulations of waste sand on the base plate. This not only results in material waste but also makes the line dirty and disorganized, thereby negatively impacting production. Initially, the solution was to install two rotating brush heads driven by motors to sweep the base plate; however, practical experience revealed that this approach was largely ineffective. The soft brush heads struggled to remove tightly bonded sand, yielding poor cleaning performance. Consequently, it was decided to retrofit the cleaning equipment to better address the issue on Line B’s base plate. After further discussion, a revised design was adopted: a scraper blade was mounted above the base plate and secured with a torsion spring, allowing for a certain degree of flexibility. As the base plate moves along the conveyor, it passes beneath the scraper, which removes any loose sand particles, causing them to fall back onto the conveyor belt. In actual operation, it was found that, thanks to the scraper’s fixed mounting and the resulting substantial resistance, even tightly adhered sand on the base plate could be thoroughly removed—without requiring any external power—and the failure rate was significantly reduced. Moreover, the cost of retrofitting with a single scraper was far lower than other alternatives; compared with the original brush-head system, which required frequent replacement, this solution also resulted in substantial savings on materials. The new solution strikes an optimal balance between functionality and cost, delivering superior performance at a lower expense and thus representing an exceptionally cost-effective approach. Following implementation of the new design, the accumulation of sand on Line B’s base plate has improved markedly, enhancing the workshop environment while simultaneously reducing quality risks.

Wang Bingsong, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yangzhou Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Yizheng Municipal Party Committee, Visits Camshaft to Conduct Holiday Safety Inspections and Extend Condolences to Frontline Employees

On the morning of February 1, 2019, Wang Bingsong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Yangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Yizheng Municipal Party Committee, led heads of safety supervision and other departments, accompanied by Wang Changtian, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Yizheng Automobile Industrial Park, to visit ASIMCO Camshaft (Yizheng) Co., Ltd. to conduct a safety production inspection during the Spring Festival holiday and to extend greetings and condolences to frontline workers. ASIMCO Camshaft (Yizheng) Co., Ltd. attached great importance to this visit; General Manager Chen Aiguo personally accompanied Secretary Wang Bingsong into the production workshop to inspect and hear reports on the company’s production and operations, the implementation of its safety management system, and holiday duty arrangements. Wang Bingsong emphasized that safety is the foundation for the healthy development of an enterprise and that we must always remain vigilant.