At the Qianchao Components Module Section in Hefei, Yang Linxiang is widely recognized as an “all-around expert” in his field. He has focused on technical upgrades, tackled tough challenges, and secured an invention patent; he has strengthened section management and ensured meticulous operations and maintenance, earning the section a permanent “Circular Red Flag” award; and he is eager to pass on his skills and mentor others, sharing his knowledge generously and nurturing more than a dozen skilled workers… Twenty-two years of frontline experience have honed his versatile skills; whether handling major or minor matters in the section, he tackles each task with confidence and ensures every detail is carried out thoroughly. He firmly believes that there are no minor matters in production—only by meticulously attending to every task can he live up to the workshop’s trust and fulfill the weighty responsibility on his shoulders.

Yang Linxiang is a veteran. In 2004, he traded his military green for a blue work uniform and became an operator in the machining workshop at Hefei Qianchao Components. Faced with the roar of machinery and unfamiliar machine tools, the determined Yang Linxiang did not back down. He followed in the footsteps of senior technicians, pored over equipment blueprints, immersed himself in hands-on work on the shop floor, and gradually mastered the operational skills. He said, “ ‘The key to getting things done is persistence; only by staying focused and delving deeply into your work can you achieve tangible results.’” For more than a decade since then, he has remained steadfast on the production line without ever slacking off. Starting as a front-line grinder, he advanced step by step and was promoted to section chief of the module section in 2012—a position he has held for twelve years now.

Section Chief, Module Section, Operations Department, Hefei Qianchao Components

Yang Linxiang

Shortly after taking on the role of section chief, a daunting challenge suddenly arose. The workshop had secured a batch of export orders for brake assemblies, with only one month remaining until the delivery date. However, the section had never produced this product before, and no one knew how to program the new equipment. This double challenge left the entire team in a bind.

At this critical moment, Yang Linxiang stepped up. He proactively contacted the equipment manufacturer, seeking guidance via video calls and phone consultations to learn the programming techniques for the new machinery. At the same time, he cross-referenced past product standards and parameters, measuring dimensions piece by piece and calibrating them to narrow tolerances. Through repeated trial and error, he became familiar with the principles of programming. During that period, he spent every day fine-tuning the machines until 8 or 9 p.m., ultimately ensuring the order was delivered on time and adding 5 million yuan to the workshop’s monthly output value.

While fulfilling mass production targets, Yang Linxiang never loses sight of the need for innovation and breakthroughs. He frequently pays close attention to pain points on the production line, constantly thinking of ingenious ways to use technological improvements to lighten the workload and boost efficiency for everyone.

The photo shows Yang Linxiang performing equipment programming.

To address the potential hazard of missing retaining rings during product manufacturing, he led the design of a retaining ring omission alarm device that automatically triggers an alert if an operator forgets to use the retaining ring pliers. This seemingly unremarkable device has completely eliminated the risk of missing retaining rings at the hardware level. In the more than ten years since its implementation, not a single quality issue related to missing retaining rings has occurred in the production line, and Yang Linxiang’s innovation has been granted a patent.

The photo shows Yang Linxiang disassembling components together with everyone.

Seeing how time-consuming and labor-intensive it was for his colleagues to manually install brake ball pins, Yang Linxiang came up with the idea of building a custom electric tightening machine. He wasted no time: he personally took charge of disassembling components and debugging the equipment, leading his colleagues in bringing the idea to fruition. Thanks to the close collaboration of the work team, the homemade electric tightening machine was successfully put into use, not only saving over 100,000 yuan in equipment procurement costs but also significantly reducing the physical strain on the operators.

The photo shows Yang Linxiang delivering a briefing on workplace safety principles at the morning meeting.

As the “head of the household” for dozens of employees in his work section, Yang Linxiang has always kept one thing in mind: “Lead the team well and do the work thoroughly.” Having been rooted in this post for twelve years, he leads by example, inspiring the entire team to strive for excellence. When implementing “5S” on-site management, he always takes the lead. Through daily sweeping and weekly deep cleaning, he has “designated specific areas” for tools, raw materials, and finished products, ensuring that all supplies are stored in designated locations and accessed in an orderly manner.

When it comes to quality control, he is focused on a single goal—“striving for 100% product compliance.” He delivers safety briefings at daily morning meetings, organizes regular process training sessions, and reinforces quality awareness among all staff through a system of performance-based rewards and penalties. Under his leadership, the production section has maintained a zero-accident record for five consecutive years, with a first-pass product rate of over 99%, and its output accounts for approximately half of the workshop’s total output value. Thanks to these outstanding production results, the section has repeatedly won first prize in the monthly “5S” evaluations, and the rotating red flag at its entrance has remained bright and eye-catching.

Thanks to this solid work ethic, Yang Linxiang has been named the company’s “Outstanding Employee of the Year” five times. Although he now handles his work with ease, he has never forgotten the words of encouragement Manager Liu from his department shared with him when he first joined the company: “Study diligently—we will never let down those who work hard.” These words took root in his heart like a seed, becoming the driving force behind his growth.

As a veteran craftsman on the shop floor, Yang Linxiang has channeled this expectation into a drive to pass on his knowledge. He’ll pat his apprentices on the shoulder and urge them to get their hands dirty and gain practical experience: “Only by doing more and honing your skills can you grow.” To date, he has mentored more than a dozen apprentices, each of whom is now capable of working independently, thereby building a foundation for the long-term development of the production line.

Over the course of twenty-two years, through the changing seasons, the workshop has become Yang Linxiang’s second home. He treats the workshop’s affairs as his own, working tirelessly year-round yet never finding it a burden. “Seeing the production line get better day by day gives me a sense of peace of mind,” he says. This “all-around expert” will continue to work on the bustling production line. With a diligent and down-to-earth attitude, he aims to shine and contribute his all in his role, turning ordinary work into something truly remarkable.