The collaboration between Zhengxin and Guangqi is in full swing. The story of Li Fanyu and Xue Yaoguo exchanging gifts somehow got leaked, becoming a well-known tale in the media. However, due to Xue Yaoguo's low profile, the plaque Li Fanyu gifted back wasn't widely known, with outsiders only aware that it was a piece of alloy-made calligraphy.
Li Fanyu didn't have time to care about the outside clamor. Though he usually appeared somewhat unserious and occasionally displayed some low-class demeanor, he could fully immerse himself in his work when it came to business. After spending a morning handling the return gift, he gathered the three top students and all the students in Tiancheng to start summarizing and extracting the A4 platform technology.
This task was a huge project. Although Zhengxin had already mastered the technical aspects, platform technology is integrated with production, and a single parameter mishandled could cause future losses for the application side. This platform wasn't just for external profit; Zhengxin would also use it in the future.
Currently, Zhengxin's various R&D teams were scattered; many students had returned to their hometowns across the country. Fortunately, Old Zhang, like a diligent sheepdog, called everyone one by one, temporarily gathering over fifty people. However, with the Spring Festival travel rush underway, it was hard to get train or plane tickets. Only a little over twenty of the fifty were local to Tiancheng, with the rest coming from nearby areas.
Upon hearing about the platform project, the students were all excited. They had only heard of such advanced technology being used abroad before, and now their own company had the capability to do it. So, they all eagerly awaited Li Fanyu's task assignments.
Old Zhang and the three top students were equally excited. This domain far exceeded the knowledge and experience they had previously accumulated, completely entering a new field. Therefore, standing before Li Fanyu now were over fifty curious and dedicated individuals—ready for orders.
Li Fanyu glanced at Sun Guoyi beside him, then at the students, feeling the need to boost morale and explain the upcoming work.
"Everyone, I apologize for calling you back home at this critical time."
Before he could continue, Old Zhang interrupted, "Stop with the unnecessary chatter! Why are you acting like a leader in front of me? Get to the point!"
Li Fanyu shrank his neck and said sheepishly, "Professor Zhang is right... Well, classmates, don't think of this platform technology as too advanced. Simply put, it's a set of technical foundations. What we need to do is extract the basic parameters and characteristics of A4, maximizing its production adaptability."
Seeing the puzzled faces, Li Fanyu helplessly explained further, "To put it plainly, we are pulling out the framework of A4! This framework is divided into two parts: the lab is responsible for the chassis and body structure layout, while our power plant handles the production process solutions. Do you understand now?"
What he got in return was a unanimous shake of heads.
Li Fanyu raised his right hand and covered his face. He looked around and saw an apple on Old Zhang's desk. He picked it up, along with a few other items from the pen holder.
"Here, this is an apple; let's consider it a car platform. This pen will be an engine, this ruler a power system, and this paper cutter an electrical system."
Seeing his makeshift tools, Wang Rui, who almost got kicked during the wind tunnel test last time, raised his hand and asked, "Brother Fan... are you going to perform PPAP?"
Li Fanyu was stunned, "What's PPAP?"
Wang Rui stepped forward, holding the apple in one hand and the pen in the other. He swayed his hips and gave himself a rhythm, "I have a pen, I have an apple, uh, apple pen!"
Li Fanyu kicked him away, "What the heck is that?! Stop interrupting!"
Wang Rui, holding his butt and grimacing, returned to the laughing crowd.
Li Fanyu shook his head. The concept of platformization had no foundation in China, and its scope was very vague, making it difficult to explain. Anning had encountered it while at Mercedes-Benz, but with the Chinese New Year approaching and being entangled in various company affairs, she couldn't step away. Now, he had to lead the team himself.
"No joking around. Let me put it more plainly: this apple represents the chassis system. We need to integrate the power system, electrical system, and other supporting components into it to make a car, right?"
This analogy was straightforward, and everyone understood it. So they all responded in unison, "Right!"
"Let's see, everything on the car body is built around this apple. Without this apple, everything is scattered and can't come together, right?"
"Right!"
"Brother Fan, this apple—oh, I mean the platform—isn't it just the chassis?"
Li Fanyu shook his finger. "No, no, no. The platform includes the chassis, but it's more than just the chassis. We also need to define layout schemes and various parameters, set a range. For example, the chassis can support a specific size, weight, and horsepower engine. The platform is this combined range! This way, we can fill in the various assemblies according to this standard and build a car. With this foundation, we can greatly reduce development time and costs!"
The group finally grasped the concept. Xu Youdao pondered for a while and said, "Boss, you're saying we should extract A4's design standards and then expand the tolerance range?"
Li Fanyu was taken aback, "Uh, you could say that."
Liu Qing slapped his thigh, "This job is easy. Guys, let's start with the load-bearing part. Go to the database and extract A4's data. Let's get started!"
Wang Yu added, "Boss, you need to work on your communication skills."
Li Fanyu scratched his head; did I not make myself clear enough?
Wasn't it clear? Actually, it was. He just fell into a blind spot, forgetting who he was talking to. These were top students! Explaining technical issues to them the way he would to ordinary people was bound to cause misunderstandings.
Watching the students scatter, Li Fanyu felt a bit dejected. At this moment, Sun Guoyi, who was standing beside him, rubbed his hands and asked, "President Li, what should I do?"
Li Fanyu waved his hand impatiently, "There's nothing for you to do right now. Once their plan is out, you'll streamline and supplement it according to our production process. Then, send the plan to Guangqi and assist them in adjusting their production line."
Sun Guoyi, who always followed Li Fanyu's lead, nodded quickly, assuring that he would cooperate well with the laboratory.
As the New Year approached, China's automotive industry seemed to be stirring up some activity. This activity had both positive and negative aspects, causing industry insiders to have a hard time grasping the situation.
While Zhengxin's Li Fanyu and Guangqi's Xue Yaoguo were in a harmonious collaboration, Beiqi's Xu Guangsheng was preparing to covertly challenge Hongqi's Lü Heming.
A grand drama at the end of the year was about to unfold.
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