On the morning of October 7, as soon as Guo Genzhi, the Chief of the Coil Pulling Section at Hailiang’s Zhongshan base, walked into the workshop, colleagues he hadn’t seen in a long time warmly greeted him, saying, “Mr. Guo, long time no see.”
U.S. base, here we come!
Six months ago, Zhongshan base responded enthusiastically to Hailiang’s call for talent deployment and sent four key production members to support production at the U.S. base.
They were all carefully selected top-notch blue-collar workers with rich experience in production management and quality control. Guo Genzhi, being one of them, obtained this valuable opportunity to go to the U.S. base.
“Applying for the visa, leaving the country, arriving in the United States, and supporting production... it all feels like just yesterday. When I first received the notice for the overseas assignment, I couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious, but the thought of having the opportunity to showcase my technical skills beyond the borders and contribute to Hailiang’s global strategy made me feel very honored and excited!” proudly said Guo Genzhi.
Crossing language barriers, assisted by charts
The biggest obstacle I encountered when going abroad was the language barrier. I remembered the first time I greeted a foreign colleague, and I struggled for a while and could only manage to say one word, “Hello.”
What left a deep impression on me was during the training of new employees at the U.S. base on how to use measuring tools and read the data. Initially, it was challenging to explain the operating principles and reading instructions using translation software. Eventually, I used charts to assist in explanation, and they quickly grasped the measurement techniques, allowing them to accurately read the data.
So, whenever I encountered communication barriers in my daily life, I would say, “Can you draw a picture for me?”
“Craftsmanship Spirit” Goes Overseas
In August, the local temperature in the US had already reached close to 46°C. Facilities needed enhancement and reinforcement, and machines required tuning and optimization. To ensure that the project proceeded efficiently and on schedule, we often worked continuously for over ten hours in the high-temperature environment.
Especially during critical stages of equipment tuning, we observed every data point and tracked the changes until each equipment unit was operating efficiently.
As the Chinese saying goes, “Forging paths through rough terrain, facing winds and rain with determination”, our team members actively took on responsibilities without hesitation and never shied away from challenges. They raced against time and maintained progress to ensure the smooth completion of various projects.
Even overseas, the blue-collar artisans’ spirit of hard work continues to shine brightly!
Hailiang Culture: Warmth of Home
Even though we were far from our hometown and loved ones, the U.S. base provided us with thoughtful care.
During our rest time, we had team parties, got to know Hailiang colleagues from around the world, and even went fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Being in a foreign land, we felt the warmth and care of the Hailiang family, which greatly boosted team morale.
“This overseas assignment at Hailiang’s U.S. base is a valuable journey for me, broadening my horizons and expanding my knowledge. Despite the challenges and pressure, the experience and growth I’ve gained from it are priceless. To the world, to the future! In the future, I will continue to hold my position and contribute to Hailiang’s development.”