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Member of the Committee of Experts Committee Li Daoyu
**Direction is more important than hard work.** Providing abrasive tools to support national major equipment projects, accelerating innovation, taking on social responsibility, and focusing on technological upgrades are all crucial directions for enterprise transformation.
In April this year, I represented the Coating Abrasives Association in Shanghai and attended the “International Forum on the Development of Modern Machinery Industry,†sponsored by the China Machinery Industry Federation and the China Mechanical Engineering Society. This forum brought together high-level speakers, including former chief engineers from the Shanghai Machine Tool Plant, Chinese Academy of Engineering academicians, professors from Tongji University, and CEOs of renowned enterprises. Many of them were young Ph.D.s with deep theoretical knowledge, rich practical experience, and insights into cutting-edge technologies—earning it the title of the “last summit.†After listening to their speeches, I gained a lot of valuable insights. In the first half of the year, I also visited several exhibitions in Shanghai, which broadened my understanding. Today, I would like to share some of my thoughts and reflections from these international forums and exhibitions, and the topic of my speech is “My Feelings and Reflections.â€
The biggest impression I had at the international forum was that all industries are paying close attention to future technology trends. I remember that the president of Tsinghua University once warned graduates that “direction is more important than hard work.†This concept applies not only to individual development but also to every enterprise and industry.
Professor Qu Xianming, former deputy director of the China Academy of Mechanical Science, mentioned that the U.S. is also considering similar issues. In the past, due to high labor costs, many manufacturing industries moved overseas, and much of it shifted to China, allowing us to become a global manufacturing power driven by old American and global market demands. However, the U.S. now faces a large trade deficit and fiscal pressure. Our country has bought a significant amount of U.S. Treasury bonds, representing the hard-earned savings of millions of workers. Now, the U.S. wants to reverse this situation, but they can’t compete with China through manpower alone—they must rely on technology. In January this year, an article by Professor Wadwa from the Washington Post suggested that combining AI, robotics, and digital manufacturing could revolutionize the industry, enabling American entrepreneurs to produce locally and compete globally. This idea reached our central leadership, prompting the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to study it. While some may think the U.S. is overestimating its capabilities, their technological strength is undeniable. For example, while we celebrate China’s space achievements, the U.S. has already sent spacecraft beyond the solar system and is preparing to land on Mars. Their aerospace advancements show that what seems impossible today may be achievable tomorrow.
Today, the U.S. is focusing on the development of “artificial intelligence,†which includes perception systems (like human vision, hearing, and touch) and decision-making abilities that allow machines to act based on real-time conditions. Unlike traditional CNC machines that follow pre-set procedures, modern AI-integrated systems can adapt and make decisions automatically. I visited Yuli this morning and saw how your rubber workshop uses parameter control, which is a step toward automation.
The U.S. professor’s warning has made the domestic scientific community pay more attention. Everyone is now thinking about how to respond if foreign countries push forward with such plans. This is a forward-looking issue. Additionally, during the forum, I learned that Foxconn, a Taiwanese company with 400,000 workers in Shenzhen, has already equipped one million robots on its production lines. With rising labor costs, companies in Dongguan and Wenzhou are also pushing for polishing automation. This trend brings new challenges and opportunities for our coated abrasives industry.
I also visited Fengpu, where their product has been applied in Foxconn’s fully automated production line. I am very pleased with this progress. Another key issue discussed was energy. Should we develop nuclear power? After the Fukushima incident, Japan shut down all its nuclear plants, but now it's gradually reopening. The debate continues globally. Bill Gates believes that wind, solar, and tidal energy are better than nuclear, but he still considers nuclear as the most promising option. This is a critical decision for our future energy strategy.
The State Council issued an “Industrial Enterprise Transformation Plan†in January this year. What does transformation mean? It’s about shifting from expanding production capacity and resource consumption to increasing product value and protecting the environment. Companies like Yuli have already taken steps toward environmental protection, which is a key part of this transition.
At the China Modern Machinery Industry Development Forum, I shared some of our coated abrasive tools’ contributions to major equipment projects. For example, grinding large steam turbine blades for nuclear power plants requires precision and efficiency. We use belt grinding instead of grinding wheels, which offers advantages like lower heat generation and better surface finish. The six-axis linkage CNC blade belt grinding machine developed by Chongqing Sanma Haida has been successfully applied in various industries, including Shanghai Electric Siemens Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.
Other examples include the grinding of high-pressure containers in nuclear power plants and aircraft engine blades. These processes require advanced abrasive belts, many of which are still imported. However, efforts are being made to localize production and reduce dependency.
In the aviation industry, the development of large aircraft and advanced fighters is crucial. The grinding of engine blades presents unique challenges, especially with materials like titanium alloys. Our industry has made progress, but there is still room for improvement.
Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of technical upgrades in production equipment. Improving product quality stability is a top priority. While many companies focus on quality, the level of production line equipment remains the foundation. As the industry evolves, it is essential to adopt advanced technologies, improve control systems, and move toward intelligent manufacturing.
This transformation process is not just about upgrading machines—it’s about redefining our role in the global manufacturing landscape. By working together and embracing innovation, we can achieve greater success and contribute to the nation’s progress.
**Abstract**
Li Dayu, a member of the expert committee of the branch, emphasizes that direction is more important than hard work. It is essential to provide services for national major equipment projects, accelerate innovation, and take on social responsibilities. The technical upgrading of production equipment is a key area for enterprise transformation. I was in Shanghai this April...