What is a Workshop Like?
In the eyes of most people, a workshop is a place filled with the deafening noise of machines, where the floor and walls are smeared with oil stains. The old, outdated equipment and apathetic workers are engaged in repetitive, monotonous tasks. The only source of any life might be a few motivational slogans on the wall—dusty and uninspiring, as if they have never been cleaned and perhaps never needed to be. After all, there are far dirtier places than the wall, which makes the slogans seem almost too clean.
In your impression, it seems there is no worse working environment than this. Just visiting is hard to accept, let alone working in such conditions for years. If you’re unlucky, it could be a lifetime of such work. It’s like a form of self-punishment, and a sense of existential doubt keeps flashing in your mind: “God, what have I done wrong?”
Now, imagine the promotional videos of those internet companies—high-end offices, and the worst part is they even have gyms and coffee lounges. The computers are the latest models, the chairs have swivel and fold functions, and the desks are always adorned with flowers and personal trinkets. What’s even more outrageous is that some companies even allow pets in the office. This isn’t work—it’s more like a vacation! Some bosses go so far as to let you choose when to work—are you working or doing charity?
For many college students today, the workshop has become a nightmare. It is a place they deeply resent, and even many people who are willing to work in or are already working in the mechanical industry dislike going to the workshop and avoid it as much as possible.
But, in fact, we need to have a deeper understanding of this industry. Modern manufacturing enterprises, while not as comfortable or lucrative as many internet companies, have made tremendous progress with advancements in technology and the widespread adoption of Industry 4.0. Many companies have made unprecedented strides in automation and intelligence.
Modern factories, clean and bright temperature-controlled workshops, and busy, tireless robots have largely replaced manual labor. Workers, now more like operators of intelligent equipment, handle what appears to be complex tasks with ease and professionalism. The labor intensity and working environment have been greatly improved. This is definitely the future trend and inevitable development for manufacturing enterprises.
Many of the factories that college students visit during internships or apprenticeships are still old and dilapidated. This is because your schools, due to resource limitations, can only connect you with such companies. Alternatively, only those companies with less technical content are willing to provide internships for students. Many advanced automated companies, due to technical confidentiality, do not allow outsiders to enter, even if they are their own employees. Unless it’s directly related to their work, they won’t allow access.
This is a common practice in many Industry 4.0 companies because the layout and processes of production are so valuable that even a quick glance can allow someone to learn most of it. However, these companies and teams, who are the pioneers in these technologies and processes, have invested enormous human and material resources to tackle these challenges. Allowing others to easily learn from them is simply not cost-effective and is not permitted.
Take Japanese companies as an example. I once spoke with a sales engineer for ball screws and linear guides in Japan. When I asked about the level of automation in the industry there, he said that when dealing with clients, they wouldn’t allow them to see the full picture of the project. They only discuss the portion they are responsible for. Entering their facilities requires special approval, and no photos or videos are allowed. There is even someone assigned to monitor your actions. (By the way, the Japanese engineer spoke excellent Mandarin, which is impressive because Chinese is such a difficult language to learn. He spoke so well that I could barely tell he was Japanese, so we Chinese people must keep striving for success—it’s not achieved overnight.)
I’ve digressed a bit and ended up in Japan, but let’s return to the main subject. Why should you go to the workshop? Why do you need to be there? This is a confusion many people have. I will explain it from two perspectives based on my own experiences.