Woman guards 'Neurons' of China's high-speed railways

Ke Xiaobin is a senior technician with Shenyang Railway Signal Co., Ltd. (SYRSC, in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province), under CRSC (Xi'an) Rail Transit Industry Group Co., Ltd. (based in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province). Known for her inventive talent, superb skills and dedication to her work, Ke has received many titles, including being named a National March 8th Red-Banner Holder, a National Technical Expert and a National Model Worker. She was elected a delegate to the 19th and 20th CPC National Congresses (held in Beijing in October 2017 and in October 2022, respectively).

More than 20 years ago, then-20-something Ke began working at one of SYRSC's workshops, in which workers adjusted relays. Within a short time, she learned the importance of relays: If one compares the signal-control system to the "central nervous system" of a high-speed railway, then numerous relays are like "neurons" of the railway control system, which guarantee the railway's safe operation. Ke, and other workers, made countless adjustments to relays, to ensure their safe, stable operation. The work required tremendous patience. A mistake at any stage could ruin the relay.

Ke put an incredible amount of effort into practicing and honing her skills. When adjusting a relay, the craftsman/craftswoman should use both hands to operate, with the same strength. Ke bought a grip exerciser, so she could use it to practice how to apply the same strength from each wrist. Within six months, she was skilled enough to repair the relay-test platform.

Ke's motto is: "One should spare no effort in pursuing perfection (in work)." Ke takes longer — almost twice the time — adjusting a relay than does the average worker. "Although there is no perfect relay, we try our best to improve the equipment's functions through repeated adjustments," says Ke.

Cui Baohua, a veteran worker who once mentored Ke, says the reason for Ke's success is simple. "Ke and her apprentices' professional ethics and pursuit of quality are the 'codes' of their successes," says Cui, who accepted Ke as an apprentice when Ke began working at the workshop more than 20 years ago. Cui was a delegate to the 18th CPC National Congress (held in Beijing in November 2012).

In 2012, when she was 29, Ke became head of a team of workers who adjusted relays. In 2017, she established a model workers' studio. In the following three years, the studio's members yielded, under Ke's guidance, fruitful results through their unremitting efforts. For example, the members solved 29 technically difficult problems, they scored more than 40 innovative achievements, and they obtained several national patents for their techniques used to adjust relays. Under Ke's leadership, the studio has received many titles, including Locomotive Model Workers and Craftspeople's Innovation Studio, Liaoning Master Craftspeople's Studio, and Shenyang Master Craftspeople's Studio.

During a test of relays several years ago, Ke and her team discovered the electric resistance value of relays' contact pieces tended to be too high. Prior to that, several members of Ke's team had received customers' feedback about the problem. To fix the problem, the members used white-cloth belts, with sealed edges, to reduce the electric resistance of the relays' contact pieces. However, production of the belts required much time and manpower. Through repeated experiments, the members eventually found a solution: Use dust-free paper to replace the belts. Given the application of the paper, the team has markedly improved its work efficiency. Ke said that was the most unforgettable experience of leading her team in achieving innovation.

During the past two decades, Ke has spared no effort in pursuing perfection. She has led her team in fulfilling urgent and dangerous tasks, including during the construction of several national and international railways. Throughout the years, Ke has led her team in solving many difficult problems in relay production, and in innovating the technical skills used to adjust the relays. She vows to make persevering efforts as she continues to realize her potential as a craftswoman.

Photos by Wang Juan

(Women of China English Monthly May 2023 issue)