At the 2024 International Convention on Quality Control Circles, or ICQCC, in Sri Lanka, a Chinese team earned recognition for their exceptional research and unique leadership.

The "Chaoyong" Quality Control team from State Grid Yinzhou Power Supply Company represented China at the event. Their research project, "Shortening the Commissioning Time of Dispatching Automation Information in 110kV Substations", stood out among 596 teams from 14 countries and regions, earning the convention's highest honor, the Gold Award. This marks the team's second top prize at what is often called the "Quality Olympics".

This achievement was the result of two years of intensive research led by Zhang Jiming, a "Great Country Craftsman" candidate, and Zhang Duxi, a "Zhejiang Craftsman". The team focused on solving a critical industry challenge: reducing the lengthy commissioning time required for information linkage between substations and the master station.

Under Zhang Jiming's leadership, the team collaborated across departments to develop two key innovations: a dispatching master station signal automatic confirmation device and a substation signal automatic transmission device.

These developments successfully cut commissioning time from 150.23 hours to 71.01 hours, resulting in significant labor cost savings and reduced equipment wear.

"This award has strengthened our determination to continue moving forward in the field of quality improvement. We will take this opportunity to deepen quality management research and promote the development of the automation information commissioning field," said Zhang Jiming, adding that he will adhere to promoting scientific and technological innovation regardless of any challenges.

Zhang Jiming's journey has been marked by significant challenges from an early age. At just 3 years old in 1979, he lost almost all hearing ability after suffering complications from a high fever and antibiotic treatment. Since then, he has lived in a nearly silent world. While normal conversations range from 40 to 60 decibels, Zhang can only perceive sounds above 110 decibels—roughly equivalent to the roar of a helicopter rotor.

Education posed an enormous challenge for Zhang. While his family initially considered sending him to a special education school, his mother, Gu Yafen, insisted he attend a regular school. To help him learn speech, she worked with him to observe others' mouth shapes and imitate pronunciations. For similar-sounding words, she taught him to distinguish them by feeling the differences in airflow.

Primary school proved difficult as Zhang struggled to hear lectures. In junior high, as coursework became more challenging, his pronunciation difficulties made him too shy to ask questions, and his grades suffered. However, encouraged by his mother, he redoubled his efforts in his second year. His determination paid off: he ultimately ranked first in his school's high school entrance examination, even achieving a perfect score in mathematics.

In 2000, Zhang Jiming began his career as a power distribution maintenance worker in the substation maintenance division of the Yin County Power Supply Bureau. He faced significant challenges from the start, including his inability to receive telephone guidance from equipment manufacturers during fault repairs due to his hearing impairment. However, his determination led him to thoroughly study more than a dozen technical manuals, mastering both the working principles and operational procedures of the dispatching automation system. In his silent world, Zhang learned to communicate with machines, finding unique value in what others might consider routine work.

In his silent world, Zhang Jiming has achieved self-worth through tenacious perseverance and unremitting efforts. His leadership of the "Chaoyong" QC team to international success has not only won honors for the enterprise but also set an example for people facing difficulties, inspiring others to move forward bravely in pursuit of their dreams.