[Model Worker Story] Chen Yao of Hengkai Electric: A Decade of Steadfast Dedication, From a Tough Soldier to a Model Worker in the Workshop

Stories of Model Workers from the Blue Industrial Park

At the 2025 Blue Industrial Park Model Worker Commendation Conference, Chen Yao, workshop supervisor at Hengkai Electric Co., Ltd., took to the stage as a representative of model workers. This modest and reserved young professional adheres rigorously to regulations with an iron‑clad sense of discipline, executes tasks with the decisive “act now” spirit, and fosters team cohesion through a collaborative ethos that “many hands make light work.” From the steely resolve forged in the military to a decade of quiet dedication on the job, he has embodied the responsibilities and commitment of a new‑era striver with an uncompromising standard of “zero errors,” setting an exemplary benchmark for devotion to one’s post, professionalism, and a pragmatic, enterprising spirit.

*Chen Yao took to the stage to deliver a speech as a representative of model workers.
 

Military service, demobilization, entrepreneurship, job transition

Chen Yao, Hengkai Electric

Chen Yao, a post‑90s generation, enlisted in 2009 and served for two years with an artillery brigade of the People’s Liberation Army, stationed in Xinjiang—a region characterized by harsh conditions and a complex security environment. This military experience forged his resilience, instilled in him a work ethic marked by perseverance and strict discipline, and enabled him to grow rapidly in assuming responsibility and meeting challenges. After being discharged in 2011, Chen joined Hengkai Electric, initially serving as the full‑time driver to Chairman Li Guiping. He remained in this seemingly ordinary role for nearly a decade. Known for his diligence, meticulousness, rigor, and reliability, he earned Chairman Li’s deep trust. Over the course of long‑term service alongside Chairman Li, he absorbed firsthand valuable insights into customer relations, business etiquette, and interpersonal skills, steadily enhancing his overall competence and capabilities.

In 2023, Chen Yao conceived the idea of starting his own business, hoping to seize his youth and venture out on his own. He candidly shared his aspirations with Chairman Li, pledging that he would return if the endeavor did not succeed. Chairman Li not only approved but also encouraged and commended his bold, enterprising spirit. Subsequently, Chen Yao headed to Guangzhou to partner with relatives in a startup, investing equity in the venture. However, facing a challenging market, the business fell short of expectations, resulting in substantial losses. This setback reinforced his resolve about his career path; he decisively closed the venture and returned to Hengkai Electric—his familiar “home.”

After returning, he proactively confided in Chairman Li, no longer content with his role as a driver. Instead, he expressed a desire to deepen his technical expertise, believing that steady work in the workshop and dedicated skill‑building would better align with his aspirations. Chairman Li readily endorsed this ambition and assigned him to the Hengkai Electric Blue Industrial Park project, where he took on the role of workshop supervisor.

From that point on, Chen Yao took on multiple critical responsibilities, including workshop production management, warehouse inventory coordination, and worker scheduling, while also serving as the safety officer. Each task presented him with a fresh challenge. As a complete novice starting from scratch, he remained undaunted, devoting his spare time to self‑studying relevant technical theories and actively seeking guidance from seasoned mentors and colleagues. In this way, he quickly acquired the skills necessary for effective workshop management. He emphasized applying theory to practice, proactively addressing technical issues that arose during production, maintaining rigorous quality control, and conducting thorough inspections of every completed task—never overlooking even the smallest detail—to ensure the smooth execution of all production assignments.

*Chen Yao insists on conducting a thorough inspection of every task she completes.

Through relentless effort, he has steadily accumulated extensive management experience, obtaining both an electrician’s license and a workshop supervisor qualification. He is currently preparing diligently for the electrical engineer certification. At the same time, he has brought the exemplary work ethic he cultivated in the military into his daily duties, emphasizing discipline, order, and execution, thereby ensuring that workshop operations are meticulously organized and uniformly standardized.

This honor as a model worker is both a recognition and a new starting point.

*Chen Yao is committed to enhancing production quality and management standards.

Speaking about future plans, Chen Yao stated that he will continue to leverage his meticulous and thorough approach, striving to enhance both production quality and management standards. By conducting proactive inspections, carefully crafting production schedules, and rigorously managing risks, he aims to eliminate safety hazards and ensure that all production tasks are completed efficiently and to the highest quality. He remains committed to deepening his expertise in the electrical‑technology field, with the aspiration of becoming a versatile professional who excels in both technical skills and management. At present, Hengkai Electric maintains multiple project sites overseas and is urgently seeking workshop personnel who possess both technical proficiency and strong managerial capabilities. Chen Yao is actively exploring opportunities for overseas assignments, hoping to represent the company on the global stage—overseeing projects, leading teams, and contributing to the company’s international growth and safe operations.

When asked what has kept him at Hengkai Electric for a decade—and why he chose to return even after leaving—Chen Yao reflected, “Hengkai is a large family that is both highly inclusive and tightly knit, with warmth radiating from every corner. Chairman Li often encourages employees, saying, ‘If you encounter any difficulties, come to me anytime; I’ll find a way to help,’ which gives us a strong sense of belonging and identity. Moreover, the company boasts a promising outlook: I’ve personally witnessed it grow from fewer than ten people in its early days to a workforce of over two hundred today, with its operations now expanding overseas. All of this has filled me with unwavering confidence in the enterprise.”

Having been awarded the title of Model Worker this time, Chen Yao feels both honored and deeply responsible: “The words ‘Model Worker’ carry great weight. This honor is not only a recognition of my efforts but also a new starting point. It inspires me to hold myself to even higher standards and to devote myself to my work with greater enthusiasm. I am keenly aware that every achievement would have been impossible without the enterprise’s nurturing and trust, and even more so without the opportunities afforded by this remarkable era. I will transform this honor into motivation and turn this recognition into responsibility, continuing to uphold the spirit of model workers—taking the lead in acquiring new knowledge, mastering new skills, and delivering fresh results—so as to become a knowledgeable, skilled, and innovative worker. At the same time, I will actively serve as a role model, encouraging my colleagues to value and cherish labor, and together we will contribute our wisdom and strength to the enterprise’s continued growth.”