Chongqing - Liu Ping, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and a master technician at Chongqing Chuanyi Control Valve, described a 39-year career spanning China’s shift from manual machining to automated, data-driven production.

Liu Ping, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and a master technician at Chongqing Chuanyi Control Valve. (Photo/Liu Ping)

Liu entered the industry in 1987. He recalled veteran workers saying that a lathe operator relied on a single cutting tool, with blades shaped and sharpened by hand, and that performance was largely determined by manual skill.

That craftsmanship was tested in 2003 when his company produced parts for China's Shenzhou series of rockets. One component- an extended tube- required machining a 4-millimeter inner diameter to a 22-millimeter depth, with a 1-millimeter hole in the middle and strict requirements for interior smoothness. Liu said he spent three days in repeated trials to determine the geometric angles of a toothpick-thin cutting tool, ultimately completing the task.

He said precision has improved from 0.01 millimeters to 0.005 millimeters- about one-twentieth the thickness of a human hair. In control valves, which fit between a valve core and its hole, enable accurate flow control, which Liu compared to how hospitals measure intravenous drips by counting drops per minute.

Liu cited company figures to show the impact of modernization. The firm launched an "intelligent transformation" in 2019. Output value rose from about 300 million yuan (about 43.6 million U.S. dollars) in 2018, with more than 300 employees, to a projected 1.65 billion yuan in 2026, while staffing is expected to increase to just over 500, mainly in research and technical roles.

"Now, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) equipment is five to 10 times more efficient than before," Liu said. He added that workers no longer need to remain bent over machines for long periods and that occupational problems such as lumbar strain have clearly decreased.

Liu linked those gains to new quality productive forces, a policy term referring to productivity growth driven by advanced technology, higher-skilled labor, and faster product iteration.

Last year, Liu said he focused on skilled labor supply, noting that around 2021, manufacturing hubs such as the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta often reported labor shortages, while some young people have chosen gig work over factory jobs. He suggested higher pay and clearer wage-growth mechanisms for skilled workers, urging state-owned enterprises to take the lead. 

He said relevant departments responded and some companies are exploring pay reforms, but problems remain, including limited wage increases, meaning continued efforts are needed.

Liu said his role as an NPC deputy has extended beyond the factory floor. In December 2025, he participated in the mediation of a computer software infringement case at the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court, helping both sides settle by discussing compensation boundaries based on industry conditions.

This year, Liu said he is also keeping an eye on issues including online game addiction and app pop-up ads, opposing what he described as unlimited monetization and calling for a healthier online consumption environment.

As the leader of a national-level master technician studio, Liu said he holds 53 utility model patents and 9 invention patents. He described the special-grade technician's role as a bridge between design and production, helping shorten the time from drawings to mass production. "Future intelligent manufacturing must be supported by people with knowledge and skills," he said.