A Chinese businessman has committed himself to supplying quality parts for the country's homegrown C919 aircraft, demonstrating the private sector's growing role in high-end manufacturing industry.
Wang Shuifu, chairman of XIZI UHC, the only private supplier involved in the C919 large passenger aircraft project, was honored in 2024 for his significant contribution to the project.
In October last year, XIZI secured the contract for the C919 center fuselage section project and has since been working to deliver the first set of products by the end of this year.
"Ultimately it all comes down to the results. We hope to achieve zero defects. In high-end manufacturing, patience is the key, and profit should not be the main focus," said Wang.
In China, high-end equipment production is largely dominated by state-owned enterprises that can more easily bear the long-term costs. But Wang observed that private heavy industry companies in Europe, the U.S., Japan, South Korea and other countries were all producing aerospace-related equipment.
"I was not understood, not even by my friends. [They questioned] what I was doing. This is not your field. This is for the government, not for private enterprises like yours," he said.
Driven by his passion for aviation manufacturing, Wang led XIZI into territory heretofore uncharted by private companies. However, doing so would require striving for the highest level of quality.
"An airplane consists of two million parts, and achieving zero defects is a global challenge. We must maintain zero tolerance for any mistakes and absolute perfection for every part," he said.
In 2006, the large aircraft project was listed in China's 16 major scientific and technological initiatives, opening the doors for private enterprises to enter the high-end manufacturing market and potentially take the lead.
XIZI seized this opportunity, out-competing a range of eager competitors.
"Among the numerous companies that submitted bids, we were probably one of the sincerest. The weight of the bidding documents we submitted were probably heavier than that door over there," said Wang.
In March 2009, XIZI was selected from more than 400 companies to become the only Chinese private enterprise among the nine Tier 1 airframe structure suppliers for the C919 project.
To date, XIZI has secured 344 certifications, with its products not only installed on the C919, but also used by major global aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier.
So far, eighty percent of the world's commercial large aircraft are now equipped with components made by XIZI.
"I am fully confident that the next 10, 20, and 30 years of the aviation industry will be a robust era for C919. We are pursuing a long-term approach and will not be swayed by short-term profits. It's essential to return to the fundamentals of manufacturing. The road to high-end manufacturing may be challenging, but it is not crowded," said Wang.
Chinese entrepreneur boosts C919 with quality parts, striving for high-end manufacturing
