yournovel Chapter 115 Pre-acceptance Meeting
Chapter 115 Pre-acceptance Meeting
After returning to the office from the factory production line, Ling Yun, Li Mo, Ma Baoguo, and Alex began a meeting.
There are four topics: Dell acceptance preparation, promotion of optical mice, research and development of mechanical keyboards, and Starlight brand planning.
"What is the Dell team most concerned about?" Lingyun asked.
"Three points," Li Mo replied. "First, the quality control system. They want to see our IQC (Incoming Quality Control), IPQC (In-Process Quality Control), and OQC (Outgoing Quality Control) processes. Second, production capacity assurance. They need to confirm that we can deliver on time. Third, cost. They will try to negotiate a lower price."
"Solution plan".
Ma Baoguo opened the folder: "All the quality control documents are ready, in both Chinese and English. A demonstration team has been set up on the production line, and the yield rate can reach 99.5%. As for costs... our price is 5% lower than our Taiwanese counterparts, and there's still room to reduce it by another 3%."
"No, it's 5% higher than in Taiwan," Ling Yun said. "We'll maintain a price that allows for sufficient profit, but give them some samples. Let's give them fifty optical mouse samples so they can test them."
"Won't Dell have something to say? After all, we don't have any advantage compared to Taiwan, and our prices are even higher," Ma Baoguo said with some concern.
Ling Yun waved his hand, "Don't worry, we have the only optical mouse on the market, they have no choice. Monopolistic technology has a premium, and our other products also have a premium, you can think of it as brand value."
"We need to increase the production of optical mice to 2000 units per day. Don't worry about sales." Ling Yun took a sip of tea and continued, "The promotion of optical mice doesn't need to be too complicated. Domestic publicity should focus on news. Report directly to TV stations or newspapers how many foreign orders we've secured and which companies are queuing up for our products. News outlets love to report on how we've broken the foreign monopoly and are leading the world. It will boost the confidence of the Chinese people."
"You're quite confident! Dell hasn't even started the acceptance process, and you've already placed an order with them," Li Mo said.
"I have confidence in your technology. For now, keep a low profile overseas and don't do any publicity. Have major manufacturers send samples to them for testing," Ling Yun assigned Li Mo.
"Okay, I'll take care of this follow-up," Li Mo replied.
"Let's move on to the next topic: the development of mechanical keyboards." Seeing that the first two topics were arranged properly, Ling Yun decisively moved on to the next topic.
"Currently, the R&D department has come up with a dual-side load solution, which has been tested and found to be much more effective at preventing dust than Cherry keyboards, with a correspondingly lower failure rate and shorter lifespan. However, this solution is an optimization within the scope of Cherry's patents and does not go beyond their patents," Li Mo said with some helplessness.
Cherry's patents are so broad that it's very difficult to break through his axial structure patents.
“That’s not a problem,” Alex said. “Our axis design is different from Cherry’s. We have a patent for the internal structure design, while Cherry has a patent for the MX axis. There’s no problem with us applying for a patent. As for whether our products will infringe on their patent, it’s just a matter of going to court. The more patents we place in front of their patents, the more we block their path, and we won’t even need to go to court. In the end, it’s just a matter of cross-licensing.”
"This is a great idea," Ling Yun decided immediately. "Director Ma, let's do as Alex says."
The meeting then turned to the topic of the Starlight brand.
"Brand positioning: Design-oriented performance computers," Lingyun wrote on the whiteboard. "Target users: young professionals, tech enthusiasts, and small studios. Priced 15-20% higher than Dell's equivalent configurations."
"Selling points?"
"First, design. The case needs to be beautiful, referencing the curves of the Apple Power Macintosh G3, but simpler. Second, quiet operation. Use better fans and vibration damping design. Third, pre-installed optimization. The Starry Sky system is specially optimized for our hardware, resulting in faster boot speeds and better software compatibility than general PCs."
"Sales channels?"
"Initially, we'll focus on online direct sales, referencing the Dell model. Later, we'll enter high-end computer malls," Ling Yun said. "The key is speed. We must launch our first product before June this year."
"Is the name really 'Starlight'?" Li Mo asked.
"The English name is Starlight, and the logo design will be handled by a professional company." Ling Yun looked at Alex, "Your task is to come up with the final design for the C3 motherboard and design a complete test platform by the end of April."
"no problem."
"Li Mo, you're in charge of coordinating all resources. Factory Manager Ma, prepare for production expansion. Once the Dell order is confirmed, start immediately."
"President Ling, with the subsequent construction of the Starlight brand computers, our factory area may not be enough. We don't have enough factory space right now," Ma Baoguo said, somewhat troubled.
"Let's talk to the municipal government. We're in a period of rapid expansion right now, and we've helped the city solve the problems of so many laid-off workers. The city shouldn't make things difficult for us when it comes to approving land," Ling Yun said to Ma Baoguo.
"Does President Ling have any plans for the future factory area?" Ma Baoguo was unsure of Ling Yun's intentions.
"Just tell me the specific situation first, and I'll communicate with the city leaders again in March or April." Ling Yun instructed Ma Baoguo to give feedback first.
The meeting ended at 7 p.m.
Ling Yun remained alone in the conference room, looking at the planning diagram on the whiteboard.
He recalled his conversation with Bill Gates in the United States. Microsoft controls the ecosystem through software, while Intel controls hardware through chips. Spark Technology's opportunity lies in vertical integration: from motherboard design to peripheral manufacturing, to complete system assembly, and then to operating systems.
Starlight Computer is the vehicle for this integration.
Outside the window, the lights of Jinan were sparse at night. But Lingyun seemed to see that a year later, among those lights, there would be one that belonged to Starlight.
As he was packing his things to leave, Li Mo pushed the door open and came in.
"There's something else," Li Mo said. "The city leaders know Dell is coming and want to arrange a reception dinner. Would you like to see him?"
"I'll see you," Ling Yun said, "but only for one meal. The main focus is still the factory inspection."
"clear."
Li Mo walked to the door, then turned back: "Ling Yun, creating your own brand... is really risky."
"I know," Ling Yun said, putting on his coat, "but if we don't do it, the risks are even greater. Ten years from now, we'll thank you for this decision."