Chairman – Shaanxi Construction First Engineering Group China

Evolve: Please share something about yourself, a brief overview of your professional journey? 

Guijin Zhang: I am currently serving as a CEO of Shaanxi Construction First Engineering Group, British Royal Chartered Builder, and professor level senior engineer. My professional venture started in 1982, served as general manager in 2008. In 2012, I became the CEO of our company; I have been working for our company for 35 years by now. I vigilantly focused on the economic work as the center of the company, adhere to the scientific concept of development, seize the opportunity, pioneering and innovative, the company comprehensive strength was considerably improved and the competitiveness is increasing rapidly under my leadership. 

Evolve: Tell our readers about Shaanxi Construction First Company China, its achievement and future plans? 

Guijin Zhang: Shaanxi Construction First Engineering Group has a long narration of 60 years; it is China’s top 100 enterprises in the industry. We have got the Chinese premium construction qualification, which is rarely to be found in companies of China, only few enterprises have obtained this qualification. We are principally affianced in the construction industry, urban infrastructure, roads, bridges, airports, electricity, water conservancy, environmental management, sewage treatment, decoration and installation design. We are sanctified to access to the highest in the Chinese construction industry Luban Award for more than 10 items (in China, only few enterprises have obtained Luban award). Our projects are rapidly spreading its web in China adhering for more than hundreds of high-rise buildings; the highest building is more than 230 meters, monomer construction area of 350,000 square meters. We have projects over 20 provinces in China and many overseas countries. We will become the main force in the development and construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and contribute to the Sino-Pakistani friendship. 

Evolve: In your view what are the biggest challenges infrastructure and construction industry facing today? 

Guijin Zhang: The economy of Pakistan is mounting swiftly and hastily; the government is getting more funds through various channels and increasing the transportation, telecommunications, water, electricity and other infrastructure investment. But in general, Pakistan’s infrastructure construction is still lagging behind, and becoming a constraint to Pakistan’s economic development, and this is one of the focal aspects. At present, Pakistan is facing the greatest difficulty in unstable economic system and social instability, which is not good for foreign investment and construction. 

Evolve: Technology is evolving rapidly and disrupting other industries. To what extent it is affecting infrastructure industry? 

Guijin Zhang: Rapidly developed science and technology are changing the pattern of the traditional infrastructure industry, changing the business model of infrastructure projects and operations, and thus have a significant impact on each and every stakeholder in the whole industrial chain. Three innovative technologies that are increasingly used in the infrastructure industry; 

1. UAV technology in the supervision of infrastructure projects construction schedule, management of infrastructure maintenance status, dealing with a variety of tasks in hazardous areas, the implementation of asset inventory and so on. 

2. The use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology to improve urban congestion and security; and the provision of Wisdom Glasses to enable workers to receive actionable details in real time as the project is being implemented. 

3. The smart city and the power grid has combined with the digitization and intelligent processing technologies, and it has begun to change the design, construction and the use pattern of the infrastructure in the whole word

Evolve: How does your construction process differ? 

Guijin Zhang: We strengthen the contract management; ascertain a scientific system of process control system, brace the integrated management of construction projects; make full use of information, network and imaging technology, construction projects to achieve digital management; adhere to the principle of tendering and subcontract responsibility for the main behavior, create quality projects, and the implementation of quality process management. A series of measures will ensure the smooth and high quality delivery of our projects to the owners. 

Evolve: How do you look at the construction industry in Pakistan and its current market trends and please also share some of your future plans in Pakistan? 

Guijin Zhang: In recent years, Pakistan’s political situation has remained stable, and the focus of government has steadily shifted to the economic recovery and development. A comprehensive economic reform and development plan has been formulated and the investment environment has been constantly improved. Foreign capital has been vigorously attracted. GDP has been increased for many years. With the overall economic growth, real estate, infrastructure development and construction, the construction market is emerging in the situation; to promote economic growth is one of the important internal impetuses. The target of our group is to upgrade the share of Pakistan to 10% of the Group’s total output value within 3-5 years. 

Evolve: How do you manage a rapidly growing company while focusing on operation? 

Guijin Zhang: To promote the overall management of our group, we need to improve the following aspects: 

• Level of corporate culture 

• Staff quality 

• Quality of construction technology 

• Level of construction equipment 

• Level of enterprise information  

• Level of the efficiency control 

• Level of cost control 

Evolve: What is the importance of values in sustaining a company? 

Guijin Zhang: More and more enterprises are aware of the importance of the core values to the development of enterprises. Corporate culture is affected by the core values of the leaders of enterprises, which influence the formation and development of corporate culture and the formulation and implementation of the company’s major policies. 

Evolve: What kind of culture you have maintained in your organization and how would you throw light in its significance? 

Guijin Zhang: Shaanxi Construction First Engineering Group has gone through arduous battle course, as the new era of the construction team, the entire group of workers to carry forward the “Pragmatic perseverance, Always create the first” spirit of the team, join the personal growth into the development of enterprises and even the country’s development, and constantly upgrade and improve themselves, work hard, dare to innovate and work together to create a bright future for enterprises to achieve a great dream of China. Corporate culture is a series of values, beliefs, norms and standards that the members of the enterprise abide by together. It is a unique cultural management mode formed by an enterprise or an organization in its own development. Under the increasingly competitive market, corporate culture has become a driving force for the sustained and healthy development of modern enterprises, it is one of the key elements to upgrade an enterprise’ cohesion, innovation and combat effectiveness. 

Evolve: How do you see the quality of your products and customer service in a highly competitive market? 

Guijin Zhang: Quality is essential for an enterprise; if you are going to compromise on the quality then it is going to give enterprises a huge impact. In order to make the consumer satisfied with the building products, maintain the health and sustainable development for the enterprise, undertake better commitment to corporate responsibility and social responsibility, we must strengthen the product quality crisis management during the construction period, manage the high-frequency mistakes in project, so that we can ensure the quality of construction. In developing market economy, the traditional mode of competition based on the product, companies pay more attention to the internal operation of the efficiency and quality of the increase, and thus increase the competitiveness of enterprises. However, with the rapid development of science and technology, the difference of technology and quality between enterprises is becoming close gradually, and there are indistinguishable differences and sharp homogeneity phenomenon among products. When the competitive advantages of the products are getting lost, the good relation between enterprises and customers is becoming the key to win the enterprise success. 

Evolve: Is there any company that has ever impressed you? 

Guijin Zhang: HABIB RAFIQ Pvt. Ltd. has impressed me a lot. It is one of the biggest construction enterprises in Pakistan; it has a long history of 55 years, involving Power & Energy, Chemical & Petrochemical, Infrastructure Development, Roads, High rise buildings, Airports & environment sectors. HRL is a company with great potential and strong comprehensive strength. And I believe HRL will play an important role in Pakistan construction. 

Evolve: What is the recipe to achieve long-term success? 

Guijin Zhang: With a good enterprise, there must be a good leadership team, management mechanism and competitive culture; if an enterprise intend to make sustainable development, the most important thing to adapt is the changes in the environment for unremitting progress and incessant innovation; the fundamental point of the continuous success is based on corporate strategy, management system, business ability, culture and constantly study. 

Evolve: Where do you see yourself and your organization in the next 5-10 years? 

Guijin Zhang: Developing into a world famous international renowned enterprise within 5-10 years. Increasing the output value to 13.5 billion Yuan within 5years. 

Evolve: Any messages for the readers of EVOLVE magazine? 

Guijin Zhang: Try to stop thinking about success or failure when you want to do something, always try to break through, because you can go back if it doesn’t work, but if you don’t do it, you can never reach to the new development. Be passionate and responsible to what you do and stay humble, dream the impossible, seek the unknown and achieve greatness.