In 2013, the Kalashnikov Group was established based on Izhmash NPO, a manufacturer of AK-47 rifles. Kalashnikov is now Russia's largest manufacturer of light weapons, guided artillery shells, and various precision weapons. It also includes many civilian products such as sports rifles, shotguns, machine tools, and tools. The nine types of firearms currently in service in the Russian army are all manufactured by the Kalashnikov Group. Today we will follow the lens of a Russian reporter and walk into the Kalashnikov Group to see how various firearms are made.
Since 1807, gun manufacturers in Izhevsk have begun to produce all kinds of guns. Five years later, the war between Tsarist Russia and France broke out, and the Russian army received more than 6,000 flintlocks made by Izhevsk. The picture shows the production line. Workers are busy at their posts, with Dragunov sniper rifles (SVD) on the shelf next to them.
In World War I, gun manufacturers in Izhevsk produced 1.5 million rifles for the Russian army. The picture shows a worker using a spring tensioner to check the force required when the bumper is opened, which is also an important test item.
During World War II, Izhevsk manufactured various rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank rifles. Approximately 12,000 firearms were manufactured every day. The picture shows a female worker on the production line. She is responsible for assembling the AK-74M rifle. On the left is a special conveyor belt that moves slowly.
After World War II, Izhevsk began to manufacture Kalashnikov rifles. The AK-47 and its improved versions are not only widely praised in the Soviet Union, but its influence far exceeds the borders of the Soviet Union. . The picture shows the female workers who are assembling rifles. Many of the rifles here are made by experienced female workers. They are more careful, and the work of assembling the rifles is not labor-intensive and suitable for female workers.
In the Soviet era, Izhevsk produced as many as 600,000 firearms every year, becoming the world's largest manufacturer of light weapons. The picture shows the notice board inside the Kalashnikov Group factory.
In 2017, Kalashnikov Group celebrated the 210th anniversary of Izhevsk’s firearms manufacturing industry and the 70th anniversary of the birth of the AK-47 assault rifle. The picture shows a female worker who is assembling a rifle. She is responsible for the assembly of the bolt mechanism and the reintroduction of the spring-mounted rifle, and install the receiver cover.
A few years ago, Kalashnikov Group carried out a comprehensive technical upgrade, and the dilapidated plant was completely rebuilt. The current production line is comparable to European and American counterparts.
Advanced production equipment can not only improve efficiency, but also improve manufacturing accuracy, and the quality of firearms has been significantly improved.
In addition to the necessary hardware, Kalashnikov Group also updated the "software"-personnel management methods.
ranks all workers. The salary of senior technicians is twice that of ordinary workers, which can provide a good incentive.
In order to be promoted to a higher level, workers must meet internal assessment conditions, such as reducing the scrap rate to a certain level.
These internal incentives effectively encourage workers to learn new technologies and improve their skills in order to upgrade their ranks and obtain higher salaries.
Because the Kalashnikov Group has completely updated its plant and machinery equipment, and adopted a scientific management system, Kalashnikov Group’s product quantity, variety and quality have been obtained Significantly improved.
September 19, 2019, RussiaPresident Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the Kalashnikov Institute of Youth Science and Technology Park initiated by Kalashnikov Group. Dmitry Tarasov, general manager of Kalashnikov Group, said at the opening ceremony: "We have a clear mission-to create an interesting field so that children can find a path that suits them. We will provide additional education to children in related engineering fields and cultivate a new generation of inventors. In the future, many of them will work in Kalashnikov Group factories."
2019～2020 academic year, Kalashnikov Academy will provide corresponding education and training for more than 500 young people aged 13-18. All trainees are required to pass corresponding examinations and interviews to confirm that they meet the standards of Kalashnikov Group. These students only need to pay part of the tuition, and most of the rest are borne by the Kalashnikov Group.
Kalashnikov Academy will be divided into five majors: Information Technology, Robotics, Industrial Design, Technical Laboratory, Mechatronics Laboratory. In 2020, the aviation training major will become the sixth major of Kalashnikov Academy. In addition to the educational function, the college will provide relevant skills training, research and development technology, scientific organization and management, etc. This is management education, which can minimize losses and analyze and optimize enterprise production and office processes.
