[The Power of Role Models] Steadfast in the Everyday, Moving Forward with Endeavor—Xie Cuilei, the First Model Worker of CIMC Enric

The ache of homesickness is buried deep in his heart; drifting across the four seas has become his daily routine. For years on end, he has been tirelessly working away from home, unable to return to care for his parents. This is a true portrayal of an engineering professional—and a vivid depiction of him. Over the years, he has steadfastly held fast to his unremarkable post with extraordinary dedication, pouring his unwavering passion into his work without fear or retreat, quietly devoting the best years of his youth to ensuring the quality of every project. He is Xie Cuilei, an engineer at CIMC Stedin.

Forming an inseparable bond with engineering

In 2012, like countless other ordinary applicants, he submitted his resume and underwent interviews before joining Sanctum as an entry-level quality inspector in the workshop. Within just six months, his conscientious, responsible, and highly accountable work style earned him a reputation as “the hallmark” of his leadership team, while his colleagues also showered him with praise. In 2013, when the company established the Engineering Business Unit and reorganized the engineering quality department, he was selected to join the engineering inspection team. He still recalls the words of the then General Manager of the Business Unit, Mr. xxx: “You are my eyes—your job is to safeguard the company’s unwavering bottom line for engineering quality.” These words have continually motivated him to uphold the responsibilities of an engineering quality professional. It was precisely this career transition that led him, over the following decade, to repeatedly sacrifice opportunities to be with his family, putting the greater good ahead of personal needs and spending much of his time away from home…

Love one’s job and dedicate oneself to it; uphold one’s mission and responsibilities.

“Never forget our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind” is more than just a slogan—it is a profound responsibility and a solemn commitment, a cherished vision that must be safeguarded through concrete actions. Our original aspiration and mission should be translated into unwavering determination to “face no hardship and give our all.” Undertaking engineering projects is often like navigating a mist-shrouded river: aboard a small boat, with oars in hand, we may see only swirling fog ahead, yet we know with absolute clarity that the destination lies on the opposite shore—and so we press forward with unshakable resolve. As Zhu Xi said, “If one’s resolve is not firm, one will never accomplish anything.” Without a steadfast original aspiration and unyielding conviction, success is simply out of reach. For him, this core belief has never wavered. Over the many years since joining the Engineering Business Unit, he has consistently worked on the front lines of construction, meticulously inspecting and scrutinizing every aspect of each project—from the smallest details to the most critical milestones—ensuring that “no major issue is overlooked and no minor flaw is missed.” Moreover, when quality problems arise, he never lets even the most seemingly trivial issue slip by; instead, he always collaborates closely with the project team to thoroughly analyze the root causes and devise effective solutions. Thanks to his impeccable reputation, he has earned the growing trust of his colleagues across the project teams—so much so that what was once a source of apprehension for project managers has now evolved into an invitation from them to personally visit the site and provide oversight over construction quality. Over the years, none of the projects he has led or contributed to has ever experienced accidents or complaints arising from product-quality issues, precisely because of his rigorous approach.

Fearless and rising to challenges

President Xi has said, “Shoulder the historic mission and dedicate the strength of youth.” As is well known, the engineering project staff at our company are generally quite young. It is precisely during these youthful years that we should be fearless, rise to challenges, consciously take responsibility upon our shoulders, and dare to surpass our past selves. During his tenure in the engineering division, he has repeatedly stepped forward as a pioneer, voluntarily volunteering for and assuming the role of quality manager on nearly all of the engineering company’s key projects in recent years.

In 2014, the company initiated a research and development project to manufacture marine tanks using the new material 9Ni steel. As a technically proficient and quality-focused core team member, he promptly volunteered to join the R&D of China’s first single-layer, 8,000 m³ LNG marine Type C independent cargo tank, taking on the role of on-site construction supervisor and leading the entire tank fabrication process. With no established construction procedures to draw upon and virtually no prior experience to guide him, he meticulously studied relevant literature, sought advice from industry peers, and leveraged his past experience in shipbuilding. Ultimately, by integrating the site’s 500-ton gantry crane capabilities with the construction team’s innovative approach, he devised an inverted, segmented construction method for fabricating the storage tank. This groundbreaking technique significantly reduced both site requirements and construction costs, providing a viable reference for subsequent product manufacturing.

In 2016, the company undertook the R&D and project contracting for China’s first 20,000 m³ full-containment LNG storage tank. As a key member of the team, he once again rose to the challenge, taking on front-line responsibilities and fully overseeing the on-site construction of the tank. Thanks to his rigorous quality control, the project successfully passed the expert panel’s acceptance inspection in 2017. Due to his outstanding performance, he was highly recognized by industry regulatory authorities, and the National Metallurgical Industry Engineering Quality Supervision Station, in collaboration with Shandong Iron and Steel Group, specially conferred upon him the honorary title of “Advanced Individual in Quality Management.”

Time and again, he has chosen to take on challenges and consistently been a trailblazer, diligently and intelligently delivering outstanding results in both his core responsibilities and additional, demanding assignments.

In the Face of the Pandemic, Willing to Be a Forward-Thinking Pioneer

As competition in the domestic market intensified, and in response to the national “Belt and Road” initiative to expand overseas, the company began undertaking large-scale international engineering projects. In 2020, the company’s first overseas project—the 12,000-cubic-meter propylene storage tank in Kazakhstan—was on the cusp of commencement. At the time, the pandemic was raging abroad, resources were scarce, and the company lacked experience in overseas construction. Undeterred, he once again volunteered to take charge of and lead the on-site construction for this project, becoming the first engineer to venture overseas and pioneer such work. Unexpectedly, due to the pandemic, his two-year assignment stretched into a full two years: since construction began in October 2020, Xie Cuilei has steadfastly remained on the front lines. Overseas construction sites faced far looser pandemic controls than those at home, with multiple large-scale COVID-19 outbreaks that ultimately spared no one, including himself; he eventually contracted the virus. Even while in quarantine, he continued to oversee the stable operation of the site remotely via telephone. In 2021, nationwide unrest swept through Kazakhstan, leaving cities engulfed in flames, violence, and chaos. Faced with one unforeseen challenge after another, he refused to retreat or shirk responsibility; instead, he stayed firmly on the front lines, reassuring anxious workers, leading the entire construction team in combating the epidemic and countering security threats, and steadily advancing the project. Although he has now spent two Spring Festivals away from his family, he can take pride in the fact that, as Quality Manager, his extensive quality-management expertise and rigorous process control ensured the project’s successful mechanical completion and handover under inspection by the Kazakh expert panel.

Always striving, always growing.

To charge into the fray is more than simply daring to lead the way. Diligence makes all things possible; through enduring hardship, one finally sees the dawn. It is experience that breeds expertise, and it is practice that drives continuous improvement. Over ten years on this project, he has cultivated the qualities of being ready at a moment’s notice, capable when called upon, and victorious in battle. From an ordinary engineering inspector, he has steadily risen to become the Director of Engineering Quality—and even today, he remains firmly rooted on the front lines, steadfast in his commitment to the core values of a quality professional. His spirit has unconsciously inspired his team: driven by a sense of responsibility, unwavering loyalty, and a deep personal mission, he is no longer walking this path alone.

Do you still remember the late-night beers, the creaking wooden bed that groaned with every turn in sleep, the countless bowls of instant noodles consumed in a blur of work and exhaustion, and the silent tears wiped away in moments of hardship? All these have left indelible marks on Xie Cuilei’s decade-long journey in engineering. Over these ten years, so much heartache, bitterness, regret, and cherished memories have been poured into this path… Looking back, many of the difficulties and obstacles that once seemed insurmountable have now faded into the distance. What remains is the unwavering commitment of every member of the Sanctum engineering team—a commitment that is simple yet resilient, steady yet resolute—inspiring everyone around them.