What enables a company to maintain its position among the world's top three in fiber optic communications? What quality management approach allows a cable manufacturer to receive four nominations for China's prestigious Quality Award? The answers emerged at the recent 2025 China Quality Conference, where the nation's highest quality honors were announced.
China Quality Award: Benchmark of Excellence
The China Quality Award represents the nation's highest recognition in quality management, celebrating organizations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional achievements in quality improvement, innovation, and supply chain enhancement. This prestigious award plays a strategic role in advancing China's economic development and establishing the country as a global quality leader.
Hengtong Optic-Electric: "Four Comprehensives, Two Orientations" Model
Hengtong Optic-Electric, a subsidiary of Hengtong Group, has risen to become a global top-three player in fiber optic and submarine communications through its uncompromising commitment to quality. The company's chairman, Cui Genliang, emphasizes that "the foundation of quality management lies in technological innovation." Since its establishment, Hengtong has adhered to its "Five High Principles" — high starting point, high technology, high efficiency, high standards, and high level — treating quality as the lifeline of its operations.
The company's award-winning "Four Comprehensives, Two Orientations" quality management model consists of:
- Comprehensive independent R&D: Mastering core technologies to ensure product quality from the source
- Comprehensive digital transformation: Implementing big data and IoT solutions for intelligent quality control
- Comprehensive quality infrastructure: Strengthening measurement, standards, certification, and testing systems
- Comprehensive value chain ecosystem: Collaborating with suppliers and clients to elevate quality collectively
- Customer-centric orientation: Placing client needs at the heart of all quality decisions
- Global brand orientation: Building international recognition through premium products and services
This breakthrough marks Hengtong's progression from previous nomination awards to the highest honor, demonstrating its commitment to becoming a world-class, innovation-driven enterprise.
Shangshang Cable: Industry Pioneer with Four Nominations
Jiangsu Shangshang Cable Group made history by becoming the only cable manufacturer to receive four China Quality Award nominations. Their "Four Everyone" performance management system has redefined quality standards in the industry.
The model operates on three pillars:
- Quality big data: Decades of accumulated performance metrics
- "Four Everyone" principles: Clear metrics, transparent data, performance-based compensation, and owner mentality for all employees
- "Six Transformations": Standardization, refinement, datafication, real-time monitoring, visualization, and efficiency
The company maintains an extensive database tracking over 230 quantitative indicators, from major operational targets to minute material utilization rates and energy consumption metrics. This data-driven approach ensures complete transparency in performance evaluation and compensation.
The Path to Quality Leadership
The achievements of Hengtong and Shangshang exemplify China's growing expertise in quality management. As global competition intensifies, quality has become the fundamental differentiator for sustainable success. These award-winning models demonstrate how Chinese manufacturers are developing innovative approaches to meet world-class standards while maintaining competitive advantages.