Empowering 00s in Advanced Manufacturing: Smoore's Story

Aug.11.2022
Empowering 00s in Advanced Manufacturing: Smoore's Story
Chinese manufacturing company, SMORE, provides opportunities and pathways for Gen Z to become skilled and versatile professionals.

Every summer, it is the busiest time for the recruitment team of Simore.


This year has been especially busy, as we are not only accepting new hires but also welcoming past partners. The "new" refers to the nearly 200 university graduates who have recently joined our organization. The "old" pertains to the visits we have received from nearly ten university leaders who are part of our initiative to expand connections with businesses and promote job opportunities.


Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the task of "maintaining employment and ensuring job security" has been extremely challenging. Faced with the severe situation of the first-ever graduating class of over 10 million students in 2022, vocational schools, university graduates, and enterprises are taking active measures, hoping to provide more job opportunities and a more attractive future for these post-2000 generation individuals.


During this year's National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Zhang Xinghai's proposal of "encouraging young people to work in factories instead of delivering takeout" became a trending topic on Weibo. With a shortage of skilled labor in the technology industry, new manufacturing enterprises in the Greater Bay Area, led by companies such as SMIC, are doing their utmost to retain younger workers born after 2000. They are providing a dual career development path for management and professional skills, as well as more opportunities for training, cross-site development, job experience, and high potential for promotion. Of course, these companies are also offering decent salaries and long-term, specialized job security.


In SMIC's 15 automated, digitized smart factories, the performance of post-2000s new intelligence makers is constantly challenging the perceptions of the SMIC recruitment team.


Simoer's new intelligent manufacturing production line.


Li Changzheng, who graduated from Guangxi Vocational and Technical College's Mechatronics Engineering program, has been with Simer for three years. His career plan is clear: to continuously improve his skills and become an electrical engineer as soon as possible. In just three years, he has made significant progress, becoming proficient in the equipment debugging and assembly work for automation line projects. He has even taken on the role of an "internship mentor" to share his expertise and has grown from a grassroots technician to an electrical technician.


Grassroots technicians are the first label for these post-2000 workers who enter the factory. Last July, Xie Wenqiang graduated from Guangzhou Mechanical and Electrical Technician College with a major in automotive inspection and maintenance. He joined SMOLE as a campus recruiter and became a production automation technician. After entering the company, he found a mentor who was very enthusiastic about teaching and provided hands-on guidance, making him feel a sense of belonging. Although he has only been with the company for a year, he can now independently solve common equipment failures. Engineers all praise Xie for his strong learning ability, quick adaptation, and comparable technical level to senior technicians.


Compared to Li Changzheng and Xie Wenqiang who focus on technical research, Duan Huimin is more willing to explore new directions. She graduated from Hunan University of Finance and Economics in 2019 and became an intern as a production reserve cadre through campus recruitment. In her first month of internship on the production line, she volunteered to take on the "stretching" work and efficiently helped dozens of employees complete production tasks every day. In 2020, she transitioned from "stretching" to become a marketing assistant and is now a trusted assistant to the project manager. She was also awarded the Outstanding Staff of 2021. She said her career plan is in project management and she plans to take the PMP certification next.


More and more post-2000s are continuing their journey in the field of technology. In January 2019, Huang Haimei joined the Engineering Equipment Department of Smore as a campus recruitment intern with the clear goal of becoming a manufacturing engineer. Over the past two years, she has worked hard and achieved the "Excellent Technician" award for two consecutive years. In April 2021, she was successfully promoted to IE Assistant Engineer. Her colleagues say that she is one of the few outstanding examples in the company who has been able to transition from a staff member to a full-time employee within two years.


According to a research report from 58 Hiring Research Institute, the post-95s generation prefer new second- and third-tier cities for employment, while the appeal of traditional first-tier cities has decreased. 54% of employed individuals lean towards careers as livestream hosts and internet celebrities, with less than 10% entering the manufacturing industry.


Compared to their peers, the post-2000 generation working on Sumaor's production line highly value opportunities to work in advanced manufacturing. They do not want to become mere industrial workers like cogs in a wheel. Instead, they aspire to be multifaceted talents, combining their future prospects with advanced technology. They aim to master all the skills involved in the production process and become the cornerstone of China's economy.


Smoore has stated that the company is committed to creating value for society and making all its employees happy. This commitment is reflected in their cultural activities and efforts to create a sense of togetherness within the company. Additionally, Smoore has been investing heavily in automation, information technology, and intelligent development in order to free up its front-line workers. Over the past two years, Smoore has established partnerships with 15 colleges and universities, providing training and support to over 1,000 skilled workers to help the company improve its manufacturing capabilities.


This article is an original piece written by 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd in Shenzhen. The copyright and permission to use belong solely to the company and without authorization, no individual or organization may copy, reproduce, or use the content in any way that violates the company's copyright laws. Offenders will be held legally responsible, and the company reserves the right to pursue legal action against them.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

JUUL2 Sued Within a Week of FDA Authorization as AJ Marketing Alleges Infringement of Programmable Vape Patent
JUUL2 Sued Within a Week of FDA Authorization as AJ Marketing Alleges Infringement of Programmable Vape Patent
Less than a week after JUUL2 received U.S. FDA marketing authorization on August 28, 2026, JUUL Labs was sued for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware. AJ Marketing LLC filed the complaint on September 3, alleging that both JUUL 1 and JUUL2 infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,851,068 B2. The patent covers aspects of programmable electronic vaporization devices, including controls over dose delivery, usage frequency and operating parameters. The plaintiff is seeking reasonable royalties and ongoing royalties tied to the remaining life of the patent. JUUL has not yet publicly responded to the case.
Sep.10
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen White House health policy aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Overton currently works on health policy at the White House and previously held a senior role at the America First Policy Institute. If confirmed by the Senate, she would take over an FDA that has experienced months of senior-level turnover. The agency regulates products representing roughly one-fifth of U.S. consumer spending, including e-cigarettes, drugs, vaccines and much of the food supply.
News
Aug.19
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union is using bilateral talks to push the bloc’s Tobacco Taxation Directive toward a political agreement in November. According to Law360, citing an EU official, Sweden is unwilling to accept a minimum excise threshold above €20 per kilogram for nicotine pouches. Council negotiations have already lowered the European Commission’s original proposal, but a May 2026 presidency compromise still set the minimum at 10% of the tax-inclusive retail price or €30 per kilogram in 2028-29, with higher levels later.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Nicotine analogues such as 6-methylnicotine are already appearing in e-cigarettes and oral pouches, even as key human evidence remains limited. A new Nixodine-S study adds nonclinical data showing differences from nicotine in cytotoxicity and receptor activity, while independent studies point to a more complex toxicological picture. With supply-chain activity growing and FDA seeking clearer authority over nicotine analogues, the industry now faces a larger question: what evidence is needed before these substances can credibly replace nicotine?
SCIENCE
Sep.23
UAE Sets Dh1-Per-ml Minimum Excise Price for Vape Liquids From Sept. 1 While Keeping 100% Tax Rate
UAE Sets Dh1-Per-ml Minimum Excise Price for Vape Liquids From Sept. 1 While Keeping 100% Tax Rate
The UAE Ministry of Finance will introduce a minimum excise price for e-liquids used in vaping and electronic smoking devices from September 1, 2026. The minimum excise price will be set at AED 1 per millilitre. The existing 100% excise tax rate will continue to apply to tobacco and electronic smoking products. The measure changes the minimum taxable base rather than the tax rate, with the UAE government saying it aims to establish unified tax standards, improve market compliance and prevent pricing loopholes.
Regulations
Aug.07 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Trump Names Darrell Scott as CDC Tobacco Health Adviser, Citing Tobacco Risks and Harm-Reduction Solutions
Trump Names Darrell Scott as CDC Tobacco Health Adviser, Citing Tobacco Risks and Harm-Reduction Solutions
U.S. President Donald Trump has named Pastor Darrell Scott to serve as an adviser on tobacco health issues on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee to the Director. Trump said Scott would focus on the burden of tobacco-related disease and help examine ways to protect Americans from dangerous tobacco products while supporting solutions that reduce harm. Scott’s public career has largely centered on faith leadership, community advocacy and politics.
Sep.02