Haier: From failing fridge manufacturer to global electronic giant | Inside The Storm | Full Episode

I am greatly moved by the way CEO Zang Ruimin was able to change the mindset of the 'factory workers' to be the People who had a place in their industry. Important was the portioning of a large unwieldy super-factory into self- managed sections with immediate improvements to quality control and production. The greatest change was when the secretive, fearful, patent hugging, litigation mongering of the past was replaced by encouragement in innovation and entrepreneurial skills; Bravo!

In 1973-74 when I was in Japan I used to think and said that Japanese technology and Chinese human resources if combined together could form a great industrial powerhouse for engineering and consumer products and meeting needs of the whole world. China did not look as industrially and technologically advanced then as Japan because of Japanese workers amazing capability to produce high quality products in the form of automobiles, steel making, ship building, heavy fabrication and other high technology and quality product Japan was making in high capacity competing USA. Amazingly in just 20-25 years of time since then China achieved tremendous technological breakthrough in a way perhaps the world has never seen before. Now it is a producer of all kind of high technology engineered product, machinery and equipment that only Europe and America could produce or producing before. This story of Haier is one story of one type of product and there are many more surprising stories not yet revealed.

Jack Welch of GE was a legend in America. He boosted GE's value by 4000% during his 16-year tenure in GE. Jack graduated from Massachusetts University for undergraduate degrees and then gained his Masters and Ph.D. degrees from Illinois University. Zhang Ruimin of Haier had a checked schooling since youth, interrupted by China's Cultural Revolution. He had discontinuous high school education and never went to University before he became the CEO of Haier. These two great CEOs have very different backgrounds.

My parents bought a haier ac when i was born. it is over 20 yrs old and still functioning.

We own a Haier fridge / freezer since 10 years - and it never let us down. Great appliance, and now I have begun to understand why.

US GE felt running like empire or dictatorship while HAIER companies felt running like democracy!....really strange!

I bought an American made Amana refrigerator back in 1995.That's 23 years years ago! It has been with me through 2 marriages, also the appliance store I bought it from (SiLo) went under, because of Circuit City, which also went under years later. This Amana refrigerator is still going strong! No issues whatsoever. Very happy with my purchase.

I think i just watch some of the best documenteries in my life!

So inspiring...Am currently working with Haier company in Kenya as a merchandiser..and am looking forward to growing and help grow the company in Kenya. Thank you Haier

Such an inspiring story, CEO Zhang is an admirable manager

Very inspiring. Together we can make so much more

A very inspiring business story from China. It has proved China and US can work together and thrive both

It was such a great story I watched now. Truly inspiring! It's weird but I even almost cried seeing this rise from humble beginnings to that greatness, with being persistent, always learning and working on yourself, aiming to be the best but staying humble! Thanks for making this film <3

I had been inspirited by watching this wonderful documentary

Our 20 year old GE fridge finally kicked the bucket and went cold yesterday. Went to the appliance store and finally settled on a Haier fridge. Found out thru this video that my fridge is related to GE

We own a Haier fridge, we did not knew that it was a Chinese company while buying, now i do, but even though Chinese products are usually associated with poor quality, Haier is an exception, our fridge works really well, and we never had a problem with it. I will recommend Haier refrigerators to anyone wishing to buy one.

I hope this merger will become successful. Haier products can learn from GE to build rugged lasting products. I have been using a Haier AC for around 20 years and it's still doing fine. Keep up with the good job

wow to think like that in China back in the 80s is truly a sign of humility and vision. I mean u gotta remove ego and pride to acknowledge ur stuff is crap... and the vision to incorporate non socialist views during that era... I’m glad this dude wasn’t caught up in that mao propaganda... truly working with the people

Didn't expect the content will be so much inspiring. Very interesting documentary.

Disappointing that there’s no mention of the joint-venture with Germany’s Liebherr which was much to do with the quality improvements given the company was now using proven German technology and quality control processes. The name Haier even comes from the Chinese translation of Liebherr! The joint venture was the true turning point in the fortunes of the company, with the other changes at management level and in the attitude to workers ensuring the joint- venture delivered the results it was designed to.