“I know what it’s like for a combine operator.” “I know what it’s like for a combine operator” Did you identify them yourself or were they already obvious

He studied at a secondary school in Rostov-on-Don (now - Municipal Educational Institution Lyceum No. 11). Graduated from the Rostov Institute of Agricultural Engineering in 1962. Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor.

Since 1962 he worked at the Rostselmash plant.

Since 1978 - General Director of the Rostselmash production association.

In 1983-1984 - Deputy Minister of Tractor and Agricultural Engineering of the USSR.

Member of the CPSU since 1961. Member of the CPSU Central Committee in 1990-1991.

Peskov was twice elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.

Currently retired, lives in Rostov-on-Don.

Awards

• Honorary citizen of Rostov-on-Don (1996)
• Hero of Socialist Labor
• Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology (1995)
• Gratitude from the Head of Administration (Governor) of the Rostov Region (2007, in connection with the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Rostov Region)
• Awarded the Peter Stolypin Prize in the nomination “For many years of work on the development of domestic agricultural machinery industry”
• Awarded two Orders of Lenin, Orders of the October Revolution, “Badge of Honour”, Order “For Services to the Fatherland” III degree (1994), Order of Friendship (1999), medals

Memory

In honor of the legendary “red” director, a miniature gift book “Yuri Peskov” was published in the “Pride of Russia” series.

This monologue was delivered to journalists by Yuri Aleksandrovich PESKOV, former general director of the Rostselmash plant, Honorary Citizen of Rostov-on-Don. This happened in November 2011, on the eve of his 75th birthday. Yuri Aleksandrovich invited journalists to the conference room of the Don Plaza Hotel and spoke for a long time, and the words showed real pain for the whole country. Why we ended up in the cesspool of history, how to get out of it - a person with experience spoke about this. Here is a transcript of his monologue, accompanied by photographs, who was also present at that press conference. Today, the domestic agricultural machinery industry is going through hard times. The fact that it managed not only to stay afloat, but also continues to produce modern equipment is the merit of the New Commonwealth. At the time it arrived at the plant there was no other alternative to overcome the crisis. A new team was found by Pavel Borisovich Pokrovsky (CEO of RSM in 1998-2000). I supported them and will support them as long as I live. These are Konstantin Babkin, Yuri Ryazanov and Dmitry Udras. They saved the factory and created the machine system I dreamed of. And the current director of the plant, Valery Maltsev, installed and mastered these machines in the shortest possible time. It is impossible to list everything, there are more than 100 of them. But the main ones are: “ACROS”, “TORUM”, “VECTOR”, “Don-680”, energy equipment, etc. I still work at the New Commonwealth as an adviser. I said that I would not be involved in the economy, the team, just give me the opportunity to participate in the modification of combines as I see them, and they helped me with this. I managed to convince management to resolve a number of issues regarding the quality of our machines. The main thing is their unification, especially in terms of the threshing apparatus and cleaning, because it is these two parameters that determine the productivity of the machines as a whole. We have mastered the production of a full set of mounted reapers and headers for harvesting all types of grains and devices for harvesting oilseeds. Today our combines "ACROS", "TORUM" and "VECTOR" are the best in the world. Due to their productivity, we managed to leave behind all imported combines. Last year, in the Krasnodar Territory, John Deere, Klaas and other famous equipment took part in the cleaning. Ten thousand tons were threshed by only one combine - "TORUM". Of course, this is a great merit of today’s team of designers, technologists, engineering and technical personnel, workers, and the management of the combine plant, headed by Valery Maltsev. Today our combines show the highest productivity. From this we can conclude that Russia needs 8 thousand combines. This is a huge mistake. We must understand that grain must be harvested in a maximum of 10 days, and about 60 percent of the sown areas must be harvested separately. Otherwise, we will never have high-quality bread with high levels of gluten and hardness. Only separate harvesting allows you to obtain high-quality gluten - 26-28 percent. This is the main task of our grain growers. But for this you need to produce 15 thousand combines per year and have at least 150 thousand combines in the fleet of the ACROS, TORUM, VECTOR types, plus the entire set of attachments for separate harvesting, including power... Today there is a lot of talk about the need to revive the economy. In the Soviet years, it was impossible to separate party work from economic work: both politics and economics were one. If we want United Russia to become a worthy party that represents the opinion of the people, it must be seen and heard by the people. Take these three hundred people who work in the State Duma today. They pay great attention to maintaining their voting majority. Putin correctly followed the path of expansion, the creation of the “People's Front”. Otherwise, United Russia may repeat the fate of the CPSU. But it is necessary that the people’s representatives attend not only meetings of the regional Duma, but also meet with the people and visit industrial and agricultural enterprises. It is necessary for the information system to work, because only by knowing the situation on every square kilometer can we lead society correctly and spiritually. It is necessary for television to show our achievements in industry and agriculture, it is necessary to show workers and peasants and their achievements on the labor front.We must at all costs raise the morality of our society to the highest level. For only morality can change the current situation. We need to ensure that we are proud not only of our country, its greatness, but also of the results of our labor, our enterprise, our work activity, our family, children, grandchildren, for only in this case will we achieve success in our work and social life. Russia is the richest country in the world. It is unsuitable for a state that has colossal energy and any other reserves in the ground, ten percent of the world's black soil, which is home to 1.5 percent of the world's population, to import half of its food from abroad. This is a problem. I now live in the Azov region and have encountered the following thing: the production of tomatoes and cucumbers in the region has been reduced. Only root vegetables and onions are sown. We say that we produce more than a million tons of vegetables, and tomatoes at the market cost 100-150 rubles per kilogram. We don’t have our own apples, cherries, or cherries. Gardening has been almost completely destroyed. I believe that we need to correct the situation in three sectors. First of all - in agriculture. It took the easiest path. We stopped raising livestock and completely switched to grain farming, because... This is the most profitable production. But this is the main mistake. Firstly, we left most of the rural population unemployed. There are looted livestock farms all over the country, and there is no work in the countryside. There is no employment for the population - hence all the troubles of our social base. Secondly, this led to colossal yield losses. We do not apply organic fertilizers, so the soil loses its quality and cannot retain moisture. I understand why agriculture took this path, but this could be understood in the first ten years after the collapse of the Union. They had to be experienced. We survived. This year marks the end of the second ten years, but the situation in agriculture remains unchanged. The main value of our country is black soil and agricultural land. The most important task is to constantly improve the quality of this black soil, then we will get harvests like in the West, although their land quality is worse than ours. And we, having such huge volumes of black soil, are destroying it. For each hectare it is necessary to apply about 200 kg of inorganic complex fertilizers. Today we contribute from 30 to 60, maximum 100, we don’t have enough money for more. We're practically liquidated cattle, we have lost manure, i.e. We do not add organic fertilizers to the soil. And organic matter contributed to the formation of a 5-7 mm layer of humus, which ensured a high yield. And most importantly, organic matter is the only component that retains moisture in the soil. And in our Rostov region, where rain occurs only by prescription, and only if the doctor is good, organic matter is especially necessary. So far we are enjoying a harvest of 30-40 centners per hectare. Why don’t we harvest 70-80-100 centners? Today we are proud that we export grain. Why are we exporting? Because we have no livestock. We have reduced barley production to a minimum. Today we have built complexes, and we bring animal feed from abroad. Agricultural problems cannot be solved by poultry farming or pig farming. In order to revive this industry, a set of measures is needed. And first of all, to increase the production of agricultural machinery. It is necessary to have cattle, pig farming and poultry farming. If these four components are present, others will appear. It will be necessary to sow forage grasses and protein grasses. Today, from an eight-field crop rotation, we have come, at best, to a three-field one, because we sow sunflowers, corn and cereals. The only crop that can produce crops without crop rotation is corn. Sunflower generally cannot occupy more than 12-14 percent of the sown area, but today we have reached 30 percent, and in some farms it reaches 40 or more. We infect the earth, it begins to “bloom.” As a result, we have bad sunflowers: instead of 30-40 centners per hectare, we get at best 16-20, or even 10 centners per hectare. And the earth is a living organism, and it also needs to be given food. If we used to do 6-7 treatments, now we do 2-3, and we want there to be no weeds. This doesn't happen. And for this you need a powerful tractor fleet and a full set of production tools. Today collective farms (or limited liability companies) do not live, but exist. One hundred people work from March to November. And then they rest. This is hidden unemployment. People receive 3-5 thousand a month, but what can you do today with three to five thousand? Ultimately, it is necessary to create a group of people who would think about this issue and put concrete proposals on the table of the President and Prime Minister. The visiting high-ranking manager is shown not the worst, but the best farm, and there people complain about the difficulties. What happens in the worst farm where no one goes? The village is the basis of the state, because 40 percent of the population lives in rural areas, and with processing - 50-60 percent. If a person is full, he dozes on the stove; if he is hungry, he goes to the square, to a rally. Products need to be available. In our country, sausage used to cost 100 rubles, today it costs 500-700 rubles. Of course, it is right that today we are building poultry and pig breeding complexes. But it is necessary that these complexes be commensurate with the village in whose territory they are being built. Firstly, in order to retain these people, to provide them with work and wages on which they could live with dignity. And for this it is necessary that livestock farming be on every farm, in every department of the farm. Only in this case will organic fertilizers be applied and we will preserve our feeding land. The second direction is the revival of industry. We say that Skolkovo will solve all problems. Yes, we need the same Silicon Valley as in the USA. But if we take today and analyze all our developments that are on the shelves at the Academy of Sciences, then there are so many of them that we cannot count them. The fact is that all these developments do not fall on production, because we have eliminated the industrial potential in the country. The basis of any science is academic science. But the practical application of any science can only be if applied science is developed - these are industry institutes and technological services of factories. We liquidated both industries and industry institutions. Who will develop it, and what will it be used for? Why does Silicon Valley work? Because the USA has enormous industrial potential with a two to threefold reserve of capacity. And everything that science gives, they immediately take, master and put into production. Our procurement production has been completely destroyed. Today we do not have high-quality foundry production, packaging, there is no proper heat treatment, there are no components, and this underlies the aircraft, automotive and shipbuilding industries. Industry cannot exist without blank production: casting, forging, rubber technology, hydraulics, bearings, etc. Without creating procurement production, without creating a huge industrial potential capable of passing through its millstones everything that we extract, we will continue to drag along at the end of the train. To do this, it is necessary to revive our own machine tool industry. Today we produce more oil than anyone else in the world, and we import all our V-belts from abroad. Today we melt the most metal, and we install bearings and hardware from China, and we bring stamped body parts from abroad. We buy hydraulics, engines - everything abroad. For 20 years, we have not built a single normal plant that would produce good diesel engines. One Yaroslavl plant, the level of which is 30 years behind. We haven't made a single automatic transmission in 100 years. And now VAZ continues to produce our cars without automatic transmission. We only collect imported ones on automatic ones. We now produce 2 million cars. But what are we putting there? We bring axles, we bring gearboxes, we bring engines. There are no air conditioners for cars and agricultural machines at all, and have never been produced. We unroll imported parts from parchment paper, assemble them, install electric rivets or imported hardware. This is complete deskilling of the working class. We have forgotten what vocational school is, we stopped training personnel milling operators, turners, installers and adjusters of high-precision and high-performance equipment. We forgot that without highly educated and highly qualified technologists we will not be able to put a single machine into production, we will not be able to raise our production to the highest level, because... it is based on technology. When we created the Don combine, I was given the task that we should make a Soviet combine from Soviet components and on Soviet equipment, and we did it. The only problem we were unable to solve was the air conditioning. Today, the entire combine harvester consists of imported components. The axle is imported, the engine is imported, etc. If a person takes an imported part and puts it on a car, he does not make GDP, this is minus GDP, moreover, he makes GDP for another country. Moreover, he takes oil dollars and spends them to buy this part and put it on the car. Russia needs stop being dependent on the petrodollar. He is ruining our generation. There is not enough oil for everyone. Our task is to ensure that petrodollars go only to investments. We have everything to become a great industrial power, we just need to manage it correctly. And the main thing is to raise labor productivity to the highest level. I believe that all this is in our hands, and we will reach unprecedented heights, being confident in our own abilities. We need to clearly understand that only pride in ourselves and our country can restore our public morality. And if we do this, we will all win. We will be able to find the necessary solution to overcome the problems of agriculture and industry, to overcome the crisis in agricultural machinery, tractor and machine tool manufacturing, we will find the means to create a new diesel production, electrical engineering, instrument making and other world-class components. But all this can be solved only with maximum efficiency in the regions of our country. And then we will see the result. I believe that it is necessary, at the expense of the Reserve Fund, to purchase several factories with high-precision equipment to recreate our machine tool industry, master them and put them into production. To do this, you need to equip everything with electronics from the military-industrial complex. And there is no need to be afraid of any secrets. The situation today is not 1941, it is somewhat simpler. And then we will be able to solve the problem of raising labor productivity at the proper level in the shortest possible time. But in parallel with this, procurement production must be raised to a high level. We need high-quality, high-precision workpieces for machining and quality finishing operations for the output of new products for machine assembly.
I am a member of United Russia. I joined the party consciously, because I saw Vladimir Putin’s adequate actions to bring the country out of the crisis. I understand that we would all like for all the most difficult issues to be resolved yesterday, and not tomorrow. This does not happen in real life Everything must be balanced, but for this we need to think about why Western Europe and the USA took all the best from the planned economy of the USSR and introduced it into their own, and we broke everything, and then... And then we haven’t received anything yet. And we won’t get it until we restore at least part of the balance sheet planning, which would allow us to foresee a lot and influence the course of production. I get the impression that, due to the lack of balance sheet planning, we simply cannot rationally manage what we have. The capacities of the past are gradually disappearing, but we are not creating new ones. Balance is the basis of any state; it should be done by a department that reports to only one person - the Chairman of the Russian Government. If this connection is broken, we will end up in chaos, and this is already a disaster. All ministers and services of the President must report to this department. This service should not tolerate dictate; it can only be guided by a clear mathematical and sectoral nature of the activity. It is impossible to govern our vast country, 10 thousand kilometers long and seven and a half wide, in any other way. It's my personal opinion. We must find specific ways to increase labor productivity not by percentages, but by several times, but without our own machine tool industry at a completely new technological and technical level, it is simply impossible to solve this problem. The whole history of the crisis of the 30s of the last century suggests that there is always a way out. Franklin Roosevelt, having come to power, decided two, maybe three issues in order to lead the country out of the crisis. Firstly, he raised agriculture to the highest level, and they are still successful at it to this day. And during these years, the USSR, thanks to agriculture, was able to rearm the army and create colossal metallurgical and industrial capacities in the east of the country. Secondly, roads. Today, US roads can withstand the intensive development of the country. And third is the construction of low-cost housing. This is how the US President solved the employment problem. Who is stopping us from doing the same today? Nobody. You always have to make a decision, no matter how difficult it may be. And achieve its implementation. This is even more difficult than making a decision, but it is necessary... And one more social issue. I don’t understand why we have such a shortage of places in kindergartens in Russia. Why are we talking about this at all high levels, but no one is taking action? An example from my work at RSM. In 1973, when I became the chief engineer of RSM, I was faced with such a problem. The first is housing and, accordingly, personnel for the plant, and the second is kindergartens and nurseries. We then developed 12 social programs. The first of them is kindergartens and nurseries. We made a strong-willed decision: every workshop with 500 or more workers must build a kindergarten on its own. And it was done. After 10 years, we had 50 kindergartens with 10 thousand places. Why not solve this issue today in the same way: force enterprises to build kindergartens, not paying attention to their protests. Over 20 years, we have built 1.5 million square meters of housing in Rostov-on-Don. They worked in different ways: from the “bloody” method to government investment. And in 1986, the team was no longer 22, but 64 thousand people working at RSM in Rostov, and everyone was permanent. I think that the main thing for a leader is to always think about the past with great respect and reverence, to work in the present time without sparing your stomach, but to think only about the future. Only then will victory and respect from the team be expected. Unfortunately, we are not given anything else. And lastly, no matter how difficult it may be for you, you should always consult with the team and find a solution. But in any case, you must make a decision on your own, sign the order and demand its unquestioning execution, no matter how difficult this issue may be. Only in this case will you have success and the respect of your team. You should never be afraid of responsibility, because there are very few people willing to take this responsible position, I mean a real leader. This is a deficiency in our society. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Be afraid that you have not made mistakes in your activities. There are few such examples. But if you make a mistake, admit it and take immediate action to correct the situation. The team will always support you. June 30, 2012 marks 50 years of my service to the RSM team, rural workers and agriculture in general. I have always admired the hands of the grain grower and the hands of the agricultural machine builder, who did everything to ensure that we had bread and high-performance machines. Only a person alien to our society could say that agriculture is a black hole. This hole is in his head. And agriculture, even today, provides 10 percent GDP growth or more. This is a feat of the village. Once, while in the office of Alexei Nikolaevich Kosygin, I saw three reports on the table on which it was written: “Flour”, “Sugar”, “Vegetable oil”. Alexey Nikolaevich told me then: “If a Russian person has these three products, he is full.” I worked for half a century, doing everything that depended on me to solve this problem. And bread is the main shrine that must be protected, even more than one’s own life. Therefore, when I give away my book “A Life Given to the Bread of Russia,” I always write: “Over the thousand-year history of its existence, humanity has not been able to invent anything better than the smell of a piece of freshly baked wheat bread.” I love Russia and his native Rostov region, and Rostov-on-Don. Take care of Russia, take care of Rostov - and you will be happy in your life. For there is no more happiness when you live and work in your native land, when your beloved wife, mother, father, children, grandchildren are next to you. When you have a job you love and a good, decent team where you work. This is happiness, this is pride for your Motherland, for Russia as a whole! BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Peskov Yuri Alexandrovich was born in Rostov-on-Don on November 30, 1936. He studied at the secondary school of Rostov-on-Don (now Lyceum No. 11), special school of the Air Force No. 10, and the military aviation school for pilots (Uralsk). In 1955-1962 worked at a radiator plant in Rostov-on-Don, went from apprentice turner to workshop foreman. In 1962 he graduated from the Rostov Institute of Agricultural Engineering. Candidate of Technical Sciences, Professor. Since 1962 he worked at the Rostselmash plant. Since 1970 - deputy. General Director for Production, since 1973 - Chief Engineer, Technical Director. From 1978 to April 1996 - General Director of the Rostselmash production association. On his initiative and with his direct participation, state targeted scientific and technical programs for the creation and production of modern grain harvesting equipment were developed and adopted. He was the ideological inspirer of the creation and the most ardent defender of the production of the Don family of high-performance combines. The legendary director of Rostselmash made a great contribution to the development of Rostov-on-Don. Over the 18 years of his leadership, the enterprise's housing stock increased by 1.5 million square meters, 82 thousand factory workers received comfortable apartments, and entire residential areas grew in the city. 50 kindergartens, cultural and sports facilities were built. In 1983-1984, Peskov was Deputy Minister of Tractor and Agricultural Engineering of the USSR. Member of the CPSU since 1961. Member of the CPSU Central Committee in 1990-1991. Twice elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. For his great services in the development of domestic combine harvester industry, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor and laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation. Peskov was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, "For Services to the Fatherland" III degree No. 1, "Badge of Honor", the Order of Friendship, and several medals. Prize winner P.A. Stolypin. Currently retired, he lives in the village of Novomargaritovo, Azov district, Rostov region.

mamlas in How factories were saved in Russia. Yuri Peskov

Previously: From the history of the country's working class using the example of one plant

Reinforced concrete man
Former general director of Rostselmash Yuri Peskov told Russian Planet about how one of the main Soviet factories managed not to disintegrate along with the USSR

Former Rostselmashites, having learned that I am going to Yuri Peskov, give instructions in a fatherly way:

To Peskov? And he agreed? Well, no worries!

Just don't worry. They say he's not so harsh anymore.

But still have patience. And be meek.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Yuri Peskov

Plant workers love to tell tales about the explosive nature of the former general director of Rostselmash. I spoke with dozens of people who experienced his leadership, and everyone had their own favorite story. They told how Yur Sanych scolded everyone for stopping production. How he threw phones around the office. How he allegedly slammed the doors of all the central offices of the country and pounded the stands with his fists almost until they cracked.

At the same time, everything is told with such pride that it is clear: true or not, Peskov is definitely an epoch for the plant. Original, ambiguous and contradictory.

“Please note that I am not a gift.”

From Rostov to the village of Novomargaritovo there are 100 kilometers of road stretching in the middle of fields. The fields on one side are crossed by slender forest belts, on the other, along the horizon, the Sea of ​​Azov quietly splashes. Noon. Seagulls, circling over the water, fly over the road and lazily sit down in the fields.

The village is located along the seashore, between the fields.

From a distance, the wide courtyard behind the black forged gates looks like the entrance to some kind of administration: several buildings, tall trees, the flags of Russia and the Rostov region are visible. A tall, powerful man rises from a bench in the house opposite and approaches, extending his hand.

Yuri Aleksandrovich Peskov is a stately, broad-shouldered hero, two meters tall, with a strong, fit physique. He doesn't even have a soldier's bearing - a general's bearing. Clear gaze and firm voice. What could be mistaken for the administration turns out to be his yard.

Everything you see here was planted and grown by my hands,” he smiles, noticing how I turn my head around in fascination. This garden seems to have it all. Or in this forest?

Keep in mind, I’m not a gift,” Peskov begins the conversation, and all the instructions of the Rostselmash team immediately come to mind. “It’s difficult to work with me—I know too much.” I shook hands with Khrushchev, hugged Brezhnev, and up to and including Yeltsin was directly connected with all the rulers. Anyway, okay, let's get down to business. Why did you come?

Machineless society

In general, Peskov was going to be a pilot. He also graduated from the Rostov Special Air Force School for this purpose. That's probably what would have happened. But during one of his parachute jumps he hit a high-voltage line. Fortunately, it has not yet been launched. He was in hospital when Khrushchev ordered the army to be cut by 500,000 men. This ended his pilot career.

In 1954, after the amendment, he went to get a job at Rostselmash.

We don’t need people with disabilities,” they told him in the HR department.

And I went to the radiator plant,” recalls Yuri. “I worked there for more than seven years and went through his entire school, all the machines. But I set the goal of returning to Rostselmash even when I was not accepted there. I promised myself that I would not only work at this plant, but also become its director.
***

- You once said that the level of development of the state depends on the general level of development of mechanical engineering.

Yes. That’s right,” Peskov nods. “The level of development of mechanical engineering determines the overall level of development of the state.”

- Could you explain why?

Our procurement production - our own casting and packaging - is located in a paddock. Foundries, forges - now everything is stopped, everything is extinguished. We don't pour blocks, engines, cylinders, pistons - we don't do anything. And this is only a small part. Everything that we could produce ourselves, we buy abroad. As a result of this, there was a 100% deskilling of our society called international integration. We no longer want to engage in procurement production because it is very expensive. It's cheaper to buy someone else's.

- How does this relate to the deskilling of society?

I'll explain now. The level of development of machine tool industry depends on the level of development of blank production. These are high technologies, and we simply do not train personnel for this. Look at the list of specialties at DSTU in the 90s and in 2014. You will not see there what this institute was created for. (The former name of the Don State Technical University was the Rostov Institute of Agricultural Engineering. It was created to train personnel for industrialization and was initially part of Rostselmash. - Note RP.). All this is fundamental science, the development of which directly speaks to the development of the country’s potential. And science, both fundamental and applied and industrial, will develop if we restore and create our technical potential in mechanical engineering. What can we talk about now? We don’t have to work to improve the quality of the purchased engine—the manufacturing country will do that. And we will buy it again. You see, the point is not only in the deskilling of the entire working class, but also in the scientific and technical industry. Taken together, this determines the overall level of development of the state.

A group of party and Soviet workers at a subbotnik for housing construction in one of the microdistricts of Rostov-on-Don, 1983.

- What needs to be done to solve this problem? Where should we start developing mechanical engineering in order to ultimately develop the state?

With the development of the structure within this state. To solve this problem, we need to restore five line ministries: Minaviaprom, Minavtoprom, Minsudprom, Minnefteprom and Minselkhozmash. Plus the military-industrial complex. Because general mechanical engineering has always worked on the basis of these ministries. Agricultural engineering is a very metal-intensive industry. Tractors, combines, plows, mowers - all this is a huge amount of metal. And, of course, a number of technologies. Previously, the Ministry of Shipyards, for example, made cylinders for us as hydraulic specialists. We transferred everything that other ministries used in electronics to combines and used them ourselves. When these five ministries function normally at the same time, they are complementary. And all problems that arise are solved within themselves.
***

One day Peskov comes into his office and sees: fifteen infants are lying on a wide conference table and screaming inappropriately at the top of their voices. He silently closes the door and goes to the secretary.

It was the factory mothers who left it, Yuri Alexandrovich,” she explains. - They are here waiting for you.

“Let them come in,” says Peskov, and after a couple of minutes, women’s hysteria is added to the crying of babies in his office.

So! - says Peskov. -Are you here to be hysterical? You won’t get it with this, you don’t even have to try. I am reinforced concrete. There is a problem - let's solve it.

“I didn’t mince words”

When I became a director, my tasks were to create a stable team and launch a new combine.

- Did you identify them yourself or were they already obvious?

There was a terrible staff turnover at the plant. You see, in such conditions it was simply impossible to work normally, not to mention launching anything new. This problem had to be solved first, and we developed fourteen social programs. This was necessary in order to create a stable team.

Among them was housing? All the Rostselmash residents I spoke with said that one of the main motivations for work was the quick opportunity to get free housing.

This was the first priority. We built dormitories, hotels, apartments and arranged a live queue of factory workers behind them. Secondly, we built the hospital with our own efforts, which is now known as the second regional one. More. Then there was really nothing to eat. We organized our own subsidiary agriculture, and the plant had its own store. Finnish baths, unloading rest rooms, and billiard rooms appeared in production. Do you know what queues appeared there?

- What did you decide about mothers and children then?

The problem of kindergartens. They say: “Yuri Alexandrovich, we have nowhere to put the children, how can we work?” I replied that I knew about it. By that time, we were already dealing with this issue, and I promised to supervise the entire process personally. This is what we did. A workshop with more than a thousand people built its own garden, and small workshops were united for this purpose. Every week, one day was devoted to construction, and a total of 54 gardens were built. There were many single mothers at the plant, and this was especially important for them.

Photo courtesy of Yuri Peskov

- Did many women work at Rostselmash in your time?

53, or even 54 percent. They are better workers than men. The men are mostly mechanics and repairmen. But in production, especially in spot welding, there is no substitute for a woman.

-Are they more attentive?

They are more disciplined and efficient. What about the guy? I’m walking through the shop on payday and I see them sitting: dominoes, a bottle. I silently approach and break this bottle against the column. Ruskin and dominoes. If you didn’t understand something, I always explained it again in Russian. Extremely Russian. I was not shy in my expressions - no matter what is prohibited, you cannot erase words from the language.

- Were you punished financially?

Very rarely. We all lived on the same salary, including me. If a worker received 140 rubles, my salary was 385. I lived in an ordinary house, not far from the factory. Go to this apartment now and be horrified.

- What else did you do on social programs?

They also opened a sports complex: football, handball, swimming pool. We did a lot of things, it’s impossible to list them all. But you need to understand how important this was: it was from all this that a stable team was formed.

But, despite the results, the construction of all this is sometimes called the “bloody method.” You yourself once said that there was a high mortality rate at the plant.

Yes. Because the death of one person is also a high mortality rate. We've had a lot of work-related injuries. Especially when convicts or jailers worked at the plant - there were quite a lot of them. But I’m telling you: there was no one to work then. To solve this problem, it was necessary to create a stable line staff. This is what we achieved by developing and implementing all these social programs.
***

I find a complete answer to this and other questions in Peskov’s book “Life Given to the Bread of Russia”:

“Three shifts of work without days off under the slogan “come on, come on” - with the number of temporary workers twice as many as permanent ones - this is a superhuman effort. They were only enough to give “things.” But besides this, it was also necessary to provide quality. It was a full-out job, hellish, deadly - both figuratively and literally. We had fatal injuries, and every such case is an all-Union emergency. This is a regional committee, this is a ministry, this is a report to the Council of Ministers, and this is discussed at all levels. Where could we get skilled workers? At least just permanent ones to train on the spot? And how could we afford to work in two shifts and with days off, if at three and without any rest we did not have time to cope with the tasks? They gave us a plan, but it was impossible to carry it out.”

“It’s not my fault that I think ahead”

“It became clear to me,” Peskov writes in the same book, “that Russia needs a completely different combine. Or rather, a different look at combines. Fundamentally new approaches to design, to the very idea of ​​a grain harvesting machine, were needed. It was necessary, first of all, to think about the person who would work on it, and about a sharp increase in productivity - not by percentages, but by several times.”

Many years later, on the Rostselmash website there is a description of this period will squeeze to a few lines: “In the early 1980s, the team began to develop and introduce into production highly efficient grain harvesters of the Don family.” This was the seventh transition of the plant to the production of new cars.”

Peskov on the podium of the conference hall of the plant management. Photo courtesy of Yuri Peskov

Yuri Aleksandrovich says that another task for him as a director was the launch of a new combine. In response to the question why this was so important to him, he told a whole story that you can’t read between those lines:

In 1973, when the SK-5 Niva combine was created, Izakson (Creator of the Niva and general designer of the Taganrog GSKB - Author's note) assured that this was the best combine in the world. But how could we compare it with anything if we weren’t allowed to go abroad? We just didn't see anything else. In addition, when the Niva was launched, the entire Soviet Union rebelled. They talked so much about this combine, so much was expected from it. Everyone thought that now he would make the work of the combine harvester easier and allow him to harvest more crops. In fact, it turned out not. Then I finally got permission to leave and went to Germany to the Klaas plant. What did I see there! How could one say that the Niva is the best combine harvester if it is worthless compared to the equipment that was available in Germany? I realized that we should not have put our combine into production when I climbed inside their combine and began to figure out what it all consisted of. Our delegation was sent to Germany for three days, but a day was enough for us - we collected their prospectuses and flew home.

Returning to Rostselmash, Peskov came to the general director Vasily Aleksandrovich Ivanov and began to tell everything he had seen.

It’s impossible, I say, it was impossible to put the Niva into production,” Peskov said.

Today in Russia there is no one but us to create combines,” Ivanov answered. “But I don’t know how long I have left to live, although I know for sure that during this time I will not create a new combine harvester.”

So they parted ways, but Peskov never left the idea of ​​launching a new combine.

Exhibition of agricultural machinery in Moscow. Photo courtesy of Yuri Peskov

“I created a group of three people at the plant, and for about a year after work, every day from six o’clock in the evening until midnight, we locked ourselves in the office and created,” he recalls. — To launch a new combine, it was necessary to completely change the layout of the plant. We developed workshops, buildings, design assignments for builders and, of course, the approximate design of a new combine harvester. We were watched and reported to Ivanov. He called me and asked what was going on there. I said: “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything, but a little later. I won’t make any decisions without you.”

So I did. I remember when everything was ready, I came to Ivanov, hung about thirty Whatman papers around his office, ordered the table to be set somehow, and began to report. This presentation lasted from three o'clock in the afternoon until midnight. He explained, showed, convinced... In the end, Ivanov repeated the same thing: “My life is not enough for this, and neither is yours. I wouldn’t advise you to bring this up for public discussion.”

Vasily Alexandrovich, can you at least try? — I didn’t give up.

You can try,” Ivanov answered. - I won’t interfere. But don't expect help from me either.

So I ran the red light. I went to the CPSU Central Committee and gave the same presentation to Frolov (Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the CPSU Central Committee - Author's note). He supported the idea. Minister of Tractor and Agricultural Engineering Sinitsyn did not know anything yet. When he came to our plant, we showed him the Niva and explained that this combine would no longer jump higher than itself. And to ensure greater productivity, it is necessary to launch a new combine. How angry he was then! He started shouting at me: “Boy! Son! What are you doing! What do you understand? We have put the Niva into production! Ni-woo!” "And what? - I tell him. “We need to take it off.” There was a scandal. But I repeated: “You can take me off work, but you won’t be able to get rid of the thoughts in my head about what a combine harvester should be like.” It’s not my fault that I think ahead, but this system always pushes me back or makes me mark time. I did not agree to these conditions.

As a result, Sinitsyn was removed from his post and Yezhevsky was installed in his place. The first thing he did was call me and tell me he was ready to support me.

A special resolution of the Central Committee was issued, which helped us work. In order to launch the new combine, 1,400 types of components were developed, which were practically non-existent in the USSR. We purchased several combines abroad, brought them to Solnechnogorsk and began testing. We soon realized that we couldn’t make such combines: we have a metric measure, in the States it’s different. Their scheme didn’t suit us, so we decided to create our own from scratch.

In 1980, Yezhevsky instructed Rostselmash to prepare two combines for the 26th Party Congress. And we coped with this task. The new equipment was sent under its own power to Moscow right along the highway. They just didn’t let me in there. Everyone knew my explosive nature and thought that it was better to let everything go without disruption. You never know.

At the exhibition at VDNKh, the new Dons were displayed in a special closed pavilion. All members of the Politburo arrived there, including Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. They say: he comes in, looks at this car and asks: “Did we really do this?”

This is how the history of the Don combine began. Already in 1980, we received instructions to make 15 such machines for harvesting. But, having sent them to Azerbaijan for testing, they failed: they got productivity, but made a mistake in cleaning and ended up losing a lot of grain. It was necessary to redo the cleaning structure of the combine, and in connection with this, the main conveyor of the assembly shop. And without stopping production. We did it. By the way, he still works at Rostselmash to this day.

Gaidar

During the chaos of 1991, Peskov called Gaidar and asked what “there” they were going to do with Rostselmash now. “We need to harvest the bread,” he explained. Yegor Timurovich listened to him carefully, and then said: “Yuri, why are you so worried about the country? Worry about yourself, solve your problems. If Russia needs bread, we will buy bread. If we need combine harvesters, we will buy them.” “Then it’s clear to me where you will lead the country,” Yuri Alexandrovich answered and hung up.
***

I decided to save Rostselmash, what else should I do as a director. But doing this, as you understand, was not easy. The plant began to be destroyed.

- How did this happen?

In the same 1991, Kravchuk (First President of Ukraine - Ed.) decided to stop all cooperation between Ukraine and Rostselmash. And we received 55% of the components from them, and the basics: engines, final drives and a huge mass of other components. This was the first powerful blow to the plant. But after two or three months we organized everything that was needed in Russia. True, there were no Soviet ministries anymore, and this was only possible thanks to my connections. I knew the directors of the largest enterprises at that time.

The second blow was dealt by the decision to stop the production of bridges - the most important parts for us - at the Taganrog Combine Plant and reorient it to the production of passenger cars. The decision was agreed upon with the Chairman of the Russian Government, Chernomyrdin. Then we managed to organize the production of bridges in cooperation with Belarus, and we again continued the production of combines. In parallel with this, the Don-1500 was being modernized.

In general, that’s how we managed.

Leave

Late 1995. A meeting on the recovery of Rostselmash from a critical state in Chernomyrdin’s office. Viktor Stepanovich signs the developed program, puts the papers aside and, looking at Peskov, says wearily: “We are all so fed up with you. When will you retire?”

Kuchma, Chernomyrdin and Peskov at Rostselmash. Photo courtesy of Yuri Peskov

Silence instantly reigned in the office. Everyone who was here knew the explosive nature of Yuri Alexandrovich, and were sure that he would not hold back now. Peskov overpowered himself. Silently collecting the documents, he got up from the table, walked to the exit and, turning around, said to Chernomyrdin finally: “Viktor Stepanovich, thank you very much for such a high assessment of my work. I will no longer set foot in this office, and I will not manage Rostselmash for another minute.” Gone.
***

You understand that before this I had no intention of leaving the plant. When I left, I was not yet 60. He was quite capable and willing to continue working. But after that I could no longer afford to stay at Selmash. Chernomyrdin had a meeting at the very end of the year, and on January 2, 1996, I called a meeting at the plant and announced that I was leaving. But the accountant told me that I cannot do this until I sign the balance sheet for last year. I knew these rules and could not go against them. I worked until spring, did everything and left.

- And you really left Rostselmash from that moment on?- I repeat the same question again.

I stopped managing the plant, but I couldn’t leave it to fate. And how? I gave my whole life to Rostselmash, all my strength. For what?

Stay

1999 Rostselmash is going bankrupt. Peskov, having learned about this, went to the regional governor Vladimir Chub.

You understand that stopping our plant means leaving the country without bread,” Peskov said.

The governor listened to him and replied that he could not do anything: declare Rostselmash bankrupt - an order from Moscow.
***

- But why did it have to be done?

I'm telling you what they told me. Naturally, it could not be left like that. Leaving Chub's office, I called Yeltsin. He asked how long it would take me to get the factory in order. I asked for a year and a half. “Okay,” answered Boris Nikolaevich. “I’ll tell Chub not to touch you during this time.”

Photo courtesy of Yuri Peskov

- Did you have enough time?

Yes. Then the director of Rostselmash, Pokrovsky, and I found investors - the New Commonwealth holding. He still runs Rostselmash. It is thanks to him that the plant continues to operate.

- How did you understand that the “New Commonwealth” can be trusted?

I only asked them two questions. He asked what they were going to do with the plant, and how they would pay off the current salary debts. They promised to continue producing combines and paid off their debts on time. I realized that I could entrust them with my life’s work and helped: I spoke for them in the media, announced that I was selling my shares to the New Commonwealth. This was a signal for the Rostselmash team, and the team followed them. Now I am an adviser to this leadership and fully support their policies.

- What do you do at Rostselmash as an adviser?

We immediately agreed that I would not get involved in any financial and economic affairs of the plant. The only thing I want to do is bring harvesters to perfection. This is my hobby, I love it. Of course, I can express my opinion to the director about something one-on-one, but he makes the decision. And it is right. I support the work that is currently being carried out at Rostselmash. Maltsev (Current general director of the plant. - Ed. note) is pursuing an absolutely correct technical policy.

- What exactly is she loyal to?

When I was still a director, I realized: engineering thought always needs to be kept in suspense. If it is absent, then stagnation occurs in the enterprise. Maltsev copes with this task. In addition, the results of the work of the “New Commonwealth” are visible. Rostselmash has mastered all classes of combine harvesters - Vector, Acros, Torum - and all their modifications. At his enterprises he has mastered all the mounted and trailed equipment that ensures 100% use of the combine harvester for harvesting all crops. Plus forage harvesters, the entire reaper system.

- What, in your opinion, is it important for Rostselmash to work on now?

The production of combine harvesters is only part of mechanical engineering. Another big part is tractor manufacturing. Rostselmash includes the Versitile tractor plant. But compare: in Soviet times we produced about 600 thousand industrial tractors, and today - 7000. The plant needs to develop this cluster, and this issue was discussed at the meeting between Medvedev and Golubev (Vasily Golubev is the governor of the Rostov region. - Author's note).

In general, today our own production is 60%, the rest is imported. But the quality of the equipment produced cannot now be compared with what the plant produced before. And I, as an advisor to the leadership, see that this is their merit - Konstantin Babkin, Dmitry Udras and Yuri Ryazanov (Leadership of the New Commonwealth. - Author's note). We are talking about the fact that Rostselmash is one of the top five global manufacturers of agricultural machinery - this, of course, is their merit. But, you know, an equally important merit is that the plant is basically preserved today.

Text: Victoria Safronova, photo: Marina Merkulova
“Russian Planet”, Rostov-on-Don, September 22, 2014

(1936-11-30 ) (82 years old) K:Wikipedia:Articles without images (type: not specified)

Yuri Aleksandrovich Peskov(born November 30) - Soviet government and industrial figure, general director of the Rostselmash plant in 1978-1996.

He studied at a secondary school in Rostov-on-Don (now - Municipal Educational Institution Lyceum No. 11), Air Force Special School No. 10, and a military aviation pilot school in Uralsk.

Awards

Memory

In honor of the legendary “red” director, a miniature gift book “Yuri Peskov” was published in the “Pride of Russia” series.

Sources

Write a review of the article "Peskov, Yuri Alexandrovich"

Notes

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Excerpt characterizing Peskov, Yuri Alexandrovich

“They told me,” answered Gerasim.
“I ask you not to tell anyone who I am.” And do what I say...
“I obey,” said Gerasim. - Would you like to eat?
- No, but I need something else. “I need a peasant dress and a pistol,” said Pierre, suddenly blushing.
“I’m listening,” Gerasim said after thinking.
Pierre spent the entire rest of that day alone in his benefactor's office, restlessly walking from one corner to another, as Gerasim heard, and talking to himself, and spent the night on the bed that was prepared for him right there.
Gerasim, with the habit of a servant who had seen many strange things in his lifetime, accepted Pierre's relocation without surprise and seemed pleased that he had someone to serve. That same evening, without even asking himself why it was needed, he got Pierre a caftan and a hat and promised to buy the required pistol the next day. That evening Makar Alekseevich, slapping his galoshes, approached the door twice and stopped, looking ingratiatingly at Pierre. But as soon as Pierre turned to him, he bashfully and angrily wrapped his robe around him and hastily walked away. While Pierre, in a coachman's caftan, purchased and steamed for him by Gerasim, went with him to buy a pistol from the Sukharev Tower, he met the Rostovs.

On the night of September 1, Kutuzov ordered the retreat of Russian troops through Moscow to the Ryazan road.
The first troops moved into the night. The troops marching at night were in no hurry and moved slowly and sedately; but at dawn the moving troops, approaching the Dorogomilovsky Bridge, saw ahead of them, on the other side, crowding, hurrying across the bridge and on the other side rising and clogging the streets and alleys, and behind them - pressing, endless masses of troops. And causeless haste and anxiety took possession of the troops. Everything rushed forward to the bridge, onto the bridge, into the fords and into the boats. Kutuzov ordered to be taken around the back streets to the other side of Moscow.
By ten o'clock in the morning on September 2, only the rearguard troops remained in the open air in the Dorogomilovsky Suburb. The army was already on the other side of Moscow and beyond Moscow.
At the same time, at ten o’clock in the morning on September 2, Napoleon stood between his troops on Poklonnaya Hill and looked at the spectacle that opened before him. Starting from the 26th of August and until the 2nd of September, from the Battle of Borodino until the enemy entered Moscow, all the days of this alarming, this memorable week there was that extraordinary autumn weather that always surprises people, when the low sun warms hotter than in the spring, when everything sparkles in the rare, clean air so that it hurts the eyes, when the chest becomes stronger and fresher, inhaling the fragrant autumn air, when the nights are even warm and when in these dark warm nights golden stars constantly rain down from the sky, frightening and delighting.
On September 2 at ten o'clock in the morning the weather was like this. The shine of the morning was magical. Moscow from Poklonnaya Hill spread out spaciously with its river, its gardens and churches and seemed to live its own life, trembling like stars with its domes in the rays of the sun.
At the sight of a strange city with unprecedented forms of extraordinary architecture, Napoleon experienced that somewhat envious and restless curiosity that people experience when they see the forms of an alien life that does not know about them. Obviously, this city lived with all the forces of its life. By those indefinable signs by which at a long distance a living body is unmistakably distinguished from a dead one. Napoleon from Poklonnaya Hill saw the flutter of life in the city and felt, as it were, the breath of this large and beautiful body.
– Cette ville Asiatique aux innombrables eglises, Moscow la sainte. La voila donc enfin, cette fameuse ville! Il etait temps, [This Asian city with countless churches, Moscow, their holy Moscow! Here it is, finally, this famous city! It's time!] - said Napoleon and, dismounting from his horse, ordered the plan of this Moscou to be laid out in front of him and called the translator Lelorgne d "Ideville. "Une ville occupee par l"ennemi ressemble a une fille qui a perdu son honneur, [A city occupied by the enemy , is like a girl who has lost her virginity.] - he thought (as he said this to Tuchkov in Smolensk). And from this point of view, he looked at the oriental beauty lying in front of him, whom he had never seen before. It was strange to him that his long-standing desire, which seemed impossible to him, had finally come true. In the clear morning light he looked first at the city, then at the plan, checking the details of this city, and the certainty of possession excited and terrified him.
“But how could it be otherwise? - he thought. - Here it is, this capital, at my feet, awaiting its fate. Where is Alexander now and what does he think? Strange, beautiful, majestic city! And strange and majestic this minute! In what light do I appear to them? - he thought about his troops. “Here it is, the reward for all these people of little faith,” he thought, looking around at those close to him and at the troops approaching and forming. – One word of mine, one movement of my hand, and this ancient capital of des Czars perished. Mais ma clemence est toujours prompte a descendre sur les vaincus. [kings. But my mercy is always ready to descend to the vanquished.] I must be generous and truly great. But no, it’s not true that I’m in Moscow, it suddenly occurred to him. “However, here she lies at my feet, playing and trembling with golden domes and crosses in the rays of the sun. But I will spare her. On the ancient monuments of barbarism and despotism I will write great words of justice and mercy... Alexander will understand this most painfully, I know him. (It seemed to Napoleon that the main significance of what was happening lay in his personal struggle with Alexander.) From the heights of the Kremlin - yes, this is the Kremlin, yes - I will give them the laws of justice, I will show them the meaning of true civilization, I will force generations the boyars lovingly remember the name of their conqueror. I will tell the deputation that I did not and do not want war; that I waged war only against the false policy of their court, that I love and respect Alexander, and that I will accept peace terms in Moscow worthy of me and my peoples. I do not want to take advantage of the happiness of war to humiliate the respected sovereign. Boyars - I will tell them: I do not want war, but I want peace and prosperity for all my subjects. However, I know that their presence will inspire me, and I will tell them as I always say: clearly, solemnly and grandly. But is it really true that I am in Moscow? Yes, here she is!

Yuri Aleksandrovich Peskov(born November 30, 1936) - Soviet government and industrial figure, general director of the Rostselmash plant in 1978-1996.

Candidate of Technical Sciences, Professor (1991). Full member of the Engineering Academy of the Russian Federation (1991), member of the International Academy of Engineering (1992).

Biography

He studied at a secondary school in Rostov-on-Don (now Municipal Educational Institution Lyceum No. 11), Air Force Special School No. 10, and a military aviation pilot school in Uralsk.

From 1955 to 1962 he worked in Rostov-on-Don at a radiator plant, where he worked his way up from apprentice turner to master.

Graduated from the Rostov Institute of Agricultural Engineering in 1962.

Since 1962 he worked at the Rostselmash plant.

From 1978 to April 1996 - General Director of the Rostselmash production association.

In 1983-1984 - Deputy Minister of Tractor and Agricultural Engineering of the USSR.

Member of the CPSU since 1961. Member of the CPSU Central Committee in 1990-1991. Peskov was twice elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.

In 1996, Yuri Alexandrovich retired. Currently retired, lives in the village. Novomargaritovo, Azov district, Rostov region.

Awards

• Hero of Socialist Labor.
• He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, the Badge of Honor, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree (1994), the Order of Friendship (1999), and medals.
• Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology (1995).
• Awarded the Pyotr Stolypin Prize in the nomination “For many years of work on the development of domestic agricultural machinery.”
• Honorary citizen of Rostov-on-Don (1996), “Honorary Rostselmashevets” (1996).
• Gratitude from the Head of Administration (Governor) of the Rostov Region (2007, in connection with the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Rostov Region).

Memory

In honor of the legendary “red” director, a miniature gift book “Yuri Peskov” was published in the “Pride of Russia” series.

Sources

• Peskov, Yuri Alexandrovich // Heroes of Labor Don: biobibliographic reference book / Don State Public Library. Rostov-on-Don, 2008-2014

Notes

1. Our graduates
2. 1 2 3 Peskov Yu.“We have everything to become a great industrial power” // National priorities. - 2011. - No. 10. - P. 33.
3. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 11, 1994 No. 2081
4. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 25, 1999 No. 1263
5. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of June 20, 1995 No. 604
6. Yuri Peskov was awarded the Peter Stolypin Prize
7. Honorary citizens of Rostov-on-Don
8. Generational thread
9. Yuri Alexandrovich Peskov turns 70 on November 30, 2006

Partially used materials from the site http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/