Chapter 47
This might not be a crisis.
It might be an opportunity.
No.
I had to turn this crisis into an opportunity.
I immediately headed to the factory laboratory with the plant manager.
Then we locked the lab doors with the researchers inside.
“Before we contact headquarters...”
“Why don't we first try developing a version of the recipe that actually works with WG Food's factory equipment?”
The plant manager nodded.
“Good idea.”
“We don't have much time.”
“And we're the ones who actually have to mass-produce it.”
“We're not talking about adding completely different ingredients.”
“Let's keep the same ingredients and only modify the ratios or processing order.”
“Sounds good.”
The researchers and plant manager immediately began moving their hands.
It was almost as if they had been expecting this moment.
From the beginning...
The plant manager had never liked the recipe sent by headquarters.
He had only followed it because it came from headquarters.
He had no authority to modify it.
But now that the machines were screaming...
A revision was unavoidable.
They began designing a modified recipe optimized for large-scale factory production.
“The reason the machine nozzles clog is because this part hardens like jelly...”
The researchers gathered around the recipe.
“That comes from the way the Hanwoo bone marrow is compressed.”
“Right.”
“And the ingredients entering at this stage are...”
I stood one step behind them.
Then something caught my eye.
“What is this?”
One researcher answered.
“That's the herb powder used to remove unwanted odors.”
“It's a mixture of several ingredients.”
“Does it absolutely have to go in during this stage?”
“Yes.”
“We need to remove the smell, so...”
Before he could finish...
I tilted my head.
“If its only purpose is controlling unwanted odors...”
“Does it really need to be added at this stage?”
“What?”
The researcher lifted his head.
“If we add it in the next process instead...”
“Would the smell really remain?”
The moment I asked...
He slapped his knee.
“Wait!”
At his shout...
The plant manager and other researchers gathered around.
“What?”
“What happened?”
“Look at this.”
“Assistant Manager Choi just suggested something.”
The researcher began explaining with bright eyes.
“According to the original recipe headquarters sent us...”
“The herb powder and several other ingredients are all mixed together during the second process.”
“Right.”
“And that's exactly where the nozzle blockage happens.”
“So?”
“What if we move only the herb powder to the next process?”
“Since its main role is removing unwanted odor...”
“I don't think moving it one stage later would cause much trouble.”
The others naturally nodded.
“That's true.”
“We've been so fixated on the headquarters recipe that we never even considered it.”
“Right.”
“But if the processing order changes, we'll probably need to adjust the amount.”
“Exactly.”
“We rinse once with water here.”
“So dosage adjustment becomes the key.”
“Instead of standing around talking, let's test it immediately!”
“Assistant Manager Choi, that was a great idea.”
They raised their thumbs toward me.
“No.”
“I probably thought of it precisely because I don't know as much as you experts.”
“I'll leave everything from here to the professionals.”
“Please take care of it.”
I bowed and stepped back.
Not long afterward...
An unexpected result appeared.
“Whoa...”
“Is this right?”
By changing the ingredient ratios and processing order to reduce friction inside the machinery...
The broth somehow gained even deeper flavor and stronger Hanwoo umami than the original recipe.
“This is insane.”
“This is actually delicious!”
“How did this happen?”
“The flavor is so much deeper there's no comparison!”
“If customers nationwide taste this, they'll go crazy.”
Compared to the original...
The taste had become several times richer and heavier.
“And if we run the machines like this, the nozzles won't clog.”
“This is huge.”
“Reducing mechanical friction also minimized ingredient degradation.”
“This is it!”
Every pair of eyes turned toward me.
“This is all thanks to you, Assistant Manager Choi.”
“At this point, shouldn't you transfer departments and join our research team?”
I waved both hands at their joking praise.
“Ha ha.”
“I only threw out one small suggestion.”
“The researchers and Plant Manager did all the real work.”
“Great job, everyone.”
We continued working in a cheerful atmosphere without even realizing midnight had passed.
Then the plant manager looked toward the warehouse and sighed.
“Even if headquarters approves the recipe change...”
“We still have another problem.”
He pointed at the first production batch.
“What are we supposed to do with all of that?”
“What if we add only the extra ingredient package and boil it with the existing batch?”
I quickly continued.
“Of course, we'd have the extra work of packaging the supplementary ingredients.”
“But that would still be better than destroying or completely reprocessing the entire first batch.”
“True.”
The plant manager nodded.
“Then please handle the progress from here, Assistant Manager Choi.”
“Yes.”
“Everyone worked hard tonight.”
“I'll speak with Bongau-tang headquarters about the recipe as early as possible tomorrow and contact you afterward.”
DD Franchise Consulting headquarters.
I arrived carrying two broth samples.
One made with the modified recipe our researchers had developed late into the night.
The other from the original headquarters recipe.
And one more crucial document.
“We don't have much time.”
“So I'll get straight to the point.”
“Good.”
“We're busy preparing for opening too.”
“Let's move quickly.”
