Unit 8Unit 8

ProductionProduction

Teaching Objective

This unit aims to enable students to• know more about production – one of the

four key functions of a manufacturing company

• get familiar with the just-in-time production methods

• develop their understanding of the importance of product quality

• identify potential production problem• enlarge their vocabulary

Unit content

1. Production decisions

2. Quality

The project to be The project to be accomplishedaccomplished

1. 1. Production DecisionsProduction Decisions

11a Discussiona Discussion

1.1. What do you know about production What do you know about production department? department?

2.2. What do you think the objectives of a What do you think the objectives of a production department usually are?production department usually are?

3.3. What particular skills do you think production What particular skills do you think production and operations managers require?and operations managers require?

1b. Vocabulary1b. VocabularySome basic words used in relation to industrial production:

1. any company that provides goods or services for another one (subcontractor)

2. any of the pieces or parts that make up a product, machine, etc. (component)

3. buying products or processed materials from other companies rather than manufacturing them (outsourcing or contracting out)

4. the (maximum) rate of output that can be achieved from a production process (capacity)

5. the buildings, machines, equipment and other facilities used in the production process (plant)

6. the geographical situation of a factory or other facility (location)7. the stock of any item or resource used in an organization (including raw

materials, parts, supplies, work in process and finished products) (inventory)

8. the time needed to perform an activity (i.e. to manufacture or deliver something) (lead time)

1c Reading 1c Reading Some words & expressions related to production:

1. Things produced esp. by growing or farming, such as milk, potatoes, and wool, are produce; things produced by industry are products. Production is the action of producing or the amount produced. Someone who produces is a producer, and this is also the word for the person in charge of production in the theatre or cinema. For example, a new production of “Hamlet”.

2. production: batch ~ 批量生产， mass ~ 大量生产 ~ capacity 生产能力，生产量， ~ cost 生产成本，

~ cycle 生产周期， ~ quota 生产定额 ~ runs 生产过程 / 行程 ~ statement 生产报表

~ schedule 产品明细表 ~ line : assembly line 生产线 , 作业线 ~ department/division 生产部门，

3. Productive: that produces well or much 生产（性）的，多产的， 成果丰富的

e.g. ~ capital 生产资本 ~ efficiency 生产效能 ~ forces 生产力

4. Productivity: the ability to grow things or the rate of making goods 生产力

5. Productive capacity: the amount of product that can be produced. 产量

Insufficient capacity vs. excess capacity6. Average fixed cost per unit : 单位平均固定成本7. Economies of scale 规模经济8 Opportunity cost of capital 资本的机会成本9. Product scheduling: arranging timetable for producing10. Obsolescence: becoming out of date 过时，废弃

Suggested answers:

1 A & E 2. C 3. D

4. A & E 5. A & E 6. D

7. F 8. E 9. F

10. E 11. B 12. E

13. B 14. C & E 15. B & F

1d 1d ReadingReadingGroup discussion: Group discussion:

1.1. What is just-in-time production?What is just-in-time production?

2.2. Where did it originate?Where did it originate?

3.3. What are the obvious advantages and What are the obvious advantages and disadvantages?disadvantages?

4.4. Is JIT system used in China?Is JIT system used in China?

5.5. If not, do you think it could be If not, do you think it could be introduced? Why or why not?introduced? Why or why not?

Vocabulary:1. JIT ： just-in-time 及时盘存调节法2. Lean: adj. very thin, without much fat, 瘦的，贫瘠的，缺乏的

　 Lean production: production that is without excess 有效生产　 Lean management 有效管理 , 　　 lean profit 薄利

3. Stockless adj. having none for supply 无库存的　　　 Stockless production: 零库存生产４．　 To credit sth to sb. 把 。。。荣誉 / 功劳归功于某人５．　 Sabotage: v. to damage 破坏，颠覆６．　 Multi-skilled adj. having more than one skills ７．　 Overproduction : 生产过量８．　 Idle adj. not working, wasting time doing nothing 懒散的，不

做事的　　　 e.g. Workers are left idle when machines break down　　　 idle away (time) 虚度光阴９．　 Throughput n. the amount of materials passed through a factory

in a given time 物料通过量１０．　 Defect n. something lacking or impact, fault 缺点，瑕疵 　　 e.g. The machine is unsafe because of the ~s in it.　　 He suffers from a hearing ~

Answers:

1. component

2. subcontractor

3. inventory

4. outsourcing

5. location

6. plants

7. capacity

8. lead times

1e Comprehension 1e Comprehension

Decide whether the sentences are TRUE or FALSE.

Referent answers:

1. V (“Each section of the production process makes the necessary quantity of the necessary units at the necessary time – which is when it is required by the next stage of the manufacturing process, or by distributors or customers”)

2. X (Ohno mentioned American retailing)3. X (Quite the contrary; it encourages them to produce exactly the amount

required.)4. V (“… if a single subcontractor fails to deliver a component on time, the

whole production process is sabotaged”)5. X (There is virtually no inventory)6. V (“… the Japanese industrial system relies on mutual trust and long-term

relationships.”)7. V (“This avoids all the waiting and moving time involved in sending half-

finished items from one department to another. … JIT … should ensure that there is no waste … from idle workers waiting for parts”)

8. X (“The Japanese also prefer small, specialized production plants with a limited capacity . … very small production runs are possible)

9. V (this not mentioned in the text, but follows logically from the concept of JIT, as business students should be able to understand.)

2. Quality

2a. Discussion2a. Discussion

What is quality? What different aspects What is quality? What different aspects or criteria do you have in mind when or criteria do you have in mind when you talk about the quality of the you talk about the quality of the following products?following products?

1.1. A fast-food snack (A fast-food snack ( 零食，点心零食，点心 ))2.2. A small car (US automobile)A small car (US automobile)3.3. A restaurant mealA restaurant meal4.4. A raincoatA raincoat5.5. Hi-fi equipmentHi-fi equipment

Some dimensions in relation to quality:

• Performance

• Appearance

• Reliability

• durability

2b. Listening2b. ListeningVocabulary:1. Amplifiers 放大器，扩音器 2. amplify v. a) to explain in great detail 详细叙述 e.g.

to ~ the remarks with figures.3. b) to increase the strength of sth (esp. sound) 增强，

放大（尤指声音）4. tuner: 调谐（音）器5. cassette deck 录音带匣6. interface 界面，不同事物交汇而相互影响之处7. implant v. to fix in deeply into the body or mind 注

入，灌输8. in volume in a large amount 大量9. restraint: n. 制约，克制 restrain v. e.g. to ~ your

dog in public

Listen to the interview and then answer the questionsReferent answers:1. Three members in his department, it could also be said that

everyone in the company2. The products must include a high quality of sound

reproduction and “reproducible” in a large volume (with the same quality)

3. Quality begins with the designers.4. By TQM, he means the never-ending process of

continuously improving and refining quality5. .. if the company builds and sells large volume of products

without withdraws and defects, and all of them lasts for long time (10yrs)…

2c. Role play2c. Role play

Divide the class into groups and role play the Divide the class into groups and role play the casecase