work-in-progress (WIP) – незавершенное производство, полуфабрикаты
25. cycle time – время рабочего цикла
26. layout n – схема расположения, компоновка, планировка, чертеж
lay out v – располагать, размещать; выделять средства
27. waste n – отходы, потери; расточительство, перерасход
waste v – терять, тратить попусту, расточать
28. dedication n – посвящение, преданность, приверженность
dedicate v – посвящать
dedicated a – посвященный, приверженный, преданный
29. lean manufacturing – рациональное производство
Exercise 1. Answer the following questions.
1. What were the news from Japan that amazed the US manufactureres and scholars around 1980? 2. What was the company that pioneered the development of the Japanese manufacturing principles? 3. Why did the US companies manufacture components and parts in large batches? 4. Why did the US companies hold safety stocks? 5. What were the ideas of the US quality gurus that the Japanese successfully applied? 6. What other contributors to improved quality did the JIT approach consider? 7. What was the underlying principle of the quality circles? 8. Why were partnership relations with suppliers so important? 9. Why does it make economic sense to eliminate variety? 10. How did the Japanese shorten cycle times? 11. What was the basic idea of kanban? 12. Why were the Japanese companies happy when they discovered some problem in a process? 13. What is the key premise of the Lean Manufacturing?
Exercise 2. An American car manufacturer hired a Japanese consultant to help enhance its competitiveness and cut costs. The advisor suggested applying some of the Japanese manufacturing principles. Invent a dialogue between the US vice-president for production and the foreign consultant. Use the following terms.
JIT
kanban
batch size
safety stocks
long-term partnership relations with suppliers
elimination of variety
shorter cycle-times
quality circles
elimination of waste
problem-solving
lean manufacturing
commitment to excellence
Exercise 3. Compare the American and Japanese management principles along the following lines.
Exercise 4*. Fill in the blanks using terms given below.
The Characteristics of the Japanese Approach to Business
The system of…….. in the large organizations is called Nenko Seido. This means:
– guaranteed employment until……… at 55;
– promotion and……….. by seniority;
– an internal labor market meaning………. from within the company;
– extensive…….. with an emphasis on long-term behavior, attitudes and performance;
– extensive……… package, which is regarded as a right and incorporates the needs of the workers’ family;
– pay which starts off low, but rises dramatically with……….
Nenko workers in Japan are the privileged………. This system only applies to male……., and there are many smaller non– Nenko organizations, which service and supply their big brothers. The role of the non– Nenko organizations in the economy is to provide the……….. and lower………, achieved by lower wages, absence of job security, pensions, sick leaves, welfare benefits and bonuses.
The second distinctive characteristic of Japanese business is the fundamental importance of the group. Work is divided and allocated to groups, not individuals. The groups operate as specialists in dealing with………, but within the team the worker is regarded as a………… who will……… between jobs………. in company practices, rather than acquiring a specific technical skill.
The third feature, which is typical of Japanese corporation, is a very tight centralized control based on…………, which are linked to detailed planning. Also stringently controlled from the center is the……….. of trainee managers, who will ultimately be trusted to carry the company forward into the future.
Control is also indicative throughout the entire organization, particularly at an………… when applied to quality and technical……….. The concept of total quality management means a………. to a continuous improvement program and a strong…… on efficiency achieved by investment in the most modern plant and machinery available.
Managers adopt………. style of leadership and supervision. The manager will be the representative of the group as well as a technical…….. Despite the………. role that the individual plays to the group, consultation and consensus are seen as vital before decisions are made and action taken. There is much interaction and evolution in the……….. of new ideas and directions. Slow……… and tolerance of operating in ambiguous situations is normal. This is the direct opposite to what might be found in some western organizations where direct and decisive action taken by individual leaders operating without consultation and consensus is the norm.
The above characteristics can exist in the form they do because there is a strong corporate culture in every Japanese organization. This will be unique to the individual organization, but it is firmly………. in the culture and history of Japanese society as a whole. Key………. are obligation, duty, loyalty, cooperation and commitment to the company regarding it as the family to which the individual is bound.
Source: Corporate Strategy Study Guide, IFA Services Ltd., 2004.
Terms:
embedded, focus, recruitment, development, trouble shooter, subordiante, employment, operational level, rotate, remuneration, key performance indicators, promotions, decision making, efficiency, appraisal, generalist, welfare, seniority, minority, staff, flexibility, operating costs, tasks, training, commitment, hands-on, values, retirement
Exercise 5. Translate into English.
В поисках качества
В то время как американские менеджеры всегда говорили о том, что они «верят» в качество, что они «за» качество и всегда «боролись» за качество, большинство из них начинает понимать, что они ориентировались в основном на достижение некоего