Английский язык. Практический курс для решения бизнес-задач. Нина Пусенкова

Чтение книги онлайн.

      Bulging Backlog. Ford pulled suppliers into the effort too. Typically, an automaker turns to its suppliers almost as an afterthought. Only when a car’s design has been completed does the manufacturer send out specifications for parts and solicit bids in search of the lowest cost. The companies that are chosen keep the business only until a lower price comes along. Team Taurus, on the other hand, signed long-term contracts with contractors and invited them to participate in product planning. «We never had the supplier input we had on this car,» says Veraldi. «Now we’ll never do it any other way.»

      Taurus and Sable have not been completely free of problems. There have already been recalls to correct troubles with the side windows in station wagons and with the clutch in some four-cylinder models. As for overall reliability, it will be a year or two before an accurate track record on repairs emerges.

      Still, Ford’s bet on Taurus-Sable is paying off – handsomely. With bare-bones models starting at $10,200, more than 130,000 of the midsize sedans and station wagons have been delivered so far, and Ford has a backlog of orders for 100,000 more. Elated dealers say that customers – some of whom haven’t set foot in a domestic producer’s showroom for years – are content to wait patiently for two months or more to drive away with a Taurus or Sable.

      In fact, transplanting many Japanese principles worked so well for Team Taurus that Ford decided to apply management-by-teamwork across the board. It promoted Veraldi to vice-president for car-programs management and gave him the job of spreading the message throughout the company. Ford, it seems, isn’t too haughty to say arigato gozaimasu – thank you very much.

      Source: Business Week, June 30, 1986, p. 69—70.

      Essential Vocabulary

      1. perception n – восприятие

      perceive v – воспринимать

      perceived a – воспринимаемый

      2. competitive edge – конкурентное преимущество

      3. carmaker (automaker) n – автомобилестроитель

      4. streamline v – рационализировать, оптимизировать

      5. recession n – рецессия, снижение уровня деловой активности

      6. consumer n – потребитель

      consumption n – потребление

      consume v – потреблять

      7. fuel n – топливо

      8. investment n – инвестиция, капиталовложение

      investor n – инвестор

      invest v – инвестировать

      9. manufacturer n – производитель, изготовитель, промышленник

      manufacture v – производить, изготавливать, выпускать; перерабатывать (сырье)

      manufacturing a – промышленный, производственный

      10. engineer n – инженер, конструктор

      engineering n – инжиниринг

      engineer v – проектировать; создавать, сооружать

      engineering a – прикладной, технический, инженерный

      11. unit n – часть, доля, единица; подразделение компании; набор

      12. program management – программное управление

      13. delegate responsibility – делегировать ответственность

      14. vehicle n – перевозочное средство; средство выражения и распространения; проводник

      15. customers’ preferences – предпочтения клиентов

      16. launch n – запуск (продукции, проекта)

      launch v – запускать

      17. sample n – образец (товара), выборка, проба (напр. грунта)

      sample v – пробовать, испытывать, отбирать образцы или пробы

      18. age group – возрастная группа

      19. advice n – совет, консультация; авизо, мнение

      advisor n – советник, консультант

      advise v – консультировать

      advisory a – совещательный, консультативный

      20. backlog n – задолженность, просроченная работа; портфель заказов

      21. solicitor n – адвокат, поверенный

      solicit v – ходатайствовать, просить; навязывать (товар, услуги)

      22. bid n – предложение

СКАЧАТЬ