生產(chǎn)的計劃是將調(diào)度、估算和預測產(chǎn)品需求(forecasting the future demands)等融為一體的過程,受客戶訂單、生產(chǎn)能力和倉儲能力等條件的限制。主要的生產(chǎn)計劃方式有三種:分工(job)、批量處理(batch)和流水線(flow)。每一種都有優(yōu)點和缺點(advantages and disadvantages)。
分工法(job method)
這種生產(chǎn)計劃是針對某些客戶定制規(guī)格較高(customer specifications)的產(chǎn)品,規(guī)模小但要求工人技能水準高(required skill-set),有時候需要一些特定的設備(specialized equipment)。這種方法的特點是任務劃分到人,各負其責。在生產(chǎn)環(huán)節(jié)可以根據(jù)設計的要求對任何一個部分隨時進行調(diào)整。
⊙Before progressing to the next stage in production, we need some feedback from the clients.
在進入生產(chǎn)的下一個環(huán)節(jié)之前,我們需要客戶的反饋信息。
⊙Is this along the lines of what you had in mind?
這和你設想的有出入嗎?
⊙I can make some changes to the design, if you would rather have it another way.
如果你有別的思路,我可以在設計上做改動。
⊙How much room do we have for specialization on the design?在設計的規(guī)格上我們有多少空間?
⊙Each product should be unique.每個產(chǎn)品都應該是獨一無二的。
⊙We must have these items produced strictly to our specifications.我們的產(chǎn)品必須嚴格按規(guī)格生產(chǎn)。
⊙There's no room for error.沒有犯錯誤的余地。
⊙Can we get these made in green?我們能夠讓它們更加環(huán)保嗎?
批量處理法(batch method)
隨著業(yè)務量的增長,生產(chǎn)量(production volumes)也不斷增長,要求將整體任務劃分成不同的工作部分(division of work)。只有在前一部分的工作完全結(jié)束后,第二部分才可以進行,通常電子類產(chǎn)品按照這個方法制造。每個環(huán)節(jié)要求對該領(lǐng)域有專長的人手(specialization of labor)。
⊙I'm in charge of the layout.Bill handles the next part of production.我負責排版。Bill負責生產(chǎn)的下一部分。
⊙I can't complete my work on this project until you finish the first part of production.
在你完成第一部分的生產(chǎn)之前,我沒法完成我在這個項目上的工作。
流水線法(flow method)
與批量法類似,區(qū)別在于間歇性。批量法是一部分工作完成后整體轉(zhuǎn)入下一部分,而流水法是各個部分同時進行,無間隙(time lags and interruptions)生產(chǎn)。該生產(chǎn)法的目的在于提高流程速度,降低勞動力成本(labor costs)。組裝生產(chǎn)線(assembly lines)通常用到這種方法。產(chǎn)品的各個部分同時在生產(chǎn)并一次性組裝成型。
⊙Assembly line work saves time and money.組裝生產(chǎn)線既省時又省錢。
⊙We can improve our rate of production by training workers to work better in the assembly lines.
我們培訓工人在生產(chǎn)線上更高效地工作,以此來提高生產(chǎn)率。
⊙Our assembly line technicians are top notch.
我們生產(chǎn)線上的技工水準一流。
大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)(mass production)
大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)是一種特殊的(specialized type)流水線法,針對大量的標準化產(chǎn)品(standardized products),例如食品、家用電器、汽車等等,通常由傳動帶(conveyor belts)將部件運送給技工來進行重復性的工作(repetitive tasks)。大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)的好處是以較少的勞動力來實現(xiàn)高效率的生產(chǎn)(rate of production),缺點在于需要大量資金來購買自動化設備。
⊙While mass production can help maximize profits, you'd better be sure about your marketability before you start production.
盡管大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)可以幫助實現(xiàn)利益的最大化,你還是最好在開始生產(chǎn)前確保你的市場銷售能力。
⊙It's hard to get started in mass production because you need a lot of machinery.
開始大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)很難,因為你需要大量設備。
⊙Production and profits are through the roof, all thanks to our assembly lines.
生產(chǎn)量和利潤都很出色,這都歸功于我們的組裝線。
⊙We need assurance that there's a significant market potential out there before we start production.
我們在開始生產(chǎn)之前得先確保存在一個巨大的市場。
總結(jié)
生產(chǎn)計劃就是按照不同排列組合,實現(xiàn)效率的最大化。無論是以人員為參考的“分工法”,還是圍繞生產(chǎn)環(huán)節(jié)考慮的“批量法”,以及注重生產(chǎn)整體性配合的“流水線法”,還有實現(xiàn)高效率和低成本雙豐收的“大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)法”,都要根據(jù)客戶的要求、任務的側(cè)重點和現(xiàn)有條件來綜合考慮。
Words 單詞表
assurance保證,擔保,保險
consider考慮,認為
costly昂貴的,價值高的
customization客戶化,定制
feedback反饋,反應
marketability市場能力,市場銷售能力
overhead費用
responsive響應的,敏感的
sample樣品,樣板,實例
specialization專業(yè)化,特殊化
technician技術(shù)員,技師
trinket小玩意,小件飾物
unique獨特的,唯一的
strictly嚴格的,嚴謹?shù)?
Phrases 短語表
along the lines of根據(jù),依照
be through the roof穿過屋頂,形容銷量大增,飛漲
assembly line裝配線,安裝線
change(sb's)mind改變想法
Don't get me wrong.不要誤解我的意思。
end up with……以……告終
get yourself into讓自己成為,讓自己得到
have in mind想到,考慮到
have room for有空間,有余地
have your heart set on一心一意做
market potential潛在市場
mass produced大量生產(chǎn),大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)
off the production line下生產(chǎn)線
rash decision草率決定,倉促的決定
the way to go要走的路,要用的方式
maximize profits利益最大化
production cycle生產(chǎn)循環(huán),生產(chǎn)周期
speaking of談到,說起
top notch頂尖的
You've got a good point there.所言極是。
實景對話1
A:Now that we've invested all this time and energy into product development, we have to start thinking about production. What is the best way to bring our product to the market?I have been thinking that mass production might be the best way to go.
B:You might want to consider carefully before making any rash decisions.
You know, while mass production can help maximize profits, you'd better be sure about your marketability before you start production. Otherwise you'll end up with thousands of unsellable plastic trinkets.A wrong decision on production planning can be very costly.
A:You've got a good point there. We need assurance that there's a significant market potential out there before we start production.
B:That's not the only consideration you'll have to make. You'd also better think about whether you might want customization, or if you want to make changes in the course of the production cycle. It's true that assembly line work saves time and money, but it does have its limitations.
A:We must have these items produced strictly to our specifications, so maybe it might be better to think about production methods……
B:Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to change your mind about mass production if it's what you have your heart set on. I just think you'd better plan carefully.It's hard to get started in mass production because you need a lot of machinery and overhead.It's quite an investment and I think you ought to be aware of what you might be getting yourself into.
A:既然我們已經(jīng)在產(chǎn)品研發(fā)上投入了很多時間和精力,我們必須開始考慮生產(chǎn)。把產(chǎn)品推向市場的最好途徑是什么?我一直在想也許大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)是最好的辦法。
B:在做倉促的決定之前你也許應該三思。你知道,即便大規(guī)模投產(chǎn)能夠幫助實現(xiàn)巨額利潤,你最好在開始生產(chǎn)之前先確保存在一個巨大的市場。否則你就得面對成千上萬的賣不出去的塑料飾品。一個錯誤的生產(chǎn)決定代價是非常昂貴的。
A:你所言極是。我們在生產(chǎn)之前得先確保巨大的市場潛力。
B:那還不是你唯一要考慮的問題。你也得考慮是否應該定制,或者應該在生產(chǎn)周期內(nèi)做一些變動。裝配線生產(chǎn)省時又省錢是事實,但是它也有它的不足之處。
A:我們的產(chǎn)品必須嚴格按規(guī)格生產(chǎn),也許應該考慮生產(chǎn)方式……
B:你別誤解我的意思,如果你真是一心一意想這么做。我只是在想你最好慎重規(guī)劃。我不是想改變你的大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)的想法,大規(guī)模投入生產(chǎn)很難,因為你需要大量的設備和費用。那是不小的投資,因此我想你應該了解你將面臨的后果。
實景對話2
A:Here's a sample off our production line. Is this along the lines of what you had in mind?I can make some changes to the design if you would rather have it another way.
B:How much room do we have for specialization in the design?Each product should be unique. We aren't looking for mass produced items here.
A:Not to worry, our assembly line technicians are top notch. We improve our quality of production by carefully training workers to perform better in the assembly lines.
B:Assembly lines?How can you use assembly lines and still get a unique product?
A:Like I said, not to worry. Our production methods are unique, it allows us to be responsive to the needs and specifications of our customers. We use a batch method of production, so each technician on the line is responsible for a specific area of expertise.At any point in our production, we can make changes and incorporate the feedback from our clients.
B:I see……
A:Here, let me show you. Jane here is responsible for the layout.Bill handles the next part of production. He can't complete his work on this project until Jane finishes the first part of production.Before progressing to the next stage in production, we need some feedback from the client.
B:Speaking of feedback, Can we get these made in green?
A:這是我們生產(chǎn)線上的一個樣品。和你設想的一致嗎?如果你覺得還有些別的思路,我可以再調(diào)整設計。
B:在設計的規(guī)格上我們有多大空間?每一個產(chǎn)品都是獨特的。我們在這塊兒要的不是大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)。
A:別擔心,我們組裝線上的技工都是一流水準的。通過認真培訓,工人在組裝線上更好地工作,我們提高了生產(chǎn)質(zhì)量。
B:組裝線?你怎么能夠使用組裝線還依然得到特色產(chǎn)品呢?
A:正如我所說的,別擔心。我們的生產(chǎn)方法是獨一無二的,這允許我們根據(jù)客戶的規(guī)格和要求做出調(diào)整。我們使用批量的生產(chǎn)辦法,線上每一個技工都負責一個他們擅長的領(lǐng)域。無論在生產(chǎn)的哪一個點上,我們都可以進行調(diào)整來配合客戶的反饋。
B:我明白了……
A:在這兒我給你介紹一下。Jane在這里負責排版,Bill負責生產(chǎn)的下一環(huán)節(jié)。在Jane沒有完成生產(chǎn)的第一步工作之前,Bill沒有辦法完成他的工作。在進入生產(chǎn)的下一個階段之前,我們需要先得到客戶的反饋。
B:說到反饋,我們的產(chǎn)品能否更加體現(xiàn)環(huán)保?