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Hello and welcome back to Business English Pod for today's lesson, the first in a two -part series on quality control.
In this lesson, we'll focus on the manufacturing side of things.
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Successful companies understand the importance of quality.
At minimum, quality control is about meeting industry standards or regulations.
Beyond that, quality is a huge factor in brand reputation and customer satisfaction, and a commitment to strong QC, or quality control, can also lead to significant cost savings.
Given these benefits, no wonder many companies have entire teams or positions dedicated to monitoring quality.
And just like any other area of expertise, quality control comes with its own special language.
Much of this language appears in said expressions that we call collocations.
In fact, I just use one when I mention monitoring quality.
To monitor quality is a common collocation related to quality control.
Collocations are just natural combinations of words.
Certain verbs and adjectives always go with certain nouns.
And certain nouns often combine to create a special meaning.
If you just learn new words individually, you might miss these natural combinations.
In today's dialogue, we'll hear a conversation between Paolo and Emma.
Paolo works for a company that manufactures, sells, and services solar panels.
Emma is a quality control consultant.
Paolo's company is looking to hire Emma to conduct a quality control audit, or a review of their systems.
During their conversation, they use lots of English collocations, which we'll explain later in the debrief.
As you listen to the dialogue, try to answer the following questions.
One, what does Paolo say they did after completing a safety audit?
Two, what kind of testing will Emma's work not include?
Three, what is the purpose of pulling samples in quality control?
Thanks. That walkthrough was helpful.
Gave me a good overall understanding of the process and how you've standardized production, and how you're lining up with industry standards.
Well, like I said, we strive for perfection.
Our reputation depends on it.
And with our growth over the past few years, we've kind of outgrown our QA approach.
A fairly common situation for companies like yours.
And in our first conversation, we talked about verifying quality.
Are you looking for advice on safety as well?
Just quality. We did a big safety audit recently, and coming out of that, we implemented a bunch of new safety measures.
So I think we're solid there.
Okay, great. One other thing related to overall scope here.
Am I right in thinking that you outsource the manufacturing of the racks?
Yes, it's two different companies, actually.
One for the fixed tilt stuff, another for tracking units.
But you're still held liable for those.
So does this audit extend to their production processes?
Both these companies?
Definitely. Our U .S.
suppliers are critical.
That's a part of this for sure.
U .S. suppliers. So I assume this doesn't include testing raw materials, which in your case would mean the polysilicon you bring in from China.
We monitor their QA pretty closely.
We have an agent there to help with that.
So we'd just like to focus on our facility here and the rack OEMs.
Okay, just noting that down.
And you're currently pulling samples at every stage to identify defects?
I mean wafer production, cell production, and every step along the way?
Yes, we are. Including the finished product, of course.
So everything including the finished product.
And I'd like to know about the benchmarks you've set.
So maybe you can pass on your most recent reports.
No problem. I'll do that as soon as we're done here.
Now let's go through the dialogue again and look at the language and collocations Emma and Paolo used in their conversation.
We join them just as they finish a walkthrough or a review of the facility and processes.
Thanks. That walkthrough was helpful.
Gave me a good overall understanding of the process and how you've standardized production.
And how you're lining up with industry standards.
The walkthrough has helped Emma understand two fundamental aspects of the company's quality control.
First, she understands how they've standardized production.
A standard is an established model or way of doing something.
When you standardize, you're making things or processes match the established model.
Standardizing production is one of the most basic principles of quality control.
So let's run through some more examples of this collocation.
We implemented a standardized production process to ensure consistency across all lines.
Standardizing production helped improve product quality.
Now, standards or accepted ways of doing something can be set within your own company or by outside regulators.
And the walkthrough has given Emma an idea of how this company is lining up with or meeting industry standards.
Industry standards are the accepted and expected way of doing things in an industry.
They're also the minimum level of quality required to guarantee safety and reliability.
A company like Palos might have to meet various industry standards established by the government where they operate.
What are some other ways of talking about industry standards?
Let's try some more examples.
Following industry standards is important for our success in the market.
Our team did extensive research to ensure we are in line with the latest industry standards.
Now let's get back to the dialogue as Palo explains a bit more about their current situation.
Well, like I said, we strive for perfection.
Our reputation depends on it.
And with our growth over the past few years, we've kind of outgrown our QA approach.
QA refers to quality assurance, which is a broad term used to discuss quality management.
It includes a company's specific processes for quality control.
And as Palos says, their approach to quality is all about striving for perfection.
Perfection relates to being perfect or completely free from mistakes, defects, or problems.
It's difficult to achieve perfection, of course, but it's important to strive for it.
Striving basically means trying very, very hard, and to strive for perfection is a common collocation.
Let's look at some more ways to use this collocation to strive for perfection.
With a commitment to excellence, we ask employees to strive for perfection in their work.
I strive for perfection in all I do, which sometimes means I'm not very fast.
Now let's hear what questions Emma has next for Palo after he talks about outgrowing or becoming too big for their current approach to quality assurance.
A fairly common situation for companies like yours.
And in our first conversation, we talked about verifying quality.
Are you looking for advice on safety as well?
Here we find a useful verb to use with quality, to verify.
When you verify something, you make sure that it is correct or true.
You can verify a fact, a statement, a document, or the state of something, and that includes quality.
Verifying quality is what most quality control processes are designed to do, and the international standard used when looking at quality is called ISO 9001.
By adhering to the ISO 9001 standard in manufacturing, companies can verify the quality of their processes.
Since the entire purpose of quality control is to verify quality, let's run through some more ways of using this collocation.
Before shipment, our quality control team verifies the quality of each product.
We test very thoroughly to verify the quality of our software before release.
Now remember that Emma's question was about whether Paolo wants advice on safety as well.
Let's hear how he responds.
Just quality. We did a big safety audit recently, and coming out of that, we implemented a bunch of new safety measures.
So, I think we're solid there.
Quality and safety often go hand in hand.
Both are about ensuring that processes and systems are producing the results we want.
As Paolo explains, they recently did a review of their safety procedures, which he calls a safety audit.
As a result, they implemented new safety measures.
Measures in this expression is not about measuring things.
Measures means actions, processes, or approaches to achieve something.
And when you start using new measures, you implement them.
The verb implement can be used with plans, processes, rules, recommendations, changes, and many other things that we begin doing.
What are some other ways of talking about implementing safety measures?
Let's try some more examples.
We've implemented new safety measures to help prevent future accidents.
The new policy is fine, but how are we going to implement these safety measures?
So, the quality audit will not include a review of safety measures, but Emma has another question to help her understand the scope of the project, or what aspects it includes.
Ok, great. One other thing related to overall scope here.
Am I right in thinking that you outsource the manufacturing of the racks?
Yes, it's two different companies, actually.
One for the fixed tilt stuff, another for tracking units.
Quality control is about ensuring your own processes are effective, but many manufacturers outsource or hire other companies to produce parts of their products.
In this case, they're talking about different types of racks that hold the actual solar panels.
Let's hear Emma's question about whether her work would include auditing these outsourced parts.
But you're still held liable for those, so does this audit extend to their production processes?
Both these companies?
As Emma points out, even though another company makes the racks, Palo's company is still held liable for them.
If you are liable for something, then you are legally responsible for it.
When we hold someone liable, we say they are responsible, and when we are held liable, then others are saying that we are responsible.
Liability is a critical aspect of quality control, so let's run through some more ways of using the collocation to be held liable.
As a supplier, we will be held liable for any defects or issues with our products.
By signing the contract, the vendor agrees to be held liable for any damages caused by faulty products.
Now, Palo's company is liable even for parts they did not make themselves.
For this reason, Emma wants to know if her work would include looking at those other companies' production processes.
Production is another word for manufacturing.
It relates to making or producing things, and the processes we use to make things are production processes.
Let's try some more examples of talking about production processes.
Our new production process reduces waste and increases efficiency.
We continuously evaluate our production process to identify areas for improvement.
Now, back to the dialogue, as we learn more about the scope of Emma's work.
Definitely. Our U .S.
suppliers are critical.
That's a part of this for sure.
U .S. suppliers. So, I assume this doesn't include testing raw materials, which in your case would mean the polysilicon you bring in from China.
As we can hear, there's another aspect of quality control.
It's not just about the processes of production, but also the raw materials.
Materials are things or stuff we use to make other things, and raw simply means that they haven't been processed or changed yet.
Raw meat, for example, hasn't been cooked.
How do we make sure the raw materials we're using are acceptable in terms of quality?
We test them. Different materials will have different ways of being tested, but in general, we talk about testing raw materials as a way of ensuring their quality.
Let's run through some other ways of using this collocation to test raw materials.
Our quality control team tests raw materials before production begins.
Testing raw materials is essential to maintain product consistency.
Emma has asked in particular about the polysilicon, a chemical used in manufacturing that Palos Company buys from China.
Let's find out if testing those materials is part of the quality audit.
Right. We monitor their QA pretty closely.
We have an agent there to help with that, so we'd just like to focus on our facility here and the RACOEMs.
Okay, just noting that down.
And… you're currently pulling samples at every stage to identify defects?
I mean wafer production, cell production, and every step along the way?
As Palo explains, they already have people monitoring or looking closely at the quality of their materials, so this won't be part of the work that Emma will do.
Her next question is about testing the product at various stages of development.
She asks whether they're pulling samples at every stage.
A sample is just one example of something, and in manufacturing, to pull a sample is simply to take a sample out of the process for examination.
Let's run through some more examples of to pull samples, since this is a basic aspect of any manufacturing quality control process.
During the inspection process, we pull samples from the production line to check for defects.
We pull samples from each batch for laboratory testing to ensure quality.
Why do we pull samples from different stages of production?
As we've mentioned, we want to examine them.
In particular, we're trying to identify defects in those samples.
A defect is a fault or problem with a product or manufactured item.
If a product is defective, then it means there was a mistake in production, which means the item doesn't function correctly.
To identify a defect is simply to find one through examination.
Identifying defects is the whole purpose of pulling samples, so let's have a look at some more examples of this collocation.
We need to identify and address any defects before the product reaches the customer.
Most defects are identified by line workers during the production process.
Let's hear what Paolo says in response to Emma's question about pulling samples at different stages.
Yes, we are, including the finished product, of course.
Of course, identifying defects is important at every stage of the process, including the finished product, as Paolo mentions.
Finished means complete, and the usual way of talking about an item that results from a manufacturing process is by calling it a finished product.
What are some other ways of using this collocation finished product?
Let's run through some more examples.
Once the assembly is complete, the finished product undergoes a final inspection.
The finished product is the result of months of hard work.
Emma has one more request before we finish this part of their conversation.
Let's listen. So, everything including the finished product.
And I'd like to know about the benchmarks you've set, so maybe you can pass on your most recent reports.
No problem. I'll do that as soon as we're done here.
Emma is asking for quality control reports to get an idea of some benchmarks that they've set.
A benchmark is like a standard in something that we measure.
We set or establish benchmarks so we can compare future measurements.
For Paolo's quality control, a benchmark might be the number of defects per 1 ,000 units.
And the goal of quality control, and Emma's purpose in this quality audit, is to figure out how to get that number as low as possible.
We'll leave it there for now, and in our next lesson, we'll hear Emma and Paolo discuss another aspect of quality control.
Now it's your turn to practice some of the collocations we've looked at in this lesson.
In a moment, you'll hear a series of sentences with a word replaced with a beep.
Repeat the whole sentence, including the missing word.
Remember, a collocation is two or more words that we commonly use together, so pay close attention to the words before the beep.
For example, if you hear...
You can say... After each response, we'll provide the correct answer.
Ready? Let's give it a go.
Please inspect the product carefully to verify its...
Answer. Please inspect the product carefully to verify its quality.
It's important to pull...
from several points in the process.
Answer. It's important to pull samples from several points in the process.
We found some problems when we tested the raw...
We ordered... Answer.
We found some problems when we tested the raw materials we ordered.
We've become the market leader by always striving for...
Answer. We've become the market leader by always striving for perfection.
It takes three weeks to transform the materials into a finished...
Answer. It takes three weeks to transform the materials into a finished product.
That's all for this lesson on collocations related to quality control.
We've covered lots of useful expressions for discussing how companies talk about quality in manufacturing processes.
In our next lesson, we'll focus on quality control and the services we provide to customers.
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Thanks for listening and see you again soon.
