Unit 3 Quality

Unit 3
Quality
GETTING READY
A/ Discuss these sayings in groups. What do they mean? Which of the ideas do you agree with?
1. ‘They don’t make them like they used to.’
2. ‘Quality not quantity.’
3. ‘You get what you pay for.’
4. ‘Don’t judge a book by it cover.’
B/ Answer these questions.

1. How can manufacturers guarantee product quality?
2. Which companies make the best domestic appliances (fridges, cookers, etc.)?
READING
A/ Reading comprehension
I. Read the article and match the headings to the correct paragraphs. Two of the headings have been
done for you.
a) Company strategy
b) Focus on detailed testing
c) High costs: increased reliability
d) Industry admiration for top quality
e) Innovation in working practices
f) Looking to the future
g) Manufacturing at home ensures quality
h) Loyalty for product that lasts
i)
II. Read the article again. Tick the factors below which have contributed to Miele’s success.
1. It has excellent quality control in its factories.
2. It changes its position in the market according to demand and fashions.
3. Its prices are very competitive.
4. It uses a lot of outside suppliers.
5. It spends more money than other manufacturers on creating new products.
6. It does a lot of testing.
7. It focuses on every detail of production.
8. Each component lasts a long time.
B/ Vocabulary
Match words or phrases from the article to these definitions.
1. the most important company of its type in the world (noun, paragraph 1)
………………………….
2. measures of quality by which the processes of producing goods in factories are judged (noun,
paragraph 1) ………………………….
3. to sell products more cheaply (verb, paragraph 1) ………………………….
4. providing all the things that are needed without help from outside (adjective, paragraph 2)
……………….
5. employing another company to do work for you (verb, paragraph 2) ………………………….
6. a high price for something special (noun, paragraph 4) ………………………….
C/ Critical thinking
Discuss these questions.
1. Can companies outsource and still maintain quality?
2. Can companies do everything in-house and remain competitive?
3. What methods or system can companies use to maintain quality in …..
a) food production? b) hotels? c) airlines? d) banking?
VOCABULARY EXTENSION
WORD FAMILIES: VERBS AND NOUNS
CHANGING A VERB TO A NOUN
You can use a suffix to change a verb into noun. Some common suffixes are given below. There may be
other small differences at the end of the words as well.
-ion, -sion, -tion, -ation, -ication, -ition
discuss – discussion; decide – decision; innovate – innovation;
explain – explanation; apply – application; compete – competition
-ment; -ance; -al; -y
invest – investment; insure – insurance; refuse – refusal; deliver –delivery
Some verbs can make more than one noun. For example the verb ‘produce’ has the nouns ‘production’
(the process of making things in large quantities) and ‘productivity’ (the efficiency of production).
WORDS FOR PEOPLE, JOBS, ETC
Nouns for people are often based on a root word with –er, -or, -ist, -eer, -ant, and –ian.
advertiser; competitor; economist; pioneer; consultant; statistician
Exercise 1: Look at nouns below and write the verb form. This time the verbs do not appear opposite.
1. assistance 6. measurement 11. reduction
2. communication 7. decision 12. repayment
3. guidance 8. requirement 13. application
4. identification 9. arrival 14. variation
5. delivery 10. apology 15. withdrawal
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with a word from Exercise 1. The word may be a noun or a verb.
1. The bank has agreed to lend us the full amount, and we have to ……………….. the loan in two years.
2. What’s going on? Why is there so much ……………….. in the figures from week to week?
3. The equipment isn’t working properly but I cannot ……………….. exactly where the fault is.
4. I don’t know if the new machine will fit at the side of the assembly line. We’ll have to ……………….. the
space very carefully.
5. Yes, your products are certainly well-designed. But I must tell you that we have a very specific
……………….. in relation to quality assurance.
6. Consumer groups say the product isn’t safe. I think we’ll have to ……………….. it from the market.
7. We’ve been discussing this issue for weeks. In the meeting tomorrow we finally have to take a
……………….. .
8. We don’t have any of these items in stock right now, but we’re expecting a ……………… sometime next
week.
9. I heard that the Sales Director is leaving the company. Why don’t you ………………. for his job?
10. It’s our supplier on the phone. They can’t ship our order until next week and they are calling to
……………… . Do you want to speak to them?
Exercise 3: Complete the words for people and types of jobs by filling in the missing letters. All the items
do not appear opposite.
1. econom.. .. .. 6. electric.. .. .. 11. visit.. ..
2. account.. .. .. 7. consult.. .. .. 12. suppli.. ..
3. competit.. .. 8. advertis.. .. 13. assist.. .. ..
4. engin.. .. .. 9. direct.. .. 14. administrat.. ..
5. law.. .. .. 10. analy.. .. 15. particip.. .. ..
Continue as before. Some words do not appear opposite.

16. We had over 50 applic.. .. ..s for the job, but after looking at all their CVs we’ve reduced that to a
shortlist of six interview.. ..s.
17. Let me explain ur distribution channel. We are the manufactur.. .., and we supply the distribut.. ..s.
They sell to retail.. ..s who sell to the end-us.. ..s.
18. Our company has over 200 employ.. ..s working at Head Office.
19. I’m going to open my own McDonalds restaurant. We’ve decided the best way to have my own
business is to become a franchis.. .. .
20. Our technology has a patent, but if you want to use it, you can pay an annual fee and become a licens..
.. .

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Unit 3

B/ Answer these questions.

Continue as before. Some words do not appear opposite.

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