English Learning Podcast Conversation | Episode 47: Just In Time Strategy
Summary
TLDRIn this episode of EnglishPod, hosts Marco and Erica introduce advanced English vocabulary and phrases related to the business concept of Just-In-Time (JIT) philosophy. They discuss the importance of reducing lead times and ensuring supplier quality assurance to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. The dialogue in the podcast illustrates a company's plan to implement JIT to avoid redundancies. Key vocabulary includes 'redundancies', 'workstations', 'lead time', 'defective', and phrases like 'I'm with you on this one'. The hosts also delve into the origins of JIT, tracing it back to the Toyota Production System and its roots in the United States. The episode is designed to equip listeners with the language skills necessary for discussing business strategies and quality control measures.
Takeaways
- 📚 The lesson focuses on the 'Just in Time' (JIT) philosophy, a business strategy aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs.
- 🔍 'Lead time' is a crucial concept in JIT, referring to the time between the start and end of a process, such as production or delivery.
- 🏭 Reducing lead times can be achieved by optimizing workstations, streamlining processes, and improving coordination with suppliers.
- 🛠️ The dialogue in the script discusses implementing JIT to avoid redundancies, which paradoxically might sometimes lead to layoffs due to increased efficiency.
- 🔧 'Workstations' are defined as areas where work is performed, and the script suggests moving them closer together to enhance production efficiency.
- ⏰ The term 'at a given machine' is used to refer to any machine in a production line, highlighting the need for efficiency at every stage.
- 🚫 'Defective' items are those with errors, and the script emphasizes the importance of quality control to reduce defects and improve product quality.
- 👍 The phrase 'I'm with you on this one' is used to express agreement with a point being made in a discussion.
- 🌐 The JIT philosophy originated from the Ford Motor Company and was popularized by Toyota, highlighting its global and historical significance.
- 💡 The script suggests that implementing JIT can lead to more efficient use of space, which is particularly beneficial for countries with limited resources like Japan.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the English Pod lesson discussed in the transcript?
-The main topic of the English Pod lesson is the 'just in time' (JIT) philosophy in business, focusing on efficiency and reducing costs.
What does the term 'lead time' refer to in the context of the transcript?
-In the transcript, 'lead time' refers to the time between the beginning and the end of a process, such as the time between placing an order and the product being finished or delivered.
Why is reducing lead time important in the JIT philosophy as discussed in the transcript?
-Reducing lead time is important in the JIT philosophy because it improves overall efficiency, reduces the time products spend in production or transit, and minimizes the need for holding large inventories.
What are some ways to reduce production lead times as mentioned in the transcript?
-Some ways to reduce production lead times mentioned in the transcript include moving workstations closer together, reducing queue length, and improving coordination and cooperation between successive processes.
How can delivery lead times be reduced according to the transcript?
-Delivery lead times can be reduced through close cooperation with suppliers, possibly by encouraging suppliers to locate closer to the factory or by working with faster shipping companies.
What is the significance of 'supplier quality assurance' in the context of the JIT philosophy discussed in the transcript?
-Supplier quality assurance is significant in the JIT philosophy because it ensures that the quality of incoming materials is consistent and high, reducing the need for additional inspections and reworks, which can disrupt the just-in-time flow.
What does the term 'redundancies' mean in a business context as used in the transcript?
-In a business context, 'redundancies' refers to layoffs or the elimination of positions that are no longer needed, often due to increased efficiency or cost-cutting measures.
What is the origin of the JIT philosophy as discussed in the transcript?
-The JIT philosophy originated from the Ford Motor Company in the United States, but it was the Japanese, particularly Toyota, who popularized it as part of the Toyota Production System.
How does the concept of 'workstations' relate to the JIT philosophy in the transcript?
-In the context of the JIT philosophy, 'workstations' are areas where specific tasks are performed. The transcript suggests optimizing the layout of workstations to reduce lead times and improve efficiency.
What is the meaning of the phrase 'I'm with you on this one' as used in the transcript?
-The phrase 'I'm with you on this one' used in the transcript means that the speaker agrees with the point being made by someone else in the conversation.
What is the potential downside of implementing JIT as hinted in the transcript?
-A potential downside of implementing JIT, as hinted in the transcript, is that increased efficiency and reduced lead times might lead to redundancies, where some workers may become unnecessary and thus be laid off.
Outlines
📚 Introduction to Just-In-Time Philosophy
The script opens with hosts Marco and Erica introducing an advanced English lesson focused on the business concept of Just-In-Time (JIT) philosophy. They plan to cover basic aspects of JIT within a company and discuss the relevant language and terminology used in a business setting. The hosts preview vocabulary such as 'lead time,' explaining it as the interval from order placement to product delivery or completion. They also mention that different companies have varying lead times, and they humorously note that their podcast has a two-week lead time with episodes delivered every other day.
🏭 JIT Implementation and Language Takeaway
The script continues with a dialogue from a business meeting discussing the implementation of JIT to enhance manufacturing efficiency amidst a financial crisis. The meeting's goal is to avoid layoffs by reducing lead times and improving quality control. The hosts then break down the language used in the dialogue, focusing on terms like 'redundancies,' 'workstations,' 'at a given machine,' and 'defective.' They provide examples of how these terms are used in business conversations, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and quality assurance in JIT practices.
🌏 Origins and Impact of JIT
In this section, the hosts delve into the origins of the JIT philosophy, tracing it back to the Ford Motor Company and its influence on the Toyota Production System. They discuss how the concept was adapted by Japanese companies due to space constraints, leading to a focus on process efficiency and reduced inventory. The conversation also touches on potential drawbacks of JIT, such as redundancies that may arise from increased efficiency. The hosts share personal insights, with one mentioning a connection to Six Sigma, hinting at a possible future lesson on the topic.
🔍 Vocabulary Review and Practical Application
The final paragraph is a comprehensive vocabulary review, reinforcing key terms introduced throughout the script. It includes definitions and practical examples of words like 'redundancy,' 'lead time,' 'workstation,' 'given,' 'defective,' 'warehouse,' 'stock,' 'bottleneck,' 'efficiency,' 'cost-efficient,' and 'carrying cost.' The script concludes with an interactive exercise where listeners are encouraged to use the vocabulary words in sentences, promoting active learning and application of the concepts discussed.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Just in Time (JIT)
💡Lead Time
💡Redundancies
💡Workstations
💡At a Given Machine
💡Defective
💡Quality Assurance
💡Zero Defects Quality Program
💡Efficiency
💡Bottleneck
Highlights
Introduction to the concept of 'just in time' philosophy in business
Discussion on efficiency and reducing costs in the context of the 'just in time' approach
Explanation of 'lead time' in production and delivery processes
The impact of different lead times on company operations
Strategy to reduce production and delivery lead times for efficiency
Methods to reduce lead times, such as moving workstations and improving coordination
The role of supplier cooperation in reducing delivery lead times
Introduction of the concept of 'redundancies' in business
Importance of workstations in the production process and their optimization
Use of the term 'at a given machine' to refer to any machine in a process
Definition and implications of 'defective' products in manufacturing
Phrase 'I'm with you on this one' indicating agreement in a business context
Historical origins of the 'just in time' philosophy and its development
The influence of the Toyota production system on the 'just in time' philosophy
The potential for 'just in time' to cause redundancies due to increased efficiency
Comparison of 'just in time' with Six Sigma as a business strategy
Invitation for listeners to share their experiences with 'just in time' and quality control measures
Conclusion and call to action for listeners to visit the EnglishPod website for further engagement
Transcripts
[Music]
hello English Learners welcome back to
English pod my name is Marco and I'm
Erica and we're bringing you a very
Advanced lesson today that's right um
we're talking about another business
topic aren't we it's a topic that's kind
of popular these days all about
efficiency and reducing costs so we're
going to be talking about the just in
time philosophy um I don't know much
about this philosophy uh so good thing
we've got Marco here well what we are
going to be looking at is not really in
depth we're just going to be looking at
some basic points of what a Justin Time
philosophy would be like in a company
mhm but what we're really going to be
looking at is the language to do with
this philosophy right exactly we're
going to be looking at some uh technical
terms some uh and some other useful
phrases that you can use when you're
talking in a business setting okay well
why don't we get started with the
language then okay let's take a look at
vocabulary preview vocabulary preview on
vocabulary preview today we have the
word lead time lead time lead time e a d
lead lead time right like lead this is
something that factories usually would
use yep yeah I guess lead time is the
time in between point a and point B on a
production schedule right right so you
could have for example production lead
time so that's the time between when you
make an order um and when the the
product is finished exactly and you
could also have delivery lead time so
the time between when you place an order
and when uh the product gets delivered
to you so depending on the companies you
have different lead times some are 3
days other are 5 days other are 45 days
and we at English pod have a two week
lead time for our our podcast right but
our delivery lead time is every other
day that's true nice okay that's all
we're going to be previewing today so
why don't we just listen to the dialogue
and then we'll come back and explain
some of these uh tricky vocabulary words
that we'll see
[Music]
I called this meeting today in order to
discuss our manufacturing plan as I'm
sure you're all aware with the credit
Crunch and the global financial crisis
we are obligated to look for more
cost-efficient ways of producing our
Goods we don't want to have to be
looking at redundancies so we've
outlined a brief plan to implement the
just intime philosophy we have two basic
points that we want to focus on first of
all we want to reduce our lead time why
would we want to do that I think this is
not an area that really needs to be
worked on well we want to reduce
production and delivery lead times for
better overall efficiency right
production lead times can be reduced by
moving workstations closer together
reducing Q length like for example
reducing the number of jobs waiting to
be processed at a given machine and
improving the coordination and
cooperation between successive processes
delivery lead to times can be reduced
through close cooperation with suppliers
possibly by inducing suppliers to locate
closer to the factory or working with a
faster shipping company I see that makes
sense the second point is that we want
to require supplier quality assurance
and Implement a zero defects quality
program we currently have far too many
errors that lead to defective items and
therefore they must be eliminated a
quality control at the source program
must be implemented to give workers
personal responsibility for the quality
of the work they do and the authority to
stop production when something goes
wrong I'm with you on this one it's
essential that we reduce these errors
we've got to force our suppliers to
reduce their mistakes exactly well let's
look at how we're going to put this plan
into action
[Music]
first okay so they're going to implement
just in time in their company yes yeah I
guess they're putting in some some cost
control measures so so Marco there's
some great language in here um why don't
we look at it now and language
takeaway language
takeaway okay the first word today
redundancies
redundancies redundancies redundancies
so this is kind of a strange word
because usually a redundancy is when
you're speaking right um yeah maybe when
you you say something that's already
been said exactly you say something that
has already been said but we also use it
in the business world right and it comes
from the base word redundant right okay
um meaning extra more than what's needed
okay so when a person or position is
made redundant um basically it means
they get laid off right right so
redundancies are a synonym of of layoffs
exactly okay all right let's take a look
at our next word workstations
workstations workstations workstations
so workstation could be anything from
your desk yeah or maybe a workbench a
workbench or even a place on a
production line right so you're a
certain machine or something like that
yeah so basically a workstation is the
area where you work okay okay so you can
say can we get a new workstation for the
new team member mhm or I could say um I
want to move my workstation closer to my
employees all right so workstation mhm
okay let's take a look at our next word
at a given machine at a given machine at
a given at a given this is an
interesting way to say at any machine
exactly um yeah given here is operating
exactly the same same as here the word
given is operating exactly the same way
as any as any y okay so let's listen to
some examples of of how we can change it
up a little bit and we can use this
given word example
one in this Factory how many cars are in
production at any given time
example
two on any given day about 40 million
people use the
internet example
three firefighters have to be ready to
attend an emergency at any given
moment all right so any given time at
any given moment yep um any given day
okay now let's take a look at our last
word today
defective defective defective
defective so if something is defective
it has a problem with it it has a
problem yeah we can say defective is an
adjective right and the noun is defect
defect y so if something has a defect it
is defective right so for example maybe
you produce chairs and and you you make
one and this chair is missing a wheel
okay so it's defective yes the defect is
the missing wheel the defect is the okay
so before we listen to our dialogue
again I want to take a look at this
phrase I'm with you on this one I'm with
you on this one I'm with you on this one
I'm with you on this one so what does
that what does that mean exactly I'm
with you on this one I I agree with you
I agree with you on this point exactly
okay so if you agree with somebody on on
a certain point you would say oh I'm
with you on this one I agree with you
exactly okay so now let's listen to our
dialogue again and uh we'll come back
and talk a little bit more about the
history of this just in
[Music]
time I called this meeting today in
order to discuss our manufacturing plan
as I'm sure you're all aware with the
credit Crunch and the global financial
crisis we are obligated to look for more
cost-efficient ways of producing our
Goods we don't want to have to be
looking at redundancy
so we've outlined a brief plan to
implement the just in time philosophy we
have two basic points that we want to
focus on first of all we want to reduce
our lead time why would we want to do
that I think this is not an ARA that
really needs to be walked on well we
want to reduce production and delivery
lead times for better overall efficiency
right production lead times can be
reduced by moving workstations closer
together reducing Q length like for
example reducing the number of jobs
waiting to be processed at a given
machine and improving the coordination
and cooperation between successive
processes delivery lead times can be
reduced through close cooperation with
suppliers possibly by inducing suppliers
to locate closer to the factory or
working with a faster shipping company I
see that makes sense the second point is
that we want to require supplier quality
assurance and Implement a zero defects
quality program we currently have far
too many errors that lead to defective
items and therefore they must be
eliminated a quality control at the
source program must be implemented to
give workers personal responsibility for
the quality of the work they do and the
authority to stop production when
something goes wrong I'm Wai on this one
it's essential that we reduce these
errors we've got to force our suppliers
to reduce their mistakes exactly well
let's look at how we're going to put
this plan into action first
all right so Marco I mentioned at the
beginning of the lesson that I don't
know much about just in time um but
luckily you do right yeah I know a
little bit about it so so tell me a
little bit about where this philosophy
came from what are the origins of this
idea it actually became really popular
with Toyota and it was called the Toyota
production system so many people think
it's Japanese but in reality the
Japanese got it from the United States
it's a philosophy that was thought up by
Ford mortar company in order to improve
their production line but when the
Japanese visited Ford Motor Company it
wasn't fully implemented yet and oddly
enough they found this philosophy
working already in a Piggly Wiggly
what's a Piggly Wiggly Piggly Wiggly was
a chain of uh of grocery stores in the
United States okay uh I'm not sure if
they're still around but um but yeah
they were really big and basically
Piggly Wiggly was using this to improve
their whole system of shipping and of
stocking and everything okay so how does
it work so basically what you try to do
is make your processes more efficient
reduce the amount of space you're using
Etc and this was really important for
Japanese because of course they don't
have that much space in Japan to have
these huge warehouses like in other
countries so what you're saying is
they're producing Goods um just for the
time they need it right exactly so
trying to not be overstocked or or have
like a long lead time or something long
lead times where you have to keep
something in a warehouse exactly so
that's why it's so efficient and also
it's about improving the efficiency
between processes so uh what sometimes
called a bottleneck you can have really
good processes in the beginning but in
the end maybe you have only one
workstation that's taking all these
orders and everything gets bottled up
and and it causes delays so in the
dialogue they want to implement the just
in time strategy um as a way of avoiding
redundancies but it sounds to me like
actually this might cause redundancies
sometimes well yeah sometimes it does
sometimes um sometimes when you make
workstations more efficient or when you
make all your processes work more
fluidly sometimes inevitably you will
have to lay off some people that are
that are redundant okay have you ever
worked in a company where they've
implemented uh just in time no actually
I've never really worked at a place
where this philosophy was working but uh
I did used to work at a place where we
had Six Sigma which is uh kind of which
is a little bit similar yeah well I
guess we'll need a lesson on Six Sigma
in the future yeah we'll see if we come
up with a Six Sigma and what it means
and it's kind of interesting but uh we
want to hear what you think yes have you
guys worked in a place where um they
where they use Justus in time exactly or
if you have any quality control measures
or how does your company avoid having
effective items or defective services so
visit our website uh englishpod do.com
and Marco and I are always around to
respond to your comments and answer your
questions exactly so until then it's
goodbye
[Music]
bye the English pod audio
review listen to the meaning then say
the vocabulary word May make a person do
something because it is the right thing
to
do
obligate cheap not
expensive cost
efficient layoff the ending of workers's
employment
redundancy put a plan into
action
implement the time between the beginning
of a process and its
end lead
time the ability to produce something
more
quickly
efficiency an area where a person works
and does his
job
workstation used to refer to a specific
time place or
thing given
having a mistake or error that makes
something not
perfect
defective a mistake or error that makes
something not
perfect
defect supply of goods stored in a
place
inventory the cost of holding
inventory carrying
cost large building where products or
goods are
stored
Warehouse the supply of goods for sale
or
available
stock something that slows a process
down
bottleneck let's try that
faster having a mistake or error that
makes something not
perfect defective
large building where products or goods
are
stored
Warehouse the supply of goods for sale
or
available
stock something that slows a process
down
bottleneck the ability to produce
something more
quickly
efficiency cheap not
expensive cost efficient
supply of goods stored in a
place
inventory put a plan into
action
Implement a mistake or error that makes
something not
perfect
defect an area where a person works and
does his
job
workstation make a person do something
because it is the right thing to do
obligate the time between the beginning
of a process and its
end lead time the cost of holding
inventory carrying
cost layoff the ending of workers's
employment
redundancy used to refer to a specific
time place or thing
given now say the word and hear it in a
sentence
redundancy our company is restructuring
and it looks like we will have
redundancies
redundancy I am sorry to inform you that
you have become
redundant redundancy
we have to prepare a plan to handle
potential
redundancies lead
time we offer a very low lead time at
our Factory you can get our products in
less than 3
days lead
time the standard lead time for
manufacturing tires is about one
week lead
time customers are complaining about our
delivery lead time we should try and get
the products to them
faster
workstation we need to increase the
number of workstations available for our
employees
workstation we have a total of 20
workstations but two of them are not
functional
workstation Jim you should clean up your
workstation you have papers and garbage
everywhere given
in this Factory how many cars are in
production at any given
time
given on any given day about 40 million
people use the
internet
given firefighters have to be ready to
attend an emergency at any given
moment
defective can I return this defective TV
it doesn't
work
defective we try to reduce the number of
defective products by having strict
quality
control defective
it seems that a defective light bulb was
the cause of the fire
[Music]
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