Unit12 Process and operations Complete the following sentences with appropriate words. achievement of commercial objectives 2 Be ul to the batteries the right way round or else the device will not 3 Before you assemble a table you need to all the parts in the right place 4 New Zealand's main are good agricultural land, forests and water power 5 To make the operation more simple and more effective we should have to staff 6 Despite a large number of problems and the prototype came out on schedule 7 In order to clean and service the machine you need to It and then put it back 8 In the course of refining oil, gas is a major which arises and is not always needed. 9 We shall need to the specifications slightly for the Czech market 10 When the machines stop running the engineers have the opportunity to carry out the necessary 11 Before you can manufacture the heavy-duty batteries, you'll have to 12 The union is worried about the plans to cut back in the new plant. 13 The majority of car manufacturers still produce their vehicles on an 12.2 Explaining Functions listening Before you do this exercise look at the expressions in 12. 2B in the Students Book A Write down what you would say in these situations. The first is done for you as an exa What would you say I when you explain to someone you know fairly well how to switch a computer on? "Ok now first ofall, vou switch it on by pressing this key 2 when you are showing someone you know fairly well which button to press on a machine? 3 when you want to check that the other person understands what youve just explained? 4 if you want to add a further point to your explanation? 5 when you want to ask a stranger to help you use a photocopier which you dont know how to use? 6 when you want to ask a friend to show you how a machine works? 7 if you need a further explanation?
1 Unit12 Process and Operations 12.1 Doing things Vocabulary Complete the following sentences with appropriate words. 1 A well planned and organized operation will help to __________ and make easier the achievement of commercial objectives. 2 Be careful to __________ the batteries the right way round or else the device will not work. 3 Before you assemble a table you need to __________ all the parts in the right place. 4 New Zealand’s main __________ are good agricultural land, forests and water power. 5 To make the operation more simple and more effective we should have to __________ staff employed. 6 Despite a large number of problems and __________ the prototype came out on schedule. 7 In order to clean and service the machine you need to __________ it and then put it back together again. 8 In the course of refining oil, gas is a major __________ which arises and is not always needed. 9 We shall need to __________ the specifications slightly for the Czech market. 10 When the machines stop running the engineers have the opportunity to carry out the necessary __________. 11 Before you can manufacture the heavy-duty batteries, you’ll have to __________ your capacity. 12 The union is worried about the plans to cut back __________ in the new plant. 13 The majority of car manufacturers still produce their vehicles on an __________. 12.2 Explaining Functions & listening Before you do this exercise look at the expressions in 12.2B in the Student’s Book. A Write down what you would say in these situations. The first is done for you as an example. What would you say … 1 when you explain to someone you know fairly well how to switch a computer on? “Ok, now first of all, you switch it on by pressing this key.” 2 when you are showing someone you know fairly well which button to press on a machine? _________________________________________________________________. 3 when you want to check that the other person understands what you’ve just explained? _________________________________________________________________. 4 if you want to add a further point to your explanation? _________________________________________________________________. 5 when you want to ask a stranger to help you use a photocopier which you don’t know how to use? __________________________________________________________________. 6 when you want to ask a friend to show you how a machine works? __________________________________________________________________. 7 if you need a further explanation? __________________________________________________________________
8 when you think you' ve understood what a friend has said but you want them to repeat it? B Listen to the recording. You ll hear four people explaining how to use something or how to carry out an operation. Listen and decide what it is that is being explained. 1234 12.3In Fill in gaps in these sentences with a suitable prepositional phrase from the list below in accordance with ge or in confidence in consultation with in contact with in debt in progress In transit I Could you please remain in contact with the head of office until the negotiations are completed? 2 As long as the talks are the negotiating committee will say nothing to the press 3 We are forwarding all the items on the li your request. 4 Most companies only deliver such items as it is cheaper in the long run for all orders under S 6 We must ask you to take full responsibility for the goods, as long as they are 7 Our local agent will then make a final decision the regional director. 8 We must ask you to treat this information until the report is finally published 9 Ms Andreotti has been our Room sales office since last year. 10 Although the partners were they succeeded in paying our bill 12. 4 Anti-noise You' ll hear an interview with an expert discussing a technique which is being developed to "reduce"noise both in the working environment and outside it A Listen to the interview and decide which of these statements best describe how the technique which is discussed works. O I Anti-noise removes other noises (2 Anti-noise uses the technique of "muffling (3 Anti-noise creates vibrations which affect sound waves B Listen to the interview again and answer these questions: I The expert says that a. the technology to make machine quieter has been available since the 1930s b. the method for making machines quieter has only recently been developed c. The technology for quietening machines has only now become commercially possible 2 According to the expert, American indust lying millions to compensate their customers for noise b. passes on the costs of noise to their customers c.does not follow the regulations because they are too expensive
2 8 when you think you’ve understood what a friend has said but you want them to repeat it? __________________________________________________________________. B Listen to the recording. You’ll hear four people explaining how to use something or how to carry out an operation. Listen and decide what it is that is being explained. 1 ____________________________________________________________________________. 2 ____________________________________________________________________________. 3 ____________________________________________________________________________. 4 ____________________________________________________________________________. 12.3 In … Prepositional phrases – 2 Fill in gaps in these sentences with a suitable prepositional phrase from the list below. in accordance with in advance in bulk in charge of in confidence in consultation with in contact with in debt in progress in transit 1 Could you please remain in contact with the head of office until the negotiations are completed? 2 As long as the talks are ____________________the negotiating committee will say nothing to the press. 3 We are forwarding all the items on the list __________________ your request. 4 Most companies only deliver such items __________________, as it is cheaper in the long run. 5 We have to request payment _____________________ for all orders under $100. 6 We must ask you to take full responsibility for the goods, as long as they are ______________. 7 Our local agent will then make a final decision __________________ the regional director. 8 We must ask you to treat this information ______________ until the report is finally published. 9 Ms Andreotti has been ____________________ our Room sales office since last year. 10 Although the partners were _________________, they succeeded in paying our bill. 12.4 Anti-noise Listening You’ll hear an interview with an expert discussing a technique which is being developed to “reduce” noise both in the working environment and outside it. A Listen to the interview and decide which of these statements best describe how the technique which is discussed works. ( ) 1 Anti-noise removes other noises. ( ) 2 Anti-noise uses the technique of “muffling”. ( ) 3 Anti-noise creates vibrations which affect sound waves. B Listen to the interview again and answer these questions: 1 The expert says that … a. the technology to make machine quieter has been available since the 1930s. b. the method for making machines quieter has only recently been developed. c. The technology for quietening machines has only now become commercially possible. 2 According to the expert, American industry … a. is paying millions to compensate their customers for noise. b. passes on the costs of noise to their customers. c. does not follow the regulations because they are too expensive
3 Current techniques used to dampen down noise and vibration b. can result in the efficient performance of mufflers c. cause noisy components to suffer 4 The expert claims that the new systems can deal with repetitive noise b. eliminate noise completely c. deal with one -off noise 5 The expert describes a new technique using a microphone and a microprocessor which a. responds to particular types of noise b. produces noise quieter than the car engine c. causes the car engine to run more quietly 6 The expert refers to one area of application which cannot minimize the noise of aircraft engines and helicopter vibrations b. would be able to reduce noise in the cabin of an aircraft to more acceptable levels c. has resulted in new aircraft engines that are noisier than earlier ones 7 According to the expert, people working in loud workplaces with anti-noise systems a. are affected by the effects of noise b. can work more efficiently in"zones of quiet c. can hear conversations from another part of the room. 12.5 About time Readi Read this article and then fill each gap below with one word. about time For the manager of the 1990s, time is apparently of the essence. Consumers, the argument runs, want to get their hands on the products --- be they burgers or Buicks -- faster than ever The fashionable will buy from your firm only if you have the latest designs before your rivals to look at the entire manufacturing operation and then restructure that Traditionally, manufacturing is a carefully ordered affair: tasks usually have a sequence that can be changed only in small ways. Most firms will have employed special ists to determine the best scheduling logic for manufacturing. But"precedence constraints"(eg Task A must be carried out before task B) can cause queues and bottlenecks in even the most logical manufacturing orocess. This not only results in delay, it also introduces an unpredictable variability into company s operations. There is a cheaper route. By breaking down tasks into ever smaller, faster bits, companies can increase their manufacturing flexibility. This, in turn, will tend to increase the number of tasks that can be performed in parallel rather than in sequence. For instance, several smaller machines can be used to perform one task, rather than a single large machine. Parallel tasks have no precedence constraints and can reduce bottlenecks. That helps speed a company's manufacturing process closer to the theoretical id e which reduces queues and bottlenecks elsewhere in the factory Perhaps the single most effective answer to the problem is to invest in lots of excess capacity
3 3 Current techniques used to dampen down noise and vibration … a. are thirty or forty years old. b. can result in the efficient performance of mufflers. c. cause noisy components to suffer. 4 The expert claims that the new systems can … a. deal with repetitive noise. b. eliminate noise completely. c. deal with one-off noise. 5 The expert describes a new technique using a microphone and a microprocessor which … a. responds to particular types of noise. b. produces noise quieter than the car engine. c. causes the car engine to run more quietly. 6 The expert refers to one area of application which … a. cannot minimize the noise of aircraft engines and helicopter vibrations. b. would be able to reduce noise in the cabin of an aircraft to more acceptable levels. c. has resulted in new aircraft engines that are noisier than earlier ones. 7 According to the expert, people working in loud workplaces with anti-noise systems … a. are affected by the effects of noise. b. can work more efficiently in “zones of quiet”. c. can hear conversations from another part of the room. 12.5 About time Reading Read this article and then fill each gap below with one word. About time For the manager of the 1990s, time is apparently of the essence. Consumers, the argument runs, want to get their hands on the products ---- be they burgers or Buicks ---- faster than ever. The fashionable will buy from your firm only if you have the latest designs before your rivals. Better still, they will invariably pay more for the privilege of speed. The key is to look at the entire manufacturing operation and then restructure that, systematically. Traditionally, manufacturing is a carefully ordered affair: tasks usually have a sequence that can be changed only in small ways. Most firms will have employed specialists to determine the best scheduling logic for manufacturing. But “precedence constraints” (eg Task A must be carried out before task B) can cause queues and bottlenecks in even the most logical manufacturing process. This not only results in delay, it also introduces an unpredictable variability into a company’s operations. There is a cheaper route. By breaking down tasks into ever smaller, faster bits, companies can increase their manufacturing flexibility. This, in turn, will tend to increase the number of tasks that can be performed in parallel rather than in sequence. For instance, several smaller machines can be used to perform one task, rather than a single large machine. Parallel tasks have no precedence constraints and can reduce bottlenecks. That helps speed a company’s manufacturing process closer to the theoretical ideal ---- which reduces queues and bottlenecks elsewhere in the factory. Perhaps the single most effective answer to the problem is to invest in lots of excess capacity
It eliminates queuing and bottlenecks, sharply reducing unpredictable variations in the time needed to complete each part of the manufacturing process. as a consequence, production times tend to fall while manufacturing reliability(and hence the reliability of products) soars. It also introduces much greater flexi into the factory which helps companies respond more rapidly to customers whims All told, experts reckon that cutting production times by a quarter can reduce overall costs by a If it sounds too costly and risky, concentrate on the margin. Benetton, an Italian clothes company, does just that, as does Nissan. For the core products bought by the bulk of their customers,a prompt response to new trends is not a priority. But for their growing number of faddish, innovation-loving customers, these companies have developed fast-resp manufacturing and distribution Benetton has undyed stocks of clothes waiting to be colored according to the latest trends. Nissan will quickly assemble from standardized components a limited run of vehicles for microniches in the market -- including speciality versions of its snail-like S-Cargo delivery vans suitably tailored for customers such as bakeries, flower shops or I Consumers will pay for goods if they can get them 2 Manufacturing operations are broken into small which have to happen in a may occur which hold up the process 4 Manufacturers can become more if more tasks are performed in parallel 5 Several machines are better than one machine 6 If manufacturers in increased capacity, the ey can customers'requirements more quickly 7 Benetton can respond quickly to changes in 8 Nissan uses vehicles that only a few people want References 12.1 Doing things 4 resources 5 streamline 11 enlarge 12 manpower 13 assembly line 12.2 Explaining 2 All you have to do is press this button. Ok 3 Thats clear. is it?
4 It eliminates queuing and bottlenecks, sharply reducing unpredictable variations in the time needed to complete each part of the manufacturing process. as a consequence, production times tend to fall while manufacturing reliability (and hence the reliability of products) soars. It also introduces much greater flexibility into the factory ---- which helps companies respond more rapidly to customers’ whims. All told, experts reckon that cutting production times by a quarter can reduce overall costs by about a fifth. If it sounds too costly and risky, concentrate on the margin. Benetton, an Italian clothes company, does just that, as does Nissan. For the core products bought by the bulk of their customers, a prompt response to new trends is not a priority. But for their growing number of faddish, innovation-loving customers, these companies have developed fast-response marketing, manufacturing and distribution. Benetton has undyed stocks of clothes waiting to be colored according to the latest trends. Nissan will quickly assemble from standardized components a limited run of vehicles for microniches in the market ---- including speciality versions of its snail-like S-Cargo delivery vans suitably tailored for customers such as bakeries, flower shops or boutiques. (from The Economists) 1 Consumers will pay __________ for goods if they can get them _________. 2 Manufacturing operations are broken into small _____________ which have to happen in a particular ______________. 3 ____________ or ________________ may occur which hold up the process. 4 Manufacturers can become more _____________ if more tasks are performed in parallel. 5 Several ________________ machines are better than one ______________ machine. 6 If manufacturers ________________ in increased capacity, they can _______________ to customers’ requirements more quickly. 7 Benetton can respond quickly to changes in ______________. 8 Nissan uses ___________________ components to assemble limited ________________ of vehicles that only a few people want. References 12.1 Doing things 1 facilitate 2 insert 3 position 4 resources 5 streamline 6 setbacks 7 dismantle 8 by-product 9 alter 10 maintenance 11 enlarge 12 manpower 13 assembly line 12.2 Explaining A Suggested answers 2 All you have to do is press this button. Ok? 3 That’s clear, is it?
4 Make sure you remember to 5 I wonder if I might trouble you for a moment? 6 Sorry to bother you, but 7 How do you do that again? 8 Im sorry, could you explain that part again I Using a personal computer 2 Making a paper aeroplane 3 Starting a record player 4 TY Transcript I First of all you have to put the plug in. And be careful not to forget to take the covers off. Now you first switch this on here and also you switch this on Now I take one of these and push it into this slot. Like this. Is that clear? It only takes a few seconds to load. And then I can select what I'm going to be working on Right, then I click this little thing on here. You see that arrow? And then the whole thing starts up. And now I' m ready for serious work. When I've finished whatever ob Ive been doing, I have to take care t save it like this. Then I take this out and put it away and then I can use another one of these and repeat the same general procedures, leaving it on all the while 2 You take a piece of paper. A4 size will do. First you fold it all the way down the middle. And then unfold the corners at one end. Then you fold in the corners so that they meet the original crease. And then fold once again to meet the center comes the tricky bit. Fold the edge twice, to give it some weight. And then make a double fold. Then you need a pair of scissors. You need to cut out a small section not far back from the nose and fold down the wings. Now to throw it you need to hook an average size rubber band in the cut-out section and grasp the end. Stretch back d let go. I hope you have fun with it 3 First of all make sure the machine is plugged in. And then switched on. We then open it up here and, by the way, don't forget to move the control arm clear. Take what you want to hear out of the sleeve and place it on the spindle. At this stage you may have to check that the correct speed has been selected. If not, of course, you have to select it Then switch the control to automatic. And as long as the thing is on, thats it. Just lean back and enjoy it 4 Now to start off with you use A4 paper. Ok? You have to make one top copy and then two extra copies. And you should type in double spacing on one side of the paper only. Ok? Now you have to leave a 40-millimeter margin on the left-hand side. About 25 millimeters at the right And 2 millimeters at the top and the bottom. Don' t type part of a word on one line and then part of it on the next, please. And don't type a hyphen at the end or the start of a line Now number the pages in the center of each page at the top. Use a separate page for each of the tables. All right The number of the table and the heading should be immediately above the table. Dont indent the first paragraph after a heading. Don't underline the headings. Only underline the words that are underlined in the manuscript. And finally, the contents page is to be typed last, when the page 12.3In
5 4 Make sure you remember to … 5 I wonder if I might trouble you for a moment? 6 Sorry to bother you, but … 7 How do you do that again? 8 I’m sorry, could you explain that part again? B 1 Using a personal computer 2 Making a paper aeroplane 3 Starting a record player 4 Typing a report. Transcript 1 First of all you have to put the plug in. And be careful not to forget to take the covers off. Now you first switch this on here and also you switch this on. Now I take one of these and push it into this slot. Like this. Is that clear? It only takes a few seconds to load. And then I can select what I’m going to be working on. Right, then I click this little thing on here. You see that arrow? And then the whole thing starts up. And now I’m ready for serious work. When I’ve finished whatever job I’ve been doing, I have to take care t save it like this. Then I take this out and put it away and then I can use another one of these and repeat the same general procedures, leaving it on all the while. 2 You take a piece of paper. A4 size will do. First you fold it all the way down the middle. And then unfold the corners at one end. Then you fold in the corners so that they meet the original crease. And then fold once again to meet the center comes the tricky bit. Fold the edge twice, to give it some weight. And then make a double fold. Then you need a pair of scissors. You need to cut out a small section not far back from the nose and fold down the wings. Now to throw it you need to hook an average size rubber band in the cut-out section and grasp the end. Stretch back and let go. I hope you have fun with it. 3 First of all make sure the machine is plugged in. And then switched on. We then open it up here and, by the way, don’t forget to move the control arm clear. Take what you want to hear out of the sleeve and place it on the spindle. At this stage you may have to check that the correct speed has been selected. If not, of course, you have to select it. Then switch the control to automatic. And as long as the thing is on, that’s it. Just lean back and enjoy it. 4 Now to start off with you use A4 paper. Ok? You have to make one top copy and then two extra copies. And you should type in double spacing on one side of the paper only. Ok? Now you have to leave a 40-millimeter margin on the left-hand side. About 25 millimeters at the right. And 25 millimeters at the top and the bottom. Don’t type part of a word on one line and then part of it on the next, please. And don’t type a hyphen at the end or the start of a line. Now number the pages in the center of each page at the top. Use a separate page for each of the tables. All right. The number of the table and the heading should be immediately above the table. Don’t indent the first paragraph after a heading. Don’t underline the headings. Only underline the words that are underlined in the manuscript. And finally, the contents page is to be typed last, when the page numbers are known. 12.3 In …
2 3 in accordance with 4 in bulk 5 in advance 6 in transit 7 in consultation with 8 in confidence A 3 Anti-noise creates vibrations which affect sound waves 2 b 6b Tra Interviewer: Now, turning to the problem of noise -- what can we do to fight the increasing huge volumes of noise affecting us all today, like the noise you can hear in the background I have with me dr susan hall. one of America's leading experts on what is called"anti-noise". Dr Hall, what can be done Dr Hall. Well, strange though it may sound to you, one of the best way to make machinery quieter, like in cars, for example, may be to make it noisier Interviewer: Really? Dr Hall. Yes, the source of this paradox is electronic"anti-noise, which creates sound waves to combat unwanted rattles, blare and thumping. Now although the idea dates back to the 1930s, it's only recently that advances in computer technology have made anti-noise"a commercial possibility Interviewer: And where has this happened? Dr hall Well. America Interviewer: Huhuh Dr Hall. Here industry spends a fortune to get rid of noise. We all know how unpleasant it is Delicate machinery is interfered with and people working in factories and ordinary people at home enjoying their leisure can be affected by noise Interviewer. Yes Dr Hall: Even very, very small vibrations can cause parts to wear out and equipment to fail And this is very important, all this gets added on to the price of the product. Did you know that about five to fifteen per cent of the price of a product comes from noise and vibration costs? But the usual methods used to dampen down noise and vibration rely on techniques that are thirty to forty years old Interviewer: And what are they? Dr Hall: Well, these usually involve wrapping or covering the noisy or vibrating component th anything from cotton to concrete. But it's often very expensive and very inefficient. The performance of the noisy part also suffers as a result. Well, this the case with the care muffler or silencer Interviewer: And how does this differ from these new techniques? The modern electronic "anti-noise" devices dont muffle Instead. sound is used to attack sound Interviewer: And how do you do that? Dr Hall: Well, the trick is to hit these sound waves with other waves in a carefully controlled way. It may not be possible to eliminate noise completely, but engineers can build systems to eliminate specific kinds of noise and vibrations. The new systems can deal with repetitive noise. This unfortunately means that there is not much that can 6
6 2 in progress 3 in accordance with 4 in bulk 5 in advance 6 in transit 7 in consultation with 8 in confidence 9 in charge of 10 in debt 12.4 Anti-noise A 3 Anti-noise creates vibrations which affect sound waves. B 1 c 2 b 3 a 4 a 5 c 6 b 7 c Transcript Interviewer: Now, turning to the problem of noise ---- what can we do to fight the increasing huge volumes of noise affecting us all today, like the noise you can hear in the background in this factory we’re standing in now? I have with me Dr Susan Hall, one of North America’s leading experts on what is called “anti-noise”. Dr Hall, what can be done? Dr Hall: Well, strange though it may sound to you, one of the best way to make machinery quieter, like in cars, for example, may be to make it noisier. Interviewer: Really? Dr Hall: Yes, the source of this paradox is electronic “anti-noise”, which creates sound waves to combat unwanted rattles, blare and thumping. Now although the idea dates back to the 1930s, it’s only recently that advances in computer technology have made “anti-noise” a commercial possibility. Interviewer: And where has this happened? Dr Hall: Well, America. Interviewer: Huhuh. Dr Hall: Here industry spends a fortune to get rid of noise. We all know how unpleasant it is. Delicate machinery is interfered with and people working in factories and ordinary people at home enjoying their leisure can be affected by noise. Interviewer: Yes. Dr Hall: Even very, very small vibrations can cause parts to wear out and equipment to fail. And this is very important, all this gets added on to the price of the product. Did you know that about five to fifteen per cent of the price of a product comes from noise and vibration costs? But the usual methods used to dampen down noise and vibration rely on techniques that are thirty to forty years old. Interviewer: And what are they? Dr Hall: Well, these usually involve wrapping or covering the noisy or vibrating component with anything from cotton to concrete. But it’s often very expensive and very inefficient. The performance of the noisy part also suffers as a result. Well, this is the case with the care muffler or silencer. Interviewer: And how does this differ from these new techniques? Dr Hall: The modern electronic “anti-noise” devices don’t muffle. Instead, sound is used to attack sound. Interviewer: And how do you do that? Dr Hall: Well, the trick is to hit these sound waves with other waves in a carefully controlled way. It may not be possible to eliminate noise completely, but engineers can build systems to eliminate specific kinds of noise and vibrations. The new systems can deal with repetitive noise. This unfortunately means that there is not much that can be
done about unpredictable noises like someone trying to play the trumpet But they can handle fairly regular things like engine cylinders or the sound of a turbine turning around. One new techniques involves the use of a microphone and a broadcast sound waves that are a hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with the engine noise. The developers claim that it would make a car engine quieter and more efficient, if not one hundred per cent silent Interviewer: Arent there other areas of application in the noisy industrial environment of today? I mean, we re all of us affected in some way or another Dr hall Interviewer: Whether we work in a noisy factory or not Dr hall ure. One system which the same company is developing aims to minimize the noise of aircraft engines and helicopter vibrations. The design of new aircraft engines today means that theyre often more fuel efficient than earlier ones. But they're also noisier Anti-noise "systems would be able to reduce noise in the cabin of an aircraft to more acceptable levels Interviewer: That's brilliant. And how about the noisy workplace? And the effect on the workers themselves? Dr Hall: Sure. Well, people working in noisy workplaces are probably more affected by noise than anything else. Anti-noise" techniques can create zones of quiet in loud workplaces --- well, like the one we're standing in now. you can hear the factory noise all around you, but we can still carry on a conversation without having to shout. can't we? Interviewer: Yes, but how does this work? Dr hall Well, to create a zone, microphones are suspended around a work station on a factory floor. Loudspeakers that generate out of phase sound waves are put close to the worker under the desk or the workbench. Well, there s one, look, over there Yeah, yeah. And the rest of the factor remain noisy. If we just step outside the zone you' ll hear what I mean Interviewer: Ok, let's try that. Here we go Dr hall See what I mean? Interviewer: Yes, lets get back inside the quiet zone, shall we? 12.5 About time more quickly /rapidly 2 steps /task / order 3 Queues bottlenecks/delays/ hold-ups 4 flexible/efficient 5 smaller large 7 fashions /trends 8 standardized runs/numbers
7 done about unpredictable noises like someone trying to play the trumpet … But they can handle fairly regular things like engine cylinders or the sound of a turbine turning around. One new techniques involves the use of a microphone and a microprocessor. The processor measures the sound and directs a loudspeaker to broadcast sound waves that are a hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with the engine noise. The developers claim that it would make a car engine quieter and more efficient, if not one hundred per cent silent. Interviewer: Aren’t there other areas of application in the noisy industrial environment of today? I mean, we’re all of us affected in some way or another. Dr Hall: True. Interviewer: Whether we work in a noisy factory or not. Dr Hall: Sure. One system which the same company is developing aims to minimize the noise of aircraft engines and helicopter vibrations. The design of new aircraft engines today means that they’re often more fuel efficient than earlier ones. But they’re also noisier. “Anti-noise” systems would be able to reduce noise in the cabin of an aircraft to more acceptable levels. Interviewer: That’s brilliant. And how about the noisy workplace? And the effect on the workers themselves? Dr Hall: Sure. Well, people working in noisy workplaces are probably more affected by noise than anything else. “Anti-noise” techniques can create zones of quiet in loud workplaces ---- well, like the one we’re standing in now. you can hear the factory noise all around you, but we can still carry on a conversation without having to shout, can’t we? Interviewer: Yes, but how does this work? Dr Hall: Well, to create a zone, microphones are suspended around a work station on a factory floor. Loudspeakers that generate out of phase sound waves are put close to the worker under the desk or the workbench. Well, there’s one, look, over there. Yeah, yeah. And the rest of the factor remain noisy. If we just step outside the zone, you’ll hear what I mean. Interviewer: Ok, let’s try that. Here we go … Dr Hall: See what I mean? Interviewer: Yes, let’s get back inside the quiet zone, shall we? 12.5 About time 1 more quickly / rapidly / fast 2 steps / tasks sequence / order 3 Queues bottlenecks / delays / hold-ups 4 flexible / efficient 5 smaller large 6 invest respond 7 fashions / trends 8 standardized runs / numbers
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