Unit 4 Visiting the Factory
To get more information about the products to be ordered, many businessmen choose to visit the factory that supplies them the merchandise. How large the factory is, what facilities it has, and how many employees it owns, all these factors may decide the quality and goodwill of the factory, and have significance of a successful transaction in the future. Thus, visiting the factory becomes one of the necessary steps for both buyers and sellers. If it’s your job to give the tour, you’ll want to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Situational Dialogues
Dialogue 1
Lina Fang, is the secretary of Mr. Zhao, the General Manager of
Cultural Product Company. She is talking with Carl Numan, an importer
from Germany.
Fang： Good morning, Sir. May I help you?
Numan： Good morning, I have an appointment with Mr. Zhao for 9：30.
Fang： Excuse me, Sir, but are you Mr. Numan of ABC Company from Germany?
Numan： Yes. That’s right.
Fang： Oh, yes, Mr. Numan. Welcome to XYZ Company. Just a moment, please. Mr. Zhao is expecting you.
(In Mr. Zhao’s office)
Zhao： Hello. Mr. Numan, welcome to our company. So we’ll show you around our factory today. We’ll start at 10：00 and will get
there around 10：30.
Numan： I’m looking forward to my tour of your plant.
Zhao： Here is the list of departments. Next to each department are its location and the name of the manager.
Numan： Thank you.
Zhao： You’ll know our products better after the visit. Shall we start now?
Numan： If it is not too much trouble, we would like to talk to some of the technicians.
Zhao： Sure. Mr. Liu will give you the tour and explain details to you when you arrive at the factory. He is our Production Manager.
Numan： Good.
Dialogue 2
At the factory, Mr. Zhao introduces Mr. Muman to Mr. Liu, the Production Manager. Mr. Liu talks to Mr. Numan.
Liu： We’re delighted to see you at our factory. I’ll show you around and explain the operation as we go along.
Numan： That’ll be most helpful.
Liu： That is our office block. All of our administrative departments are there. Down there is the research and development section.
Numan： How much do you spend on development every year?
Liu： About 3-4% of the gross sales.
Numan： What’s that building opposite us?
Liu： That’s the warehouse. We keep a stock of the faster moving items so that urgent orders can be met quickly from stock.
Numan： If I placed an order now, how long would it be before I got delivery?
Liu： It would largely depend on the size of the order and the items you want.
Dialogue 3
Numan： How large is the plant?
Liu： It covers an area of 45 000 square meters. It was a Paper Mill in the past but went bankrupt in 1980. We bought it and renovated it.
Numan： A paper mill! It’s interesting. Are those pipes left by the paper mill?
Liu： Yes. We kept them as we did the renovation.
Numan： I love the pipes and the atmosphere you create here.
Liu： It’s very kind of you to say so.
Numan： The factory is much larger than I expected. When did you start to make your products here?
Liu： In 1990. Oh, before we got this factory, we had owned another one not far from here. Since our products sell very well, we need a larger factory to meet the demands of our customers. The old factory now becomes our warehouse.
Numan： You really have a good development. How many employees do you have in this plant?
Liu： 300. We’re running on three shifts. Some employees live in the dorms of the factory. The houses with red roofs in that block are dorms for the employees.
Numan： They look lovely. Does the plant work with everything from the raw material to the finished product?
Liu： Almost. But we outsource cast copper to our associates who specialize in these fields. Well, here we’re at the kiln. We’re making a series of pottery and porcelain products for a big order from London.
Numan： How many pieces can the kiln hold?
Liu： It depends on the sizes of the products. Now we adopt completely modern facilities for the kiln. The temperature and heat control are adjusted automatically. But of course, many
other steps still rely on our expertise.
Numan： Where do you put the burned products?
Liu： We’ve got a large showroom and a warehouse in that block. Here we get to the workshop. But before we come in, we’d better put on the helmet and the jackets to protect our clothes. It may be very dusty there.
Dialogue 4
Numan： Wah, such a big workshop!
Liu： As you know, most of the work in this field highly depends on the craftsmen. The workshop consists of four sections. The most spacious section is for stone product processing. Just like the one you’re seeing, many stone works have large sizes and need large space to do the work. The section for the metal works is the second largest one. It is close to this section. Both sections produce loud noise. The third section is for clay works. We can’t see it from here as it’s located at the end of the workshop, together with the section of small units. Those two sections are quieter and cleaner.
Numan： It’s great! Many workers are doing their work here.
Liu： This workshop is also a showroom. From here you can see how the project and products are completed. The craftsmen represented here have devoted many hours over a period of years to develop the skills to produce these projects. Many of them have contributed a significant amount to the body of work in a particular field over years since the factory was set up. This is not just a showcase for any project, but rather a place where you can see the work of the people who are acknowledged to be the “the best of the best” in a particular field. Many innovations come from the hands of the enthusiastic workmen here. They truly deserve to be called not just laborers or even craftsmen,
but artists in their field.
Numan： I do agree. You’re lucky. You own the good people to work for you.
Dialogue 5
Numan： Thank you so much for giving me a tour of the place. It gave me a good idea of your product range.
Liu： It’s a pleasure to show our factory to our customers. What’s your general impression, may I ask?
Numan： Very impressive, indeed, especially the workshop and the workmen. Yes, also the kiln. Honestly everything here is impressive to me.
Liu： We’re very glad to hear that.
Numan： Your facilities and people give you an edge over your competitors, I guess.
Liu： That’s right. No one can match us as far as speed is concerned.
Numan： Could you give me some brochures for the workmanship of the metal products? And the price if possible.
Liu： Certainly. Here is our sales catalog and literature.
Numan： Thank you. I think we may be able to work together in the future.
Words and Expressions
administrative adj. 行政的，管理的 gross adj. 总的，毛的
warehouse n.仓库 shift n. 轮班
workmanship n. 技艺，工艺 kiln n. 窑，烧窑
delivery n. 发送的货物 renovate v. 翻新，整修
scale n. 等级，级别，规模 expertise n. 专门知识或技能
helmet n. 安全帽 outsource v. 外包
cast copper铸铜 acknowledge v. 承认，认可
craftsman n. 工匠；手工艺者 craftsmanship n. 手工艺，手工艺技术
innovation n. 改革，创新 laborer n. 体力劳动者
impressive adj. 给人印象深刻的 edge n. 优势，优越之处
automatically adv. 机械化地，自动地
literature n. 商品说明书之类的印刷宣传品
Notes
1. So we’ll show you around our factory today. 那么今天我们将带您参观我们的工厂。“show sb. around”，意为“带某人参观某地”。
2. Down there is the research and development section. 那边是研发部。这是一个倒装句。正常语序是“The research and...is down there.”
3. It covers an area of 45 000 square meters. 它占地面积45 000平房米。cover意为“覆盖”。
4. It was a Paper Mill in the past but went bankrupt in 1980.它过去是个造纸厂，但是1980年破产。“go bankrupt”，意为“破产”。
5. We’re running on three shifts. 我们实行三班倒。
6. But we outsource cast copper to our associates who specialize in these fields. 但我们把铸铜部分分包给我们的同行，他们在这方面更专业。outsource，意为“外包”； “cast copper”，铸铜。
7. The temperature and heat control are adjusted automatically. 温度和火候是自动调节的。
8. the helmet and the jackets, 意为“安全帽和防护衣”。
9. We need a larger factory to meet the demands of our customers. 我们需要更大的工厂来满足顾客的需要。“meet the demand of” 满足（某人的）需求。
10. Of course, many other steps still rely on our expertise. 当然，还有很多其他的步骤还必须依赖我们的专长。“rely on ”依赖。
11. product range, 意为“产品范围”。
Language Skills
1. Expressing wishes
I’m looking forward to my tour of your plant.
If it is not too much trouble, we would like to talk to some of the technicians.
2. Expressing thanks
Thank you so much for giving me a tour of the place. It gave me a good idea of your product range.
It’s very kind of you to say so.
3. Asking for information
How much do you spend on development every year?
If I placed an order now, how long would it be before I got delivery?
How large is the plant?
Are those pipes left by the paper mill?
How many employees do you have in this plant?
How many pieces can the kiln hold?
Where do you put the burned products?
Does the plant work with everything from the raw material to the finished product?
Exercises
1. Translate the following into Chinese orally.
a) We learned a lot about your facilities and the process of pottery making.
b) Next to each department is its location and the name of the manager.
c) It was very kind of you to give me a tour of the plant.
d) Please let us know when you will be free so that we can arrange the tour for you.
e) Does the plant work with everything from the raw material to the finished product?
2. Translate the following into English orally.
a) 那是仓库，存放周转快的货物，这样有急的订货时，就可以立刻交现货。
b) 如果我现在订购，到交货前需要多长时间？
c) 这个工厂面积有45 000平方米。
d) 我们把铸铜加工外包出去了。
e) 很多创新研究来自于这些充满劳动热情的工匠之手。
3. Topics for discussion.
a) Do you think it’s necessary to visit the factory as an importer or
buyer? Why?
b) Do you know the process of any product making? Describe it.
c) How much do you know about the kiln?
Role Play
We’ll be listening to Ingrid and Jeff. Jeff is from the head office of GC and he’s inspecting the factory where Ingrid works. His job is to make sure that the company’s factories are all up to standard and capable of handling future orders.
Role A
You are Jeff. You arrived at the factory and met Ingrid, who is ready to start the tour.
1) Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of your visit.
2) Enquire about information about the production there.
3) Ask their order intake.
Role B
You are Ingrid. You’re taking Jeff on a tour of a factory where GC cleaning products are produced.
1) Introduce the factory and show him around.
2) Explain how your factory meets the standard of the production.
3) Answer the questions Jeff asked.
Tips for Business Etiquette
On Business Trips
Business trip is an important part in business activities. Remember, when you go on a business trip, you’re representing the company you work for and whilst the trips can sometimes be an interesting (even exciting) diversion from the humdrum of the usual 9 to 5 routine, the unfamiliarity of new people and new places can often cause you to, unwittingly, lower your guard.
Therefore, business etiquette is crucial if the trip is to be successful. Here are some useful tips to help you maintain a professional air.
1) Dress Appropriately at All Times. Make sure that you pack the appropriate clothes to accompany each part of the itinerary.
2) Be Preferably Early & Never Late at All Times. Even for something as relatively informal as a casual business lunch—always try to get there 5 or 10 minutes early.
3) Maintain a Professional Manner. Remember, you’re still on your company’s time on a business trip.
(adapted from： http://www.worketiquette.co.uk/ etiquette-when-business-trips.html)