第九課問題溝通Giving a Report at a Company Meeting

Action公司與Standard公司簽訂合約之后，產(chǎn)品的需求量大增。Jennifer和她的頂頭上司Gibson先生擔(dān)心公司未來將無法供應(yīng)如此多的產(chǎn)品，因而召開一次內(nèi)部會議。由Jennifer負(fù)責(zé)向與會者解說問題所在，要求各線干部提出改善的方案。

英文正文

To begin, let's take a look at the distribution contract we just signed with Standard Suppliers. I believe each of you has a copy.

Looking over the numbers, you get an idea of what Standard expects from us in terms of monthly shipments. I think you'll agree that our necks are on the line here.

This leads me to my first concern. Frankly speaking, we're worried that current productivity can not keep up with demand. Mr. Gibson and I have gone over Action's operating expenses, and we believe that there is room to both expand and upgrade facilities.

The best place to start is Action's mainstay - the assembly line. What we'd like each of you to do is to go over your respective operations, make recommendations about improving production, and report back to us.??

中文翻譯

首先，我們來看看公司和Standard公司剛簽訂的這份配銷合約。相信各位手上都有一份影本。

看過合約上所記載的數(shù)字，各位便知道Standard公司每個月要從我們這邊進多少貨。我想各位也都同意，我們這方面有點冒險。

我的首要顧慮就是這個問題。坦白說，我們擔(dān)心目前的生產(chǎn)力會趕不上需求量；Gibson先生和我已經(jīng)仔細(xì)查核過公司的營運費用，我們認(rèn)為公司還有余力可以改良設(shè)備和提升產(chǎn)量。

最佳的著手點就是本公司的主干--生產(chǎn)線；我們希望在座各位重新檢視自己部門的運作情形，然后提出改進的建議，再讓我們了解情況。

短語解說

neck(s) is(are) on the line 冒險；賭運氣

這是個俚語，字面解釋有點像中文的'脖子架在刀口上'的夸張說法。引申來形容一種危險的狀況。

I hope you know what you're doing because we're really putting our necks on the line.

希望你們清楚自己的所為，因為我們可是冒了很大的風(fēng)險。

operating expenses 公司的營運費用

這是指一家公司營運所需的各種費用，如員工薪資、辦公室或廠房租金、硬設(shè)備等等。"operating"做'運轉(zhuǎn)的，經(jīng)營的'解釋。

If our operating expenses exceed sales, we won't be able to make a profit.

我們的營運費用若比銷售所得高的話，就賺不到錢了。

keep up with 配合，保持

這個詞組是指與別人的速度或?qū)哟文芟嗯浜稀⒛苴s得上。

Can our factory keep up with the incoming orders for the next six months?

我們的工廠能配合得了下個半年的訂單嗎?

in terms of… 就…來說，以…的角度來看

"terms"在此當(dāng)'條件、狀況'的意思；介系詞"of"之后的名詞詞組即為衡量的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)、角度。

He used to think of everything in terms of money.

他以前總以錢來衡量每件事情。

assembly line 生產(chǎn)線，裝配線

這是大量生產(chǎn)作業(yè)的裝配線，包括不同制造過程中各項機件與人員的組合。"assembly"在這里可做'裝配零件'的解釋。

Working on an assembly line can be incredibly boring and tiring.

裝配線的工作通常會極端無聊而累人。