LearnEnglishProfessionals
LOGISTICS AUDIOSCRIPT
Listentopeopletalkingabouttheirjobsinalogisticscompany.
Optionalexercise
Listentothespeakersandmatchtheirnameswiththeirjobroles.
AndrewWhitehead(AW),AngelaBeale(AB),GrahamEggers(GE),RobSteward(RS),TerryRiley(TR)
a.checksavailabilityofproductsinthewarehouse
b.isaretailer.
c.isresponsiblefordelivery.
d.packagesandmovesproducts.
e.plansandoverseesthewholeprocess
AndrewWhitehead:Weproducecomputeraccessories,printersaboveall.Myjobistoplanalltheprocessesleadingtothe
assemblyoftheprinters,andthentheireventualdeliverytowholesalers.ImbasedintheUK,butmanyofourpartsare
producedinChina.TheprintersareassembledintheUK,andthensoldworldwide. Iworkcloselywithourinventorystaff
peoplelikeAngela.
AngelaBeale:IminchargeofthewarehousehereintheUK,butnottheassemblyplant.ItsmyjobtoworkwithAndrew,
whoisheadoflogistics,andmakesurethatweknowexactlywhatpartswehaveatanytime,andwhatorderswehave
comingup.Wedonthavemuchspacehere,wecantaffordit,soitsimportantthatweonlyhaveinstockwhatisabsolutely
essential.Whenabigorderiscomingup,Ihavetoorderthepartsweneed.
AndrewWhitehead:Obviously,Angelaisakeycolleague.ButwealsodependonourwarehousestaffpeoplelikeRob.
RobSteward:Basically,Iunloaddeliveries,andmakesuretheyrestoredintherightplacesinthewarehouse.ThenwhenI
getacallforthem,Ihavetoboxthemup(ifnecessaryalotofthemcomereadyboxed),putthemonapalletandship
themoutagain!Theygoofftowhicheverassemblyplantwereusingatthemoment.Theresalotoflifting,itsquitea
physicaljob.
AndrewWhitehead:Imkeepingtrackofthisallthetime.Ourcompanyhaditsownlogisticssoftwaredesignedtohelpme
followexactlywhatwevegot,andwhosdoingwhatatanygivenpointintheprocess.AfterRobandhiscolleagueshave
locatedandboxedtherightparts,thentheygoofftosomeonelikeTerry.
TerryRiley:Myjobsprettystraightforwardreally.Ihavethisbigtruck,Idriveittothewarehousewhereitgetsloadedup,
Imnotresponsibleforthat,fortunately!Badback!Cantliftthings...ThenItakethemwheretheyvegottogo.Thereare
someshortdrives,aroundBritainiftheyreusingalocalassemblyplant.Butmostofmytripsarearoundcontinental
Europe.Imoftenontheroadforaweekorso.InevercomebackwithanemptylorryIhavetocollectemptypackaging
forrecycling,andproductsthatarebeingreturnedtothemanufacturersforwhateverreason.
AndrewWhitehead:Yes,wereconcernedaboutcuttingourCO2emissions,sowetrytouselocalassemblyplantsifits
economicallyviable.ThenwealsomakeuseofreverselogisticsasTerrysaid,bringingthingsback!Theresnopointin
havingemptytrucksdrivingaround.PeoplelikeTerryarealsoresponsiblefordeliveringourfinishedproductsto
wholesalers,andsometimesevenretailers.
GrahamEggers:Yes,inthepastIhadtodealwithawholesaler,ormakemassiveorders.Thiswasntgoodforthekindof
smallshopIhave.Ididntwanttohavelotsofmycapitaltiedupinstock,nordoIhavespacetostorelotsofstuff.Thats
whyworkingwithAndrewisgood theirlogisticsaresogoodthattheycanmakefinancialsenseoutofdeliveringevenonly
twoorthreeitemsatatimetome.IgetwhatIwant,whenIneedit.
AndrewWhitehead:AndIguessthatwhatyouwant,whenyouneeditwouldbethebestwayofsummingupmyjob!
Answers:a.AB,b.GE,c.TR,d.RS,e.AW
www.britishcouncil.org/professionals.htm
TheBritishCouncil,2007
TheUnitedKingdomsinternationalorganisationforeducationalopportunitiesandculturalrelations. WeareregisteredinEnglandasacharity.
