Ex. 38. Read the dialogue, say which transport methods are mentioned in it and compare

Them.

VOCABULARY

 

shipping method – метод перевозки

container ship - контейнеровоз

shipment – груз, партия товара

freight – груз, фрахт

air freight – авиафрахт, воздушные грузоперевозки

haulage – перевозка, транспортировка

delivery service – служба доставки

urgently – срочно

 

Logistics is the management of the transport and storage of goods. Marcus Bridgestone, the logistics manager for a plastic packaging company, is talking to a new assistant about the distribution chain.

Marcus: After completion, items get sent from the factory to the warehouse. We store them

there until we are ready to ship, or deliver, to the client. I say “ship”, but we don’t

always use a boat to do it. The cheapest, but slowest, shipping method is by

container ship, but it takes around five weeks to sail from Asia to Europe. Sometimes

we need to move the shipments or freight much faster, so we use air freight.

However, it’s much more expensive, although it depends on the weight of the load –

the goods being carried. When the shipment gets to Europe we have a number of

shipping options, which really depend on where the goods land – I mean, where they

arrive – and where we have to deliver them. Rail freight is cheap but not always

reliable, depending on the country. Road haulage is more expensive but the advantage

is that lorries can go right up to the doors of shops or factories.

Assistant: What about the man from the delivery service?

Marcus: George, from Fedex? We try only to use delivery services when we need to send

something small, or very urgently.

Ex. 39. Put the steps in the distribution chain in the correct order.

1. The goods arrive and can be sold to the consumer.

2. The seller sends the order to the warehouse in South America.

3. Road haulage is used to ship the goods from Southampton to Brighton.

4. The goods land in Southampton.

5. The container ship is loaded with the parts.

6. A buyer in Brighton places an order for car accessories.

 

 

Ex. 40. Divide the text into two parts for two groups of student to do written translation.

 

Text 6

TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION

 

The world of business needs a transport system if it is to function effectively. On the one hand, raw materials have to be brought to the factories of processing. Very often those materials need to be imported from other countries. There are so many different materials called for that few countries are able to cater for the needs of their industries. Some countries are reach in one commodity. Other countries are rich in other commodities. The resources of all the countries in the world can be made available to all – so long as there are the necessary means of transport.

For a typical person in an industrialized country there is nothing that he or she consumes, from food to cars, which is not imported from abroad or made at least partially from imported raw materials. The world is economically interdependent. A car may be assembled in England from parts made in Japan or Germany, which are in turn made from raw materials such as iron ore from Sweden and chrome from Zimbabwe. The petrol which fuels it may come from Saudi Arabia. The total miles traveled by all the various materials before they become a car which can be used is astronomical.

The method of distribution, that is, the type of transport that manufacturers use to deliver the product to the market, is different depending on the product being delivered and the value of the product. Distribution needs to be efficient to make sure that shops do not lose sales because the product is not available and the shelves are empty. Therefore, the method of transport used must be carefully selected to ensure the product arrives at the shop on time and in good condition.

After the goods have been produced transport becomes a major issue. Between the factories and the final consumers there will be a battery of professional carriers. Fleets of lorries and vans will now be brought into play. Other forms of transport which can be used to distribute products are:

· Railways. These are suitable for long-distance transport and are often cheaper than road transport.

· Sea fright. This is used mainly for international trade.

· Air fright. This is used for small, expensive products that may deteriorate quickly.

· Pipelines. These are used to transport liquids or gas over a long distance.

 

 

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

 

Text 7

 

WHOLESALING

 

Wholesalers are the institutions, which stand between the manufacturer and the retailer. The wholesaler buys goods in bulk from producers and sells them in small quantities to retailers. In doing so he helps the production process. If you had an intention to be a successful manufacturer, you would make high quality products at a reasonable price for selected markets. If you intended to be a wholesaler, you would learn how to serve the market.

Wholesaler economises the distribution. The most important function of a wholesaler is to contact manufacturers and potential customers.

Wholesalers are used for information and advice. Suggestions which customers make to the retailers are passed to the wholesaler who conveys them to the manufacturer. Thus the latter can improve his product.

The wholesaler keeps stocks. Shoppers like to obtain goods immediately. This requires stocks. Often, however, neither the producer nor the retailer has extensive storage facilities and responsibility falls on the wholesaler.

Moreover he arranges imports from abroad. Foreign manufacturers can rarely bother to ship small parcels to individual retailers abroad. They prefer to deal with a wholesaler, an import merchant with established trade connections.

Wholesalers may be classified into three groups: manufacturer-owned operations, merchant wholesalers and merchandise agents and brokers. Manufacturers can establish their own wholesaling office or branch, the latter providing more services to its customers. Depending on the industry or geographical location merchant wholesalers are called distributors, jobbers, or dealers. Among merchandise agents there are selling agents, brokers, commission agents and action companies. They are all compensated by either a commission or a brokerage fee.

 

 

Text 8

RETAILING

 

The retailer performs the last stage of the production process for it is he who puts the goods in the hands of the actual customers. His work is “to have the right goods in the right place at the right time”.

There are four types of retail institutions: 1) speciality stores, 2) supermarkets, 3) general merchandise stores, 4) nonstore retailing.

Often speciality stores sell one type of product, such as clothing, jewelry, furniture, books. Having a better feeling of their market these store compete against department stores. They can adjust more quickly to market conditions.

Big supermarkets are usually well located. All the goods are arranged on trays and shelves. All the prices are clearly marked. The goods are ready-weighed and beautifully packed. There you can find everything you need. The prices are reasonable.

General merchandise stores (GMS) carry a wide variety of products. There are three types of GMS: a) department stores, b) discount stores, c) hypermarkets. Big department stores started in America more than 50 years ago, and then the idea was brought to European countries. These stores are wonderful places. People can do all their shopping under one roof. All the things for sale are displayed so that they can be easily seen, and the customers walk around and choose what they want.

The store is divided into departments: women’s clothes, men’s clothes, shoes, toys, sports goods, china and glass, etc. There may be a restaurant with an orchestra and sometimes a tea-room as well. You will also find a room where you can rest if you are tired. There is an office where you can book seats for the theatre or arrange to travel anywhere in the world.

Text 9