Producing and Assembling the Garments

The next part of the product manager’s job is to select the fabric that will be used in making a garment. Choosing a supplier is always a tricky business. Some other factors have to be considered. Is the fabric of acceptable quality? Is the price acceptable? Will the fabric be delivered by the supplier on time? Then it is necessary to choose the final samples that will be used as models in making the garment. Samples are often changed over again until they are perfect. When the final samples are ready, mass production can begin. Preparing the patterns once the original design has been approved, pattern makers set to work making the patterns. The patterns are first drawn on heavy pieces of cardboard, called markers. Markers are used to trace many paper patterns. Before the markers are used to make paper patterns, the layout of the pattern has to be worked out. The pattern layout determines how much fabric is wasted. The most efficient layout must be found. Clothes manufacturers now use computers to select the best pattern layout. The pattern maker uses miniature pattern pieces, displayed on a video screen. The video screen can display any of the pattern pieces stored in the computer. This process is called computer assisted drafting.

When the pattern maker is satisfied, the markers are traced in ink. The garment pattern is then machined copied many times on a long roll of pattern paper.

If all goes on schedule, the fabric begins to arrive about the time the pattern makers have settled on their final layouts.

Spreaders or large fabric layering machines unroll the bolts back and forth on tables over 100 feet long. The table is marked so the cutting machine operator knows where to lay the fabric. The fabric is staked into 30 to 50 layers for cutting. The fabric pile is often 8 inches deep. At the same time, the continuous paper pattern is laid out top of the staked fabric and stapled in place. Then, automatic cutting machine cut through the 8 inches of fabric. The machines have been preset to follow the outline of the pattern.

Engineers have carefully platted exactly how to move the pattern pieces from sewing machine to sewing machine to make the most efficient use of time and people. In an assembly line, each operator usually does only one specific task. For example, one person sews together all the underarm seams. Another might work on constructing the collars. Still another might sew on the front pockets. By using this method, sewing time can be really shortened. A shirt may take only 12 or 13 minutes to sew. Think for a minute how much time you would require to make an entire shirt by yourself.

Every finished garment is inspected thoroughly by people hired to do this work. The person inspecting the garment decides whether it can be fixed or not. Once the garment have been sewn and inspected, the next step is managing their sales. Sample garments are being made and then distributed to sales representatives at sales meetings. The sales departments bring in all the sales representatives just before a new line is ready to be launched. Product managers are expected to introduce the line. Sales representatives are provided with order numbers, samples in many colours or colour swatches, and ideas to help them sell the products. Any questions asked by the sales representatives about the line have to be answered.

III Answer the questions:

1. Who chooses a fabric used in making a garment?

2. What factors should be considered in fabric selection?

3. What are markers?

4. What are they used for?

5. What do clothes manufacturers use now?

6. When are markers traced in ink?

7. What is used to move the pattern pieces?

8. How can sewing time be saved?

9. What step goes next after inspecting the garment?

10. What do sales representatives perform?

IV Complete the sentences with the words from the text:

1. The product manager…..that will be used for a garment.

2. The mass production can begin when…..

3. Pattern makers set to work after……

4…….are now used by clothes manufacturers.

5. The garment is copied many times on…..

6. ……machine out through the fabric.

V Find the English equivalents to the words:

Постачальник, прийнятна якість, створювач зразка, витрачати дарма, бути задоволеним чимось, слідувати чомусь, скорочувати, оглядати, запускати, потребувати

VI Make up sentences with the terms:

A tricky business, quality, to set to work, efficient layout, to miniature, a roll of pattern paper, to introduce

VII Give definitions to the words:

A sample, efficient, schedule, an assembly line, a sales representative

VIII Translate the sentences into English:

1. Тканина для майбутнього одягу має бути відповідної якості та

доступної ціни.

2. Масове виробництво починається після затвердження кінцевого зразка.

3. Зразок спочатку креслиться на паперовий маркерах.

4. За допомогою комп’ютера можна зменшити деталі зразка та показати

їх на екрані.

5. Інженери легкої промисловості розробили обладнання для полегшення

та прискорення процесу виробництва.

6. За допомогою лінії зборки можливо зменшити кількість робочої сили і кожен оператор буде виконувати лише одну операцію.

7. Для успішності товару потрібно налагодити розповсюдження та продаж виробів.

8. Торгові представники впроваджують новий товар на масовий ринок.

9. Менеджери продукції представляють нову лінію на виробництві та повинні володіти повною інформацією про товар.

IX Speak on the topic using the following words and word-combinations:

To select a fabric, to choose a supplier, to begin mass production, to approve a design, to draw patterns on cardboard, computer assisted drafting, to be platted by engineers, to be inspected, to distribute, sales representatives, product managers, the line of products

TEXT B

I Read and remember:

1. fad – примха, дивацтво

2. terrific – приголомшливий

3. challis – шаллі, чаліс, тонка сукняна тканина

4. to wrinkle – зминатися

5. a shawl – шаль

6. to be fringe – бути прикрашеним бахромою

7. a token – ознака

8. female attire – жіноче вбрання

9. a pouch – кісет

10. doe – самиця (оленя, зайця, кролика тощо)

11. sealskin – хутро морського котика

II Read the text and define the main idea of it:

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