Task 4. Compose a summary of the text in 80 words. Jamie Bonini at Chrysler

JAMIE BONINI AT CHRYSLER

An engineer by training, Bonini was named plant manager of Chrysler’s big –van plant in Windsor. He was 33 years old. Within a year, The Wall Street Journal hailed him as the new breed of managers who are reshaping the US auto industry’s manufacturing plants. The article also suggested he would be equally successful in other industries.

At the same time, Forbes selected Chrysler as its Company of the Year. They selected Chrysler based on its results, its ways of operating, and its superb management, mentioning “We think Chrysler has superior management – not just at the very top but deep down an organisation.”

Chrysler, like many other American companies, is teaching its foremen new ways of managing: giving more power to workers, rather than exercising top-down, management-by-intimidation. Previously, at some of Chrysler’s manufacturing plants, managers were described as acting like drill sergeants, quality problems were abundant, and the people were demoralised. Dennis Pawley, who is in charge of Chrysler manufacturing worldwide, decided to change this dramati­cally and among other things appointed the young and inexperienced Bonini to the Windsor job.

The plant was the least automated in the industry, with hundreds of manual jobs. Sales were stagnant and the plant was scheduled to launch a new van. Adding to the challenges was the resentment of other managers who were passed over for the promotion and the scepticism of many who thought Bonini was not up to the job. Looking back, he said, “I was scared. There were moments when I thought, “I’m in over my head”.

But he went to work, and within a year, productivity, sales and morale were all up. You can learn elsewhere how he did it. But what would you do if you were in his shoes?

After his success at the Windsor plant, Bonini was offered a position in Latin America, to run an engine plant that Chrysler is building with BMW in Germany. He was torn; he wanted to stay at Windsor to see the new van launched, and people were upset that he was leaving them. But he felt he couldn’t turn down the offer. He took the job and he may now have the impact on car building in other parts of the world.

UNIT 8

Task 1. Read the text “AgriComp” and translate it.

Task 2. Find answers to the following questions in the text and write them down:

1. What did AgriComp sell?

2. Where was the equipment assembled?

3. What duties did the local dealers have?

4. When were the claims denied and why?