Incoming Material Inspection & Acceptance
Quality control personnel inspect incoming raw materials, components, or sub-assemblies to ensure they meet specified standards before being accepted for production. Potential issues like non-conformities or damage are identified and reported.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
shipment
A shipment is a delivery of goods sent from one place to another, often by truck or ship. Use it when talking about receiving or sending products in business.
preliminary inspection
A preliminary inspection is an initial or first check to see if something meets basic standards. It's useful in quality control to describe early reviews before deeper analysis.
discrepancies
Discrepancies are differences or inconsistencies between expected and actual conditions, like wrong quantities. Use this word in reports to point out problems politely.
elaborate
To elaborate means to explain something in more detail. It's a polite way to ask someone to provide additional information during discussions.
acceptance criteria
Acceptance criteria are the specific standards or rules that determine if materials are good enough to use. Common in quality control to set clear expectations for inspections.
non-conformance report (NCR)
A non-conformance report (NCR) is an official document recording defects or issues with products. It's essential for tracking and resolving quality problems in manufacturing.
quarantine
To quarantine means to isolate defective or suspicious items to prevent them from entering production. Use it when separating bad materials for safety.
supplier
A supplier is a company or person that provides raw materials or parts to a business. Important in discussions about sourcing and quality from vendors.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Have you had a chance to look at that new shipment of aluminum sheets that came in this morning?
This is a polite way to ask if someone has checked something recently. Use 'have you had a chance to' for indirect questions in professional settings to avoid sounding demanding. It's useful for following up on tasks without pressure.
Overall, the quantity matches the packing list, but I found a few discrepancies.
This sentence reports positive and negative findings clearly. 'Overall' summarizes the main point, and 'but' contrasts good and bad aspects. Great for inspection reports to balance feedback and highlight issues.
Can you elaborate? Are we talking about minor cosmetic issues or something more significant?
This asks for more details while seeking clarification on severity. 'Elaborate' is formal for professional talks, and the question structure uses 'or' for options. Use it in meetings to understand problems better.
About 10% of the sheets have noticeable surface scratches, exceeding our acceptance criteria for incoming material.
This describes a specific defect with percentages for precision. 'Exceeding' means going beyond limits, useful in technical reports. It's practical for explaining why something fails standards in quality discussions.
Did you document these issues with photos and details for a non-conformance report?
This inquires about record-keeping procedures. The past tense 'did you document' checks completed actions. Essential in quality control to ensure proper reporting and traceability.
Please hold those non-conforming materials in quarantine.
This is an instruction to isolate items. 'Please' makes it polite, and imperative form 'hold' gives a direct command. Use in workflows to manage defective goods and prevent errors.
We'll need to contact the supplier immediately to discuss a resolution – either a credit or a replacement shipment.
This plans next steps with future tense 'we'll need to.' The dash introduces options with 'either...or.' Helpful for problem-solving talks, showing proactive business communication.
Thanks for the thorough inspection, Sarah.
This expresses appreciation simply. 'Thanks for' + gerund (thorough inspection) is a common pattern for gratitude. Use at the end of professional interactions to build positive relationships.