Asking the right questions
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Speaker 1: Hello, toolroom. OK, yup. OK, thank you.
Could you go across the road please, and have a look at the turret press? There’s a problem.
Speaker 2: Is it a mechanical or electrical fault?
Speaker 1: I think it’s a mechanical problem.
Can you see Connor, the press operator?
Speaker 2: Yeah, can do.
Speaker 1: Thank you.
Interviewer: Will, how are you going to find out what’s wrong with the machine?
Speaker 2: I’m going to ask Connor some questions, to find out what the fault is.
Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) Hello Connor, I’ve been told there’s a mechanical problem.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2: What was you doing at the time?
Speaker 3: We were punching a set of parts and it just stopped.
Speaker 2: Have you checked if there’s anything in the way of the punch?
Speaker 3: There’s nothing anywhere near the punch, so there’s no danger of that.
Speaker 2: Is there an error message on the display?
Speaker 3: Yeah, it’s number '2073 Safety Stop'.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it’s saying there’s something in the way of the punch.
I can get this sorted in about 15 minutes.
Speaker 3: Ok, that’s great.
What did the engineer ask?
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Understanding specialist words
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Interviewer: Will, what are you looking at?
Speaker 1: This is the manual for the turret press machine.
It's stopped working so we’re trying to find out how to get it working safely.
The manual has very technical language.
I’m reading it carefully to understand exactly how to do it safely.
These headings have words with specific meanings.
This one, 'Interference', is just a person or a thing getting in the way.
So here are the two types of interference.
This one, the 'Punch', is the top part of the press and it punches a hole into the metal.
And the 'Workholder' holds the work in place under the punch.
I’m visually checking to see if there’s anything stuck in the machine.
But by the looks of it there’s nothing stuck, so there’s no interference.
So the machine should be safe to start again.
(MACHINE SOUNDS)
Speaker 1: (TO OTHER PERSON) Well, that looks like it’s working alright.
I’ll leave you to it alright?
Speaker 2: OK, thanks, see you later.
Find the meaning of specialist words
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Using format and subheadings in writing
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Speaker: Earlier I was called to the turret press machine because there was a problem.
I’m just writing down on a form explaining how I fixed it, and how many hours I’ve done.
You do have to write a detailed description and write down any recommendations.
The 'Details of Repair' section is where I have to collect all the information together.
I’ve organised it into a series of subheadings so it’s clear what each section is about.
Firstly, I’m going to describe the condition of the machine.
I’ll call that section, ‘What was the machine condition?'.
Then I’ll write a list of actions I’ve taken.
That makes the sequence of steps I took absolutely clear.
At the end I can put ideas I have to address the fault in the future.
I’ll call the subheading, ‘Recommendation’.
Practise writing subheadings
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