Shadowing Practice: NPI Process 1: Why A Pilot Run Before Mass Production Is Very Useful - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
93 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hi there this is Renaud Angéron.
2
Welcome to this series on the new product introduction process.
3
We're going to cover some topics that come back over and over especially for electrical and or mechanical products.
4
Hope it's helpful.
5
Let's get started with video number one on the first topic.
6
Hi, this is Renaud Androran and I'm going to cover the pilot run before mass production of a new product.
7
So it's very different from looking at prototypes.
8
Prototypes are used to confirm the design of a new product, but they might not be made with the same components,
9
same methods, same equipment, same people and so on as mass production.
10
the pilot run is very important
11
when you launch production of a new product there are always some risks okay
12
so the idea of a short a small production run a
13
pilot run is to test the line test the manufacturing process
14
and the testing process also okay and to see the problems
15
and to address them until we confirm
16
that the process is capable of delivering the right creative products
17
okay to confirm assembly to come from packing to confirm some
18
of the fabrication also okay it's very standard across many industries PVT in consumer electronics you know phones
19
and things like that production trial run in automotive it's got many names let's call it pilot run
20
so it can also take place at the level of the component supplier okay not just assembly
21
if some critical components are customized
22
and there is a risk of quality issue it's a very
23
good thing to also have them do a pilot run and
24
if you can be on site
25
and monitor the scrap rate then this is really good because
26
if you see
27
that scrap rate is three percent it's very different from a
28
scrap rate of 20% where the component supplier might tell you
29
hey I need to raise the price quite a bit okay
30
the number of pieces most often is somewhere between 20 and 100
31
but this really varies widely it's an iterative process you might
32
not get everything right the first time actually most probably you
33
will not it's like the prototyping process where you make a prototype
34
and then another one another one another one another one until you have a nice prototype
35
that looks alike functions alike and and is okay to pass certifications
36
and so on same idea here okay some sometimes one run is okay
37
if there's no serious outstanding issues okay now here are some
38
best practices same conditions as mass production as I say same method same people same
39
equipment and so on same testing equipment or
40
so same inspectors same methods as you see the problems work on preventive actions okay now
41
and if possible actually before the pilot run already think about it do some operator training and
42
so on okay as much as you can after the run
43
hopefully you have a whiteboard just next to the assembly line or the fabrication equipment with some issues.
44
Where does it come from what to do to avoid it next time who is supposed to do what by
45
when okay very simple very low-tech but very powerful
46
if you really follow up and then well this is more for automotive
47
or some consumer electronics where you have to ramp up very fast or put it under stress hey
48
we're gonna make 50 every 10 minutes okay now let's try
49
again with 80 okay we kept up at 70 now I made some changes let's aim for 100 and
50
so on okay then this really gives you an idea about
51
the capacity of your process otherwise you start mass production
52
but you don't know
53
if you're gonna be able to ship something after 10 days
54
15 days 20 days this might make a very big difference in the end.
55
Now preventive actions, including logistics, assembly, testing, packing, final inspection.
56
You need to plan and prepare for the production process if possible before the pilot run.
57
Operator training is very important.
58
You need to look at the problems and the improvements.
59
And then as I said based on something like this, you need to manage the issues,
60
communicate about it, make sure everybody understand what what what happens and maybe you will find that
61
hey incoming QC should have cut cut it up
62
but they did not
63
and actually 25% of this specific part maybe the casing have
64
problems well what do we do with it let's do we
65
sort it out do we send back to the supplier and and so on okay Benefits, lower risk.
66
Lower risk, that's very, very important.
67
If you go into mass production and then you find out
68
that there's some serious issues
69
that might mean a lot of rework a lot of scrapped material that's very expensive
70
and it also means much later shipment okay so
71
if you want to save time do things step by step eliminate issues before you ramp up
72
and for customers obviously better quality products because
73
if the products are good the first time without any rework
74
well that's that's the best that's the best scenario okay
75
and again this might save you time it might save you time to slow down a little bit
76
and do a pilot run and a key problem
77
that I should mention is
78
that in China a lot of suppliers don't like the idea
79
of pilot run they don't like it at all maybe they don't believe
80
that your volumes will be very high first
81
but also they don't really want to spend a lot of
82
time doing engineering work they just want to release the products on the shop floor
83
and get the manufacturing staff to figure out a way to
84
make it in a lot of Chinese factories that's what we see not very good
85
but that's that's the way they like to manage sometimes they
86
tend to be a bit too optimistic also they don't think
87
that there will be a lot of risks and
88
if they pay the operators by the piece obviously the operators
89
don't want to work on a very small batch hundred pieces okay now
90
if you're the customer it's your money okay make it a very clear imperative from the start
91
and don't give them the choice don't give them the option to say no basically
92
that's it I hope that was helpful don't hesitate to comment ask any questions
93
or subscribe to our YouTube channel thank you
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
📺 Same Channel
C17
What is SMT (Surface Mount Technology)? PCB Assembly (Part 2)
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B2Sofeast PCB Video Series Introduction
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C12
DFM And DFA Explained
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C13
What is SMT (Surface Mount Technology)? PCB Assembly (Part 3)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C14
PCB Inspection Methods & Common PCB Defects
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C15
What is SMT (Surface Mount Technology)? PCB Assembly (Part 1)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2BONUS: Should we do PCB or enclosure design first? (Feat Andrew Amirnovin)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2What are PCBs and PCBAs? The 'PCB basics'
University StudentsWorking Adults
B1Don’t Approve a Product Until You’ve Lived With It
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B1The Product Passed the Safety Test, But Was Still Too Hot to Hold
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B2The Product Worked, But the Packaging Made It Look Dead
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B2Why User Experience Is Harder Than Engineering
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C14 NPI Tips Before You Move Into Mass Production
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C1The Production Validation Test (PVT) Phase of the NPI Process
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C1The Three NPI Phases Explained
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C1When Can The NPI Process Begin?
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C1NPI Process #3: Why A Feasibility Study With Suppliers Saves Time & Prevents Issues
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C1NPI Process 2: New Product Development Process (Why Planning Before Prototyping Saves Time)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C1PCBs | Electronic Goods Reliability Testing
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
✨ Recommend Video
C1101 sentences
What is a Run@Rate? Meaning of a Run@Rate!
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2408
28 sentences
Weekly Team Meeting: Project Status Update
American AccentBusiness EnglishWorking Adults
C11
140 sentences
How to Think Fast Before You Speak: Framework Thinking
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C12
326 sentences
If I Had to Start Over With $1,000 on Prop Firms, I’d Do This
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C1240 sentences
PMBOK 8th Edition Practice Questions 1 - 10 - Pass your PMP and Learn the PMBOK Guide
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C11
4 sentences
Ambr®️ 250 High Throughput Perfusion Product Tutorial - Learn with Sartorius
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C11
25 sentences
One Person. One System. Your Entire Growth Team
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C11
119 sentences
Basic Opt Flw regimes
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C11
443 sentences
Functional-Oriented Documentation in Automation - Eplan & IEC 81346 Explained
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C17
66 sentences
What is PPAP (Production Part Approval Process)? 🔩 | Opexity
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This C1 speaking lesson is built on the video “NPI Process 1: Why A Pilot Run Before Mass Production Is Very Useful”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: pilot, product, production, process, issue. This video has 93 sentences and 1083 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:19. The speaker talks at a steady 148 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 89% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| prototype noun | /ˈpɹəʊtətaɪp/ | An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models. |
| supplier noun | /səˈplaɪə/ | One who supplies; a provider. |
| scrap noun | /ˈskɹæp/ | A (small) piece; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion. |
| fabrication noun | /fæbɹɪˈkeɪʃən/ | The act of fabricating, framing, or constructing; construction; manufacture |
| preventive adjective | /pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/ | Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to. |
| rework noun | /ˈɹiːwɜː(ɹ)k/ | The act of redoing, correcting, or rebuilding. |
| automotive adjective | /ˌɔtəˈmoʊtɪv/ | Having the ability to move by itself; self-propelled or self-propelling. |
| customize verb | /ˈkʌs.tə.maɪ̯z/ | To build or alter according to personal preferences or specifications. |
| iterative adjective | /ˈɪt(ə)ɹətɪv/ | Of a procedure that involves repetition of steps (iteration) to achieve the desired outcome; in computing this may involve a mechanism such as a loop. |
| whiteboard noun | /ˈwaɪtbɔɹd/ | A writing board finished with a hard white material, which can be written upon using special non-permanent markers and subsequently wiped clean. |
| imperative adjective | /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/ | Essential; crucial; extremely important. |
| shipment noun | /ˈʃɪpmənt/ | A load of goods that is transported by any method (not just by ship). |
| hesitate verb | /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/ | To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination. |
| logistics noun | /ləˈd͡ʒɪstɪks/ | The process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services and related information from their point of… |
| optimistic adjective | /ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk/ | Expecting the best in all possible ways. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. |
| follow up verb | To take further actions remaining after an event; to continue, revisit, or persist; especially, to maintain communication or verify. |
| slow down verb | To decelerate. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, gonna, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: fabrication /fæbɹɪˈkeɪʃən/, shipment /ˈʃɪpmənt/, certification /ˌsɜː.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: fabrication /fæbɹɪˈkeɪʃən/, automotive /ˌɔtəˈmoʊtɪv/, iterative /ˈɪt(ə)ɹətɪv/, imperative /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/, optimistic /ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like prototype, supplier, scrap.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.