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3 How does he respond to her concerns?

Pedro: So, basically, our objective is to get key suppliers more actively involved in the design
process. So rather than us going to a supplier and saying, we want a specific type of bolt or
screw or rivet for connecting these components, can you give us a price? We want to be able to
say, we need a way of joining this part to this part, what’s the best way of fixing them to each
other?
Alicia: OK.
Pedro: So it might be that you say, well, actually, instead of bolting this onto the machine, what
about using a weld? Or instead of riveting these, how about bonding them with adhesive, or
fixing them on with some kind of clip, or whatever, whatever’s the most cost-effective solution.
Alicia: Right. But, obviously, we’re a supplier of mechanical fixings, so we can only provide a
mechanical solution. So if you ask us to design some joints, which is obviously quite an involved
job, and then, after all that, a rival firm comes along and says, well we suggest welding it all
together, or gluing it together for half the price, urn, it would mean a lot of work for no return.
I'm not saying it’s a bad idea. It’s just that we would have to be careful we covered our costs.
Pedro: I appreciate that. But the flip side is, we want to work with fewer suppliers than we have
in the past. So, overall, that problem would be offset by the greater volume of work you'd get.
Alicia: Hmm.

b Complete the following table using the words in the box.
adhesive bolt dip rivet screw weld

Mechanical fixings Non-mechanical fixings
bolt .
. .
.
.
c Label the photos (1-6) with the words in Exercise 10b.

1 2 3 .
4 5 6 .

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