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Kammlinie erreichen

English translation: attain regular production level

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kammlinie erreichen
English translation:attain regular production level
Entered by: Ken Cox

07:37 Aug 29, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Mathematics & Statistics / Production statistics in the motor industry
Region (source):
Region (target): English (United Kingdom)
German term or phrase: Kammlinie erreichen
I realise there was a discussion of this term 4 years ago at http://www.proz.com/kudoz/57142, but I'm not convinced by the results.
My sentence (from an annual financial statement and annual report in the automotive supply industry) is:
Das Geschäftsjahr 2002 der XYZ GmbH war im Wesentlichen durch das Erreichen der Kammlinie für Bremskraftverstärker gekennzeichnet.

In the discussion 4 years ago it was suggested that this term refers to a limit or ceiling and the company was not willing to increase capacity to produce more. But looking at the web references I can find for "Kammlinie" combined with either "Produktion" or "Serie", I think it means getting mass production up to full speed. For example:
"Die Beherrschung und zeitliche Verkürzung von Produktionsanläufen stellt die Automobilindustrie vor große technische Herausforderungen. Die Anlaufphase beginnt zumeist mit der Vorserie. Daran schließt sich die Nullserie und der eigentliche Hochlauf mit dem Ziel an, die Kammlinie schnellstmöglich zu erreichen. Ergebnis dieser Phase ist die Erlangung der Serienreife."
http://www.hanser.de/zeitschriften/index.asp?task=011&xid=&f...
This fits in with the work of someone I know in the motor industry - he has to make sure that the machines work as they should; in the early phases there is lots of downtime as they hit machine glitches, but as they sort these out, the output per day gradually increases, until it reaches the planned level (he hopes, otherwise the management will haul him in for a roasting).

As someone suggested 4 years ago, the term is borrowed from the shape of a graph, the Kammlinie is the point where the graph ceases to climb and flattens out at full capacity. (I found a wonderful website with a graph of this half an hour ago, but I can't find it again now.)

Can anyone suggest a well-phrased way to put this?
Victor Dewsbery
Germany
Local time: 19:47
regular (full) production level
Explanation:
I fully agree with your reasoning. The Kammlinie is a sort of 'level ridgeline' with minor peaks and dips, but with the overall trend essentially flat.

I'd say 'regular production level' or 'normal capacity utilisation level'.

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Note added at 16 mins (2005-08-29 07:54:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That should be 'achieve the xxx', of course.
Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 19:47
Grading comment
This comes closest to the meaning in the context.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1regular (full) production level
Ken Cox
3peak (level / output) was reached
John Jory


  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
regular (full) production level


Explanation:
I fully agree with your reasoning. The Kammlinie is a sort of 'level ridgeline' with minor peaks and dips, but with the overall trend essentially flat.

I'd say 'regular production level' or 'normal capacity utilisation level'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2005-08-29 07:54:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

That should be 'achieve the xxx', of course.

Ken Cox
Local time: 19:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
This comes closest to the meaning in the context.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter
30 mins
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
peak (level / output) was reached


Explanation:
Just another option that comes to mind and that was not suggested in www.proz.com/kudoz/57142

John Jory
Germany
Local time: 19:47
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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