Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
ramp up
English answer:
start up, launch; build up
Added to glossary by
Nick Lingris
Jun 4, 2005 01:51
19 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term
Canada
Conference interpreter, MBA, ATIO, ATA
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese, Russian to Chinese, and 8 more.
ramped up
English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
He joined Guinchard back in 1978 and ramped up Guinchard's first CNC unit 15 years ago.
Does 'ramped up' mean upgraded/improved?
Does 'ramped up' mean upgraded/improved?
Responses
| 4 +6 | started up |
Nick Lingris
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| 3 +5 | built up |
RHELLER
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| 4 +3 | Launched, started up |
conejo
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| 5 | Increased |
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
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| 4 | gradually brought into service |
Tony M
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| 4 -1 | a possible incorrect usage |
Balasubramaniam L.
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Responses
+6
4 mins
Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Works in field
United Kingdom
The word is my oyster
Native in: Greek 
Works in: English to Greek, Greek to English, Greek
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
started up
began work on it
Source: Encarta World Dictionary
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Note added at 27 mins (2005-06-04 02:19:30 GMT)
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Encarta\'s entry is:
[business] start up a project: to begin work on a project, especially a large commercial one ( informal )
If this is correct, it means that 15 years ago he started/launched the first computer-controlled machining unit for Guinchard.
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Note added at 28 mins (2005-06-04 02:20:23 GMT)
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http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/Dictionary...
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Note added at 41 mins (2005-06-04 02:33:05 GMT)
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And here are some examples from the web to reflect this meaning:
-1953 The company moved to the airport in Altenstadt and ramped up a new production plant. This was the initial basis for the Agfa industrial area in Altenstadt.
-He relocated and ramped up a new international engineering organization from Boston, MA to Providence, RI without impact to the product schedule.
-The CCRA has ramped up a new system, which limits appeals (in some cases, a worthwhile development), but the new process prevents hiring managers from knowing who is in the pool of eligable employees.
Source: Encarta World Dictionary
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2005-06-04 02:19:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Encarta\'s entry is:
[business] start up a project: to begin work on a project, especially a large commercial one ( informal )
If this is correct, it means that 15 years ago he started/launched the first computer-controlled machining unit for Guinchard.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2005-06-04 02:20:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/Dictionary...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2005-06-04 02:33:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
And here are some examples from the web to reflect this meaning:
-1953 The company moved to the airport in Altenstadt and ramped up a new production plant. This was the initial basis for the Agfa industrial area in Altenstadt.
-He relocated and ramped up a new international engineering organization from Boston, MA to Providence, RI without impact to the product schedule.
-The CCRA has ramped up a new system, which limits appeals (in some cases, a worthwhile development), but the new process prevents hiring managers from knowing who is in the pool of eligable employees.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Refugio
38 mins
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Hooray!
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| agree |
Alp Berker
54 mins
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Thank you, Alp.
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| agree |
Tony M
: Yes, of course, Nick!Srry, I should have read your answer more fully before I posted my own suggestion
5 hrs
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Thanks, Dusty. Your comments and addenda are always welcome.
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| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
5 hrs
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Thanks, Vicky.
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| agree |
juvera
8 hrs
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Thanks, j.
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
1 day 5 hrs
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Thanks, Marju.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all very much for your contribution. The client's answer is 'accelerating the creation process' of the CNC unit. As most of your answers are pretty close, I think I'd better follow the majority rule. "
+5
4 mins
built up
Verb 1. ramp up - bolster or strengthen; "We worked up courage"; "build up confidence"; "ramp up security in the airports"
work up, build up, build
increase - make bigger or more; "The boss finally increased her salary"; "The university increased the number of students it admitted"
work up, build, build up, progress - form or accumulate steadily; "Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly"; "Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border"
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
swisstell
1 min
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thanks Erich :-)
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| agree |
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
: snap Rita. I didn't read your answer
6 mins
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Hi Anna Maria!
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| agree |
rangepost
12 mins
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thanks rangepost :-)
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| agree |
pearl1
13 mins
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merci Pearl!
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| agree |
Lingo Pros
: http://www.elook.org/dictionary/ramp-up.html
18 mins
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thanks Lingo Pros, I appreciate that
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| neutral |
Refugio
: built up, like upgraded, seems improbable for a first unit//I didn't say it had anything to do with upgrade, only that it is an equally improbable meaning in this case
41 mins
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you have the right to your opinion Ruth - build up is like building something from the ground up - has nothing to do with upgrade; so you disagree with the ref above?
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+3
25 mins
Launched, started up
A company I used to work frequently used this terminology in terms of starting up or launching mass-production of a product.
I am not sure what a "CNC unit" is, but usually a "ramp up" refers to a gradual increase in production units.
For example:
For the mass-production of Product X, we will ramp up to 1500 per day over a period of two months. (Starting at 0, they will gradually work up to 1500 units per day over 2 months)
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Note added at 27 mins (2005-06-04 02:18:45 GMT)
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By \"work up to\", I mean \"work up to producing\". These quantities would be production units.
I am not sure what a "CNC unit" is, but usually a "ramp up" refers to a gradual increase in production units.
For example:
For the mass-production of Product X, we will ramp up to 1500 per day over a period of two months. (Starting at 0, they will gradually work up to 1500 units per day over 2 months)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2005-06-04 02:18:45 GMT)
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By \"work up to\", I mean \"work up to producing\". These quantities would be production units.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
bigedsenior
: CNC=computer numeric control for precision production machinery. Schoot-Guichard produces precision optical equipment.
1 hr
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thanks
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| agree |
Tony M
: CNC unit is part of the production facility, and not a product
4 hrs
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thanks
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| agree |
juvera
8 hrs
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thanks
|
9 mins
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Increased
Increase, as with activity or production.
www.thefreedictionary.com/ramp up
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Note added at 29 mins (2005-06-04 02:21:34 GMT)
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He increased the production of Guinchard\'s (the company) first CNC technology unit, 15 yea
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Note added at 31 mins (2005-06-04 02:23:12 GMT)
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15 years ago. CNC technology is shown here and cannot be explained in clearer English. Please check this link:
http://www.glencoe.com/ps/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?function=displ...
www.thefreedictionary.com/ramp up
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2005-06-04 02:21:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
He increased the production of Guinchard\'s (the company) first CNC technology unit, 15 yea
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 31 mins (2005-06-04 02:23:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
15 years ago. CNC technology is shown here and cannot be explained in clearer English. Please check this link:
http://www.glencoe.com/ps/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?function=displ...
-1
34 mins
Balasubramaniam L.
India
India
Works in field
India
Fast, accurate, elegant translation
Native in: Hindi
Works in: English to Hindi, Hindi
a possible incorrect usage
The word could have been incorrectly used here, but here are two possibilities. More context will clarify this.
"Ramp" has two meanings according to my dictionary (Concise Oxford):
1. To take things to a higher scale of action
2. ramp noun. (British slang) a swindle or a racket.
Since the text says that this was Guinchard's first CNC unit, the first meaning applies with some difficulty. You cannot ramp up something that does not exist before hand. Something like "built it from scratch" would be more appropriate in such a case.
Unless of course the first CNC unit existed, but it was all but inactive and this was ramped up. If the context allows this interpretation, then the meaning you have given upgraded/improved is correct.
Another interesting possiblity is if the context will allow the application of the second meaning of ramp, viz., a racket.
Was the person being referred to kind of a flamboyant, dare-devilish manager who will easily resort to underhand methods to achieve his ends, that is, bend rules and adopt shady techniques to further his interests?
In which case "ramped up" could mean he "cooked up" or "cobbled together" the first CNC unit against heavy odds, and by throwing rules and regualtions and even ethical issues to the wind.
"Ramp" has two meanings according to my dictionary (Concise Oxford):
1. To take things to a higher scale of action
2. ramp noun. (British slang) a swindle or a racket.
Since the text says that this was Guinchard's first CNC unit, the first meaning applies with some difficulty. You cannot ramp up something that does not exist before hand. Something like "built it from scratch" would be more appropriate in such a case.
Unless of course the first CNC unit existed, but it was all but inactive and this was ramped up. If the context allows this interpretation, then the meaning you have given upgraded/improved is correct.
Another interesting possiblity is if the context will allow the application of the second meaning of ramp, viz., a racket.
Was the person being referred to kind of a flamboyant, dare-devilish manager who will easily resort to underhand methods to achieve his ends, that is, bend rules and adopt shady techniques to further his interests?
In which case "ramped up" could mean he "cooked up" or "cobbled together" the first CNC unit against heavy odds, and by throwing rules and regualtions and even ethical issues to the wind.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: There is nothing incorrect about this usage, and in fact your definition 1) really applies; please see my own answer for fuller explanation
4 hrs
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Thanks.
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5 hrs
gradually brought into service
Ifreely acknowledge that my suggestion is materially similar to Cnejo's answer, to which all credit should be given
In your specific sentence, I would understand it to mean that this person started the 'CNC unit' (I'm assuming this is a production unit using CNC machine tools)and brought it gradually into service.
The idea of 'ramp' is to start slowly and gently, usually from nothing, and build up to some target level (of activity, operation, etc.)
This is very common usage in business jargon
In your specific sentence, I would understand it to mean that this person started the 'CNC unit' (I'm assuming this is a production unit using CNC machine tools)and brought it gradually into service.
The idea of 'ramp' is to start slowly and gently, usually from nothing, and build up to some target level (of activity, operation, etc.)
This is very common usage in business jargon
Discussion
ramp-up does not mean to operate
Does it mean designed, constructed, operated or upgraded?