Shobhana Chandu (asker) Aug 21, 2010:

Thank you Julian san, for your observations and timely response. The process refers to bending of a rubber fuel pipe.

Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.) Aug 19, 2010:

Bending rubber is a no ending job: rubber is elastic and cannot deform unless under large pressure and heat!

Julian Rippon Aug 19, 2010:

Hi
Good to have clarification. With this much information, SRamasubbu should be able to decide which term to use based on the context.
I'm interested that in the original post this was categorised this was "Manufacture of rubber", so I wonder what operation or process is being discussed.

Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.) Aug 19, 2010:

Agree with you. Since there is no context, I only guess. As an engineer having audited many bending operation of many factories in Thailand, this should be a process. Reason: to bend a material, you need a number of steps e.g. material selection, dimensioning, drawing verification, machine calibration, measuring instrument calibration, lubricating, setting press machine parameters, start bending, adjust bending speed, monitor plastic deformation, creep releasing, stress releasing, annealing, anti-rust oiling, washing with acid, painting etc. (details depend on particular workpiece). In this term, I avoid direct translation; I use conceptual translation :)

Julian Rippon Aug 19, 2010:

Hi Soonthon
You suggest "process" rather than "operation" for the term 作業.
In my experience, "process" is generally equivalent to the term 過程, whereas 作業 is generally translated as "operation".

http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/srch/all/process/m0u/

A process can consist of several different operations.
Without more information about the context, I believe "operation" is likely to me more appropriate than "process", although it is quite possible that in this particular case either word could be used.