<Beginner> Lesson No.2
Technical Specification Changes Requested by International Clients / 新製品開発における海外顧客からの技術仕様変更要求
0.Greetings & Ice-break (2min.)|挨拶と導入
0-1 Greetings
Let’s practice a short small talk that you can use to greet a business partner and start building a good relationship.
講師との挨拶を兼ねて、ビジネスパートナーと信頼関係を築くための短いスモールトークを練習してみましょう。
[Tips / 会話のヒント]
・Can you hear me clearly?
私の声はクリアに聞こえますか?
・How's your day going so far?
今日はどんな一日でしたか?
・Talk about one small topic (Work, Weather, News, Hometown, Sports event, etc.)
軽い話題について話しましょう(仕事、天気、ニュース、地元、スポーツイベントなど)
0-2 Introduction
In today’s lesson, we’ll learn about the following situation. Have you ever experienced something similar?
本日のレッスンでは以下のようなシチュエーションについて学びます。同様のシチュエーションを経験したことがありますか?
- If you have experience, please tell us what it was like, what was difficult, or what you learned.
経験があれば、どんな内容だったか、難しかったことや学んだことなどを教えて下さい。
- If you don’t have experience, try to imagine yourself handling that situation in English.
What do you think would be challenging?
経験がなければ、英語でその状況に対応しているところを想像してみましょう。どんなことが難しそうですか?
Situation / シチュエーション
An overseas customer requests major specification changes for a new product, and an engineer analyzes technical feasibility and project impact.
海外顧客からの仕様変更要求に対して技術的実現可能性を検討する場面です。
1. Read (2 min)|型を学ぶ
Let's read the following key sentences aloud!
下記の文章や単語を順番に音読しましょう!
1-1 Basic phrases
1.Let me explain the technical impact...(技術的な影響について説明させてください...)
2.This will increase development time by...(これにより開発期間が...延びます)
3.I can offer a solution to...(...する解決策を提案できます)
4.If we work with an external design partner...(外部設計パートナーと協力すれば...)
5.For the cost breakdown...(コスト内訳については...)
6.If you confirm a volume commitment of...(...の数量確約をいただければ...)
7.We will design the wireless charging to follow...(...に従ってワイヤレス充電を設計します)
1-2 Essential words
1.explain(説明する)
2.increase(上昇する)
3.reduce(削減する)
4.provide(提供する)
5.detailed(詳細な)
6.offer(提案する)
7.confirm(確認する)
8.design(設計する)
9.follow(従う)
10.review(検討する)
2. Try (3 min)|ロールプレイ練習
Let’s practice the role-play.
ロールプレイの練習をしましょう!
Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)
An overseas customer requests major specification changes for a new product, and an engineer analyzes technical feasibility and project impact.
海外顧客からの仕様変更要求に対して技術的実現可能性を検討する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting today. We need to discuss the specification changes we sent last week. Our market research shows that customers now require wireless charging and a smaller form factor. Can you explain how these changes will affect your development timeline and cost structure?
(本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。先週お送りした仕様変更について話し合う必要があります。市場調査により、顧客がワイヤレス充電とより小型の形状を求めていることが分かりました。これらの変更が開発スケジュールとコスト構造にどう影響するか説明していただけますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
I understand your requirements. Let me explain the technical impact. Adding wireless charging requires a new coil design and additional circuit protection. The smaller form factor means we need to redesign the internal layout completely. This will increase development time by 8 weeks and raise component costs by approximately 15 percent. We also need to run new safety tests for the wireless charging function.
(ご要望は理解しました。技術的な影響について説明させてください。ワイヤレス充電の追加には新しいコイル設計と追加の回路保護が必要です。小型化は内部レイアウトの完全な再設計を意味します。これにより開発期間が8週間延び、部品コストが約15パーセント上昇します。ワイヤレス充電機能の新しい安全試験も実施する必要があります。)
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
8 weeks is longer than we expected. Our launch date is fixed for the holiday season. Can you reduce the delay? Also, please provide a detailed breakdown of the 15 percent cost increase. We need to understand where the additional costs come from.
(8週間は予想より長いです。発売日は年末商戦に向けて確定しています。遅延を短縮できますか?また、15パーセントのコスト増加の詳細な内訳を提供してください。追加コストがどこから発生するのか理解する必要があります。)
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
I can offer a solution to reduce the timeline. If we work with an external design partner for the wireless charging module, we can cut the delay to 5 weeks. For the cost breakdown, the wireless charging coil adds 8 USD per unit, the smaller battery required for the compact design adds 4 USD, and additional testing adds 3 USD. However, if you confirm a volume commitment of 50 thousand units, we can reduce the total cost increase to 12 percent through better component pricing.
(スケジュールを短縮する解決策を提案できます。ワイヤレス充電モジュールを外部設計パートナーと協力すれば、遅延を5週間に削減できます。コスト内訳については、ワイヤレス充電コイルが1台あたり8米ドル、小型設計に必要な小型バッテリーが4米ドル、追加試験が3米ドルです。ただし、5万台の数量確約をいただければ、より良い部品価格により総コスト増加を12パーセントに削減できます。)
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
5 weeks is more acceptable. The volume commitment is possible if the quality meets our standards. One more concern — will the wireless charging work with all standard charging pads in the market? Our customers use different brands.
(5週間ならより受け入れやすいです。品質が基準を満たせば数量確約は可能です。もう1つ懸念があります。ワイヤレス充電は市場のすべての標準充電パッドで動作しますか?顧客は異なるブランドを使用しています。)
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
Yes, we will design the wireless charging to follow the Qi standard, which works with all major charging pad brands. We will test compatibility with the top 10 charging pads in the market before mass production. This ensures your customers can use any standard pad. The compatibility testing is already included in the 3 USD testing cost I mentioned earlier.
(はい、主要な充電パッドブランドすべてで動作するQi規格に従ってワイヤレス充電を設計します。量産前に市場の上位10種の充電パッドとの互換性を試験します。これにより顧客は標準パッドを使用できます。互換性試験は先ほど述べた3米ドルの試験コストに既に含まれています。)
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
That sounds reasonable. Please send us a revised project plan with the 5-week timeline and the detailed cost breakdown by the end of this week. We will review it with our management and get back to you with the volume commitment decision early next week.
(それは妥当に思えます。5週間のスケジュールと詳細なコスト内訳を含む改訂プロジェクト計画を今週末までに送ってください。経営陣と検討し、来週初めに数量確約の決定をお知らせします。)
3. Use (4 min)|ロールプレイ & 実践(空欄補完)
Let's perform the role-play and fill in the blanks by translating the Japanese into English!
空欄の日本語を英語に訳しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)
An overseas customer requests major specification changes for a new product, and an engineer analyzes technical feasibility and project impact.
海外顧客からの仕様変更要求に対して技術的実現可能性を検討する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting today. We need to discuss the specification changes we sent last week. Our market research shows that customers now require wireless charging and a smaller form factor. Can you explain how these changes will affect your development timeline and cost structure?
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
I understand your requirements. Let me [説明する] the technical impact. Adding wireless charging requires a new coil [設計] and additional circuit protection. The smaller form factor means we need to redesign the internal layout completely. This will [上昇する] development time by 8 weeks and raise component costs by approximately 15 percent. We also need to run new safety tests for the wireless charging function.
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
8 weeks is longer than we expected. Our launch date is fixed for the holiday season. Can you reduce the delay? Also, please provide a detailed breakdown of the 15 percent cost increase. We need to understand where the additional costs come from.
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
I can [提案する] a solution to [削減する] the timeline. If we work with an external [設計] partner for the wireless charging module, we can cut the delay to 5 weeks. For the cost breakdown, the wireless charging coil adds 8 USD per unit, the smaller battery required for the compact [設計] adds 4 USD, and additional testing adds 3 USD. However, if you [確認する] a volume commitment of 50 thousand units, we can [削減する] the total cost increase to 12 percent through better component pricing.
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
5 weeks is more acceptable. The volume commitment is possible if the quality meets our standards. One more concern — will the wireless charging work with all standard charging pads in the market? Our customers use different brands.
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
Yes, we will [設計する] the wireless charging to [従う] the Qi standard, which works with all major charging pad brands. We will test compatibility with the top 10 charging pads in the market before mass production. This ensures your customers can use any standard pad. The compatibility testing is already included in the 3 USD testing cost I mentioned earlier.
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
That sounds reasonable. Please send us a revised project plan with the 5-week timeline and the detailed cost breakdown by the end of this week. We will review it with our management and get back to you with the volume commitment decision early next week.
4. Challenge (7 min)|応用実践
Let's perform the role-play and fill in the blanks by translating the Japanese into English!
空欄の日本語を英語に訳しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
*Let's practice this part repeatedly until we can speak it smoothly.
このパートはスムーズにスピーキングできるようになるまで繰り返し練習しましょう。
Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)
An overseas customer requests major specification changes for a new product, and an engineer analyzes technical feasibility and project impact.
海外顧客からの仕様変更要求に対して技術的実現可能性を検討する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting today. We need to discuss the specification changes we sent last week. Our market research shows that customers now require wireless charging and a smaller form factor. Can you explain how these changes will affect your development timeline and cost structure?
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
I understand your requirements. [技術的な影響について説明させてください。] Adding wireless charging requires a new coil design and additional circuit protection. The smaller form factor means we need to redesign the internal layout completely. [これにより開発期間が8週間延び、部品コストが約15パーセント上昇します。] We also need to run new safety tests for the wireless charging function.
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
8 weeks is longer than we expected. Our launch date is fixed for the holiday season. Can you reduce the delay? Also, please provide a detailed breakdown of the 15 percent cost increase. We need to understand where the additional costs come from.
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
[スケジュールを短縮する解決策を提案できます。] [外部設計パートナーと協力すれば、遅延を5週間に削減できます。] For the cost breakdown, the wireless charging coil adds 8 USD per unit, the smaller battery required for the compact design adds 4 USD, and additional testing adds 3 USD. However, if you confirm a volume commitment of 50 thousand units, we can reduce the total cost increase to 12 percent through better component pricing.
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
5 weeks is more acceptable. The volume commitment is possible if the quality meets our standards. One more concern — will the wireless charging work with all standard charging pads in the market? Our customers use different brands.
🧑🎓【Student / Product Development Engineer】:
Yes, we will design the wireless charging to follow the Qi standard, which works with all major charging pad brands. We will test compatibility with the top 10 charging pads in the market before mass production. This ensures your customers can use any standard pad. The compatibility testing is already included in the 3 USD testing cost I mentioned earlier.
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
That sounds reasonable. Please send us a revised project plan with the 5-week timeline and the detailed cost breakdown by the end of this week. We will review it with our management and get back to you with the volume commitment decision early next week.
\ If you have some extra capacity, give it a try(余力があればやってみましょう)/
5. Real-world application (5 min)|実務応用
Let's speak freely with the phrases and flow we learned today. If you can, imagine your real job—it makes practice more effective.
本日学習した単語やフレーズ、会話の流れを思い出しながら、自由に話してみましょう。可能であれば、自身の実務を想像しながら話すと効果的です。
Situation / シチュエーション
A customer requests major specification changes during new product development.
The engineer must explain technical feasibility, timeline impact, and cost increases.
新製品開発中に顧客が大幅な仕様変更を要求している。
エンジニアは技術的実現可能性、スケジュールへの影響、コスト増加を説明する必要がある。
👨💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
We need these specification changes for our market. Can you explain the technical impact and timeline?
(市場向けにこれらの仕様変更が必要です。技術的影響とスケジュールを説明していただけますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Your Role】:
(Free Speaking based on today's lesson)
Hints / ヒント
1.Explain the technical requirements(技術要件を説明する)
2.Describe the timeline impact(スケジュールへの影響を述べる)
3.Provide the cost breakdown(コスト内訳を提供する)
4.Offer solutions to reduce delays(遅延を削減する解決策を提示する)
※This is not a role-play. Please speak until you finish your thoughts.
このパートはロールプレイ形式ではありません。最後まで通して話してみましょう。
6. Wrap-up (2 min) |レッスンの振り返り
Let's review today's lesson with your teacher!
今日のレッスンについて講師と振り返ってみましょう!
6-1 Comments from student
・Good points / 良かったところ・上手くできたところ
・Things to work on / 今後強化したいところ
6-2 Feedback from teacher
・Good points / 良かった点
・Things to work on / 今後の強化ポイント
・What to review / 復習ポイント
*6-3 Questions from student (if any)
Japanese translation(日本語訳)
1. Read (2min)(型を学ぶ)|基本フレーズ
2. Try (4min)(ロールプレイ練習)|型を使った練習
Let’s practice the role-play.
ロールプレイの練習をしましょう!
3. Use (7min)|応用
Let’s perform the role-play and filling in the missing English!
英語を補完しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
4. Challenge (7min)|実践
Let’s perform the role-play and filling in the missing English!
英語を補完しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
5. Wrap-up (3min) – レッスンの振り返り
"Let’s review today’s lesson with your teacher!”
「今日のレッスンについて講師と振り返ってみましょう!」
5-1. Comments from Student
- Good points / 良かったところ・上手くできたところ
- Things to work on / 今後強化したいところ
5-2. Feedback from Teacher
- Good points / 良かった点
- Things to work on / 今後の強化ポイント
- What to review / 復習ポイント
5-3. Question from Students (If any)
