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<Upper-Intermediate> Lesson No.12

Technical Response to Design Change Requests from International Customers / 海外顧客の設計変更要求への技術的対応

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

Analyzing technical feasibility and cost impact of major specification changes requested by overseas customers.
海外顧客からの大幅な仕様変更要求について技術的実現可能性とコスト影響を分析する場面です。

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.We completed our analysis(分析を完了した)
2.Let me elaborate on...(...について詳しく説明させてください)
3.We can reduce the total impact by...(...することで総影響を軽減できる)
4.Based on our assessment...(評価に基づくと...)
5.We can proceed in two phases(2段階で進めることができる)
6.This can be accomplished in...(これは...で達成できる)
7.We can commit to...(...を確約できる)

1-2 Essential words
1.trigger(引き起こす)
2.elaborate(詳しく説明する)
3.utilize(活用する)
4.postpone(延期する)
5.accelerate(加速する)
6.accomplish(達成する)
7.competent(有能な)
8.monitor(監視する)
9.submit(提出する)
10.coordinate(調整する)
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)

Analyzing technical feasibility and cost impact of major specification changes requested by overseas customers.
海外顧客からの大幅な仕様変更要求について技術的実現可能性とコスト影響を分析する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with us today. We need to discuss the major specification changes we submitted last week. Can you share your technical assessment?
(本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。先週提出した大幅な仕様変更について話し合う必要があります。技術的な評価を共有していただけますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Yes, we completed our analysis. The changes you requested are technically feasible, but they will trigger significant modifications to the circuit design and require additional testing phases.
(はい、分析を完了しました。ご要望の変更は技術的に実現可能ですが、回路設計に大幅な修正が必要となり、追加のテスト段階が必要になります。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
I understand. What about the cost impact? We need to know if this will fit within our budget constraints.
(承知しました。コストへの影響はどうでしょうか?予算の制約内に収まるかどうかを知る必要があります。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Let me elaborate on the cost structure. First, the new components will increase material costs by approximately 2800 USD per unit. Second, we need to invest 45000 USD in new testing equipment. Third, the engineering hours will add 18000 USD to the development budget. However, we can reduce the total impact by utilizing some existing components from our current design.
(コスト構造について詳しく説明させてください。第一に、新しい部品により材料費が1台あたり約2800米ドル増加します。第二に、新しいテスト機器に45000米ドルの投資が必要です。第三に、エンジニアリング工数により開発予算に18000米ドルが追加されます。ただし、現在の設計から既存の部品を一部活用することで、総影響を軽減できます。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Those numbers are concerning. What about the timeline? We have a strict launch date that we cannot postpone.
(その数字は懸念されます。スケジュールはどうでしょうか?延期できない厳格な発売日があります。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
I understand your timeline constraints. Based on our assessment, the design modifications will require 11 weeks, and the validation testing will take an additional 6 weeks. This means we need 17 weeks total from your approval. If we accelerate the process by assigning additional engineers, we can reduce this to 14 weeks, but that will increase labor costs by 12000 USD.
(スケジュールの制約は理解しています。評価に基づくと、設計変更に11週間、検証テストにさらに6週間が必要です。つまり、ご承認から合計17週間が必要です。追加のエンジニアを配置してプロセスを加速すれば、14週間に短縮できますが、人件費が12000米ドル増加します。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Let me clarify our requirements. We need the enhanced thermal performance and the smaller form factor you mentioned. Are both modifications mandatory for the timeline you described?
(要件を明確にさせてください。お話しいただいた熱性能の向上と小型化の両方が必要です。説明されたスケジュールには両方の変更が必須ですか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Actually, we can proceed in two phases. Phase one would focus on the thermal enhancement, which is the critical modification. This can be accomplished in 10 weeks and will cost 52000 USD. Phase two would address the form factor reduction, requiring an additional 7 weeks and 31000 USD. This approach allows you to launch with the essential thermal improvement first.
(実際には、2段階で進めることができます。第1段階は熱性能向上に焦点を当て、これが重要な変更です。これは10週間で達成でき、52000米ドルかかります。第2段階は小型化に対応し、さらに7週間と31000米ドルが必要です。このアプローチにより、まず不可欠な熱性能改善で発売することができます。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
That phased approach sounds more manageable. However, I need to consult with our management about the budget increase. Can you guarantee the 10-week timeline for phase one?
(その段階的アプローチはより管理しやすそうです。ただし、予算増加について経営陣と相談する必要があります。第1段階の10週間のスケジュールを保証できますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Yes, we can commit to the 10-week timeline for phase one, provided we receive your specification approval by next Friday. We will assign our most competent engineers to this project and monitor progress weekly. I will submit a detailed project plan with milestones by tomorrow.
(はい、来週金曜日までに仕様承認をいただければ、第1段階の10週間のスケジュールを確約できます。このプロジェクトに最も有能なエンジニアを配置し、毎週進捗を監視します。明日までにマイルストーンを含む詳細なプロジェクト計画を提出します。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Excellent. I appreciate your thorough analysis and the flexible solution. Please send that project plan as soon as possible. We will coordinate internally and provide our decision by next Wednesday.
(素晴らしい。徹底的な分析と柔軟な解決策に感謝します。できるだけ早くそのプロジェクト計画を送ってください。社内で調整し、来週水曜日までに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)

Analyzing technical feasibility and cost impact of major specification changes requested by overseas customers.
海外顧客からの大幅な仕様変更要求について技術的実現可能性とコスト影響を分析する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with us today. We need to discuss the major specification changes we submitted last week. Can you share your technical assessment?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Yes, we completed our analysis. The changes you requested are technically feasible, but they will [引き起こす] significant modifications to the circuit design and require additional testing phases.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
I understand. What about the cost impact? We need to know if this will fit within our budget constraints.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Let me [詳しく説明する] on the cost structure. First, the new components will increase material costs by approximately 2800 USD per unit. Second, we need to invest 45000 USD in new testing equipment. Third, the engineering hours will add 18000 USD to the development budget. However, we can reduce the total impact by [活用する]ing some existing components from our current design.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Those numbers are concerning. What about the timeline? We have a strict launch date that we cannot postpone.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
I understand your timeline constraints. Based on our assessment, the design modifications will require 11 weeks, and the validation testing will take an additional 6 weeks. This means we need 17 weeks total from your approval. If we [加速する] the process by assigning additional engineers, we can reduce this to 14 weeks, but that will increase labor costs by 12000 USD.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Let me clarify our requirements. We need the enhanced thermal performance and the smaller form factor you mentioned. Are both modifications mandatory for the timeline you described?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Actually, we can proceed in two phases. Phase one would focus on the thermal enhancement, which is the critical modification. This can be [達成する]ed in 10 weeks and will cost 52000 USD. Phase two would address the form factor reduction, requiring an additional 7 weeks and 31000 USD. This approach allows you to launch with the essential thermal improvement first.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
That phased approach sounds more manageable. However, I need to consult with our management about the budget increase. Can you guarantee the 10-week timeline for phase one?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Yes, we can commit to the 10-week timeline for phase one, provided we receive your specification approval by next Friday. We will assign our most [有能な] engineers to this project and [監視する] progress weekly. I will [提出する] a detailed project plan with milestones by tomorrow.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Excellent. I appreciate your thorough analysis and the flexible solution. Please send that project plan as soon as possible. We will coordinate internally and provide our decision by next Wednesday.
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)

Analyzing technical feasibility and cost impact of major specification changes requested by overseas customers.
海外顧客からの大幅な仕様変更要求について技術的実現可能性とコスト影響を分析する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with us today. We need to discuss the major specification changes we submitted last week. Can you share your technical assessment?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
[はい、分析を完了しました。] The changes you requested are technically feasible, but they will trigger significant modifications to the circuit design and require additional testing phases.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
I understand. What about the cost impact? We need to know if this will fit within our budget constraints.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
[コスト構造について詳しく説明させてください。] First, the new components will increase material costs by approximately 2800 USD per unit. Second, we need to invest 45000 USD in new testing equipment. Third, the engineering hours will add 18000 USD to the development budget. [ただし、現在の設計から既存の部品を一部活用することで、総影響を軽減できます。]

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Those numbers are concerning. What about the timeline? We have a strict launch date that we cannot postpone.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
I understand your timeline constraints. [評価に基づくと、設計変更に11週間、検証テストにさらに6週間が必要です。] This means we need 17 weeks total from your approval. If we accelerate the process by assigning additional engineers, we can reduce this to 14 weeks, but that will increase labor costs by 12000 USD.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Let me clarify our requirements. We need the enhanced thermal performance and the smaller form factor you mentioned. Are both modifications mandatory for the timeline you described?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Actually, we can proceed in two phases. Phase one would focus on the thermal enhancement, which is the critical modification. This can be accomplished in 10 weeks and will cost 52000 USD. Phase two would address the form factor reduction, requiring an additional 7 weeks and 31000 USD. This approach allows you to launch with the essential thermal improvement first.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
That phased approach sounds more manageable. However, I need to consult with our management about the budget increase. Can you guarantee the 10-week timeline for phase one?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Design Engineer】:
Yes, we can commit to the 10-week timeline for phase one, provided we receive your specification approval by next Friday. We will assign our most competent engineers to this project and monitor progress weekly. I will submit a detailed project plan with milestones by tomorrow.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
Excellent. I appreciate your thorough analysis and the flexible solution. Please send that project plan as soon as possible. We will coordinate internally and provide our decision by next Wednesday.
\ 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 major customer has requested significant specification changes to an electronic product under development.
The design engineer must explain the technical feasibility, cost implications, and timeline adjustments to the customer.
海外の主要顧客が開発中の電子製品に大幅な仕様変更を要求してきた。
設計エンジニアは技術的実現可能性、コストへの影響、スケジュール調整について顧客に説明しなければならない。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Customer Project Manager】:
We need your technical evaluation of our specification change request. Can you explain the feasibility, costs, and timeline impact?
(仕様変更要求に対する技術評価が必要です。実現可能性、コスト、スケジュールへの影響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 feasibility
2. Elaborate on the cost structure
3. Describe the timeline requirements
4. Propose a phased implementation approach
​※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)

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