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<Elementary> Lesson No.17

Chemical Plant Scheduled Maintenance Planning / 化学工場の定期メンテナンス計画

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

Discussing optimal maintenance schedules to minimize production downtime during major chemical plant maintenance.
大型化学工場の定期メンテナンスで生産停止期間を最小化する最適なスケジュールについて協議する場面です。

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 our...(...についてご説明させてください)
2.We can offer two options(2つの選択肢を提示できます)
3.We can reduce the period to...(期間を...に短縮できます)
4.We will prepare a backup plan(バックアップ計画を準備いたします)
5.We will keep ... on standby(...を待機させます)
6.This is included in our standard service(これは標準サービスに含まれております)
7.I will send you the complete...(完全な...をお送りいたします)

1-2 Essential words
1.reduce(短縮する)
2.increase(増やす)
3.divide(分ける)
4.prepare(準備する)
5.avoid(避ける)
6.review(検討する)
7.approval(承認)
8.flexibility(柔軟性)
9.response(対応)
10.decision(決定)
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)

Discussing optimal maintenance schedules to minimize production downtime during major chemical plant maintenance.
大型化学工場の定期メンテナンスで生産停止期間を最小化する最適なスケジュールについて協議する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
Thank you for coming today. We need to discuss the maintenance schedule for our chemical plant. We require the production downtime to be as short as possible because we have a tight delivery schedule next quarter.
(本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。化学プラントのメンテナンススケジュールについて話し合う必要があります。来四半期は納期が厳しいため、生産停止期間をできるだけ短くする必要があります。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand your concern. Let me explain our maintenance plan. We estimate 18 days for the complete maintenance work. This includes equipment inspection, parts replacement, and safety testing.
(ご懸念は理解しております。メンテナンス計画についてご説明させてください。完全なメンテナンス作業には18日間を見積もっております。これには設備点検、部品交換、安全性試験が含まれます。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
18 days is too long for us. Our production target for next quarter is very high. Can you reduce the maintenance period? We need a solution that works for our schedule.
(18日間は当社にとって長すぎます。来四半期の生産目標は非常に高いのです。メンテナンス期間を短縮できませんか?当社のスケジュールに合う解決策が必要です。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand. We can offer two options. First, we can reduce the period to 14 days if we increase the number of workers from 8 to 12. Second, we can divide the work into two phases: 10 days now and 8 days in 6 months. However, the second option may increase the total cost by 15 percent.
(承知しました。2つの選択肢を提示できます。第一に、作業員を8名から12名に増やせば期間を14日間に短縮できます。第二に、作業を2段階に分けることができます:今10日間、6か月後に8日間です。ただし、第二の選択肢では総費用が15パーセント増加する可能性があります。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
The first option sounds better. But what happens if an emergency occurs during the maintenance? We had a problem last year when unexpected equipment failure delayed everything by 5 days.
(第一の選択肢の方が良さそうです。しかし、メンテナンス中に緊急事態が発生したらどうなりますか?昨年、予期しない設備故障によりすべてが5日間遅れるという問題がありました。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. We will prepare a backup plan. We will keep 4 additional workers on standby during the maintenance period. If an emergency happens, they can arrive within 24 hours. We will also prepare spare parts in advance to avoid delays. This emergency support is included in our standard service at no extra charge.
(それは重要な点です。バックアップ計画を準備いたします。メンテナンス期間中、4名の追加作業員を待機させます。緊急事態が発生した場合、24時間以内に到着できます。また、遅延を避けるため予備部品も事前に準備いたします。この緊急サポートは追加料金なしで標準サービスに含まれております。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
That sounds reasonable. Can you send me a detailed schedule by the end of this week? I need to review it with our production team and get their approval before we move forward.
(それは妥当に思えます。今週末までに詳細なスケジュールを送っていただけますか?先に進む前に、生産チームと検討して承認を得る必要があります。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Certainly. I will send you the complete maintenance schedule with the 14-day plan, worker allocation, and emergency response procedures by Friday. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions after you review it.
(承知いたしました。14日間計画、作業員配置、緊急対応手順を含む完全なメンテナンススケジュールを金曜日までにお送りいたします。ご検討後、ご質問がございましたらお気軽にご連絡ください。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
Perfect. I appreciate your flexibility and quick response. Let me discuss this with my team, and I will get back to you early next week with our decision.
(完璧です。柔軟な対応と迅速な返答に感謝します。チームと話し合い、来週初めに決定をお伝えいたします。)
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)

Discussing optimal maintenance schedules to minimize production downtime during major chemical plant maintenance.
大型化学工場の定期メンテナンスで生産停止期間を最小化する最適なスケジュールについて協議する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
Thank you for coming today. We need to discuss the maintenance schedule for our chemical plant. We require the production downtime to be as short as possible because we have a tight delivery schedule next quarter.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand your concern. Let me explain our maintenance plan. We estimate 18 days for the complete maintenance work. This includes equipment inspection, parts replacement, and safety testing.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
18 days is too long for us. Our production target for next quarter is very high. Can you reduce the maintenance period? We need a solution that works for our schedule.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand. We can offer two options. First, we can [短縮する] the period to 14 days if we [増やす] the number of workers from 8 to 12. Second, we can [分ける] the work into two phases: 10 days now and 8 days in 6 months. However, the second option may increase the total cost by 15 percent.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
The first option sounds better. But what happens if an emergency occurs during the maintenance? We had a problem last year when unexpected equipment failure delayed everything by 5 days.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. We will [準備する] a backup plan. We will keep 4 additional workers on standby during the maintenance period. If an emergency happens, they can arrive within 24 hours. We will also prepare spare parts in advance to [避ける] delays. This emergency support is included in our standard service at no extra charge.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
That sounds reasonable. Can you send me a detailed schedule by the end of this week? I need to review it with our production team and get their approval before we move forward.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Certainly. I will send you the complete maintenance schedule with the 14-day plan, worker allocation, and emergency [対応] procedures by Friday. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions after you [検討する] it.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
Perfect. I appreciate your flexibility and quick response. Let me discuss this with my team, and I will get back to you early next week with our decision.
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)

Discussing optimal maintenance schedules to minimize production downtime during major chemical plant maintenance.
大型化学工場の定期メンテナンスで生産停止期間を最小化する最適なスケジュールについて協議する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
Thank you for coming today. We need to discuss the maintenance schedule for our chemical plant. We require the production downtime to be as short as possible because we have a tight delivery schedule next quarter.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand your concern. [メンテナンス計画についてご説明させてください。] We estimate 18 days for the complete maintenance work. This includes equipment inspection, parts replacement, and safety testing.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
18 days is too long for us. Our production target for next quarter is very high. Can you reduce the maintenance period? We need a solution that works for our schedule.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand. [2つの選択肢を提示できます。] First, [作業員を8名から12名に増やせば期間を14日間に短縮できます。] Second, we can divide the work into two phases: 10 days now and 8 days in 6 months. However, the second option may increase the total cost by 15 percent.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
The first option sounds better. But what happens if an emergency occurs during the maintenance? We had a problem last year when unexpected equipment failure delayed everything by 5 days.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. [バックアップ計画を準備いたします。] We will keep 4 additional workers on standby during the maintenance period. If an emergency happens, they can arrive within 24 hours. We will also prepare spare parts in advance to avoid delays. This emergency support is included in our standard service at no extra charge.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
That sounds reasonable. Can you send me a detailed schedule by the end of this week? I need to review it with our production team and get their approval before we move forward.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Certainly. I will send you the complete maintenance schedule with the 14-day plan, worker allocation, and emergency response procedures by Friday. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions after you review it.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
Perfect. I appreciate your flexibility and quick response. Let me discuss this with my team, and I will get back to you early next week with our decision.
\ 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 plant manager requests a shorter maintenance period for a large chemical plant.
The sales representative must explain the maintenance plan and offer solutions that reduce production downtime.
大型化学プラントの顧客がメンテナンス期間の短縮を要求している。
営業担当者はメンテナンス計画を説明し、生産停止期間を削減する解決策を提示する必要がある。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Plant Manager】:
We need to finalize the maintenance schedule soon. Can you explain how your plan will reduce our production downtime while maintaining safety standards?
(メンテナンススケジュールを早急に確定する必要があります。安全基準を維持しながら生産停止期間を削減する計画について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 maintenance plan(メンテナンス計画を説明する)
2.Offer solutions to reduce downtime(停止期間を削減する解決策を提示する)
3.Prepare emergency response measures(緊急対応策を準備する)
4.Confirm the schedule and next steps(スケジュールと次のステップを確認する)
​※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)

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