英語で取引先の監査訪問をどう確定しますか？B2中上級：確定した予定、招待、返信期限

よい訪問確認メールは、何が確定で何が任意か、何を勧めるか、いつまでに返事が必要かがひと目でわかります。決まっている約束は現在進行形で書き（“We’re meeting the facilitator at 08:45”）、任意の部分は“We’d like to invite you to…”で示します。勧めることには理由を添え、日付のある依頼を1つ書いて締めくくります。このテーマはB2（中上級）レベルで、取引先訪問を手配する購買、監査、品質・サステナビリティ担当の方に向いています。1日10分で十分です。

この記事が向いている人

取引先の労働、安全、環境に関する主張を現地で確かめるため、訪問を手配する購買・サプライチェーン担当の方。
訪問日程をやり取りし、何が確定で何が任意かを把握する必要がある監査担当、品質・サステナビリティ責任者。
来訪者を迎え、あいまいにも押しつけがましくもならずに招待し、助言し、代案を示したい管理職の方。
まだ早い場合：予定や丁寧な申し出を英語で伝えることにまだ不安があるなら、B1の顧客サービスとサービス計画から始めましょう。
簡単すぎる場合：約束、招待、助言をすでに無理なく区別できるなら、試行をいつ見直すかを示す決定メモや、試行結果を誇張しないC1の提案書に進みましょう。

サンプルページを開く

単語カード

explain the plan

state the organising idea and intended sequence

The idea is to begin with the worker forum and then inspect the treatment system.

offer an opportunity

describe access the guest will receive

You’ll get the opportunity to question the independent auditor without management present.

invite

offer participation politely

We’d like to invite you to join the community sampling team.

welcome

make clear that an optional action is permitted and encouraged

You’re welcome to request any non-confidential inspection record.

advise or recommend

give formal guidance; use advise someone to do, recommend doing, or recommend that someone do

We advise you to wear closed shoes, and we strongly recommend speaking to agency workers.

offer an alternative

provide another useful option when the first does not fit

Alternatively, we’d be delighted to arrange a video call with the night-shift supervisor.

会話

Maya The idea is to test Northbank’s claims rather than tour only its best production line. We’re beginning with a confidential worker forum at nine.

Owen Will managers be in the room? Their presence could affect what people say.

Maya No. The independent facilitator is leading it, and management will receive themes rather than names. You’ll get the opportunity to ask about pay, promotion and agency contracts.

Owen Good. What are we doing about the canal concern?

Maya We’d like to invite you to observe collection of samples upstream and downstream. We strongly recommend bringing waterproof shoes because the bank is uneven.

Owen I can join the first collection, but I’m presenting to a client at two.

Maya That’s fine. Alternatively, we’d be delighted to send the chain-of-custody record and arrange a call with the laboratory on Thursday.

Owen Please do. I also want to understand the college donation. Generosity is positive, but it isn’t evidence about factory conditions.

Maya Agreed. We’re meeting the principal at four thirty to verify the training results, and our approval decision will remain conditional on the employment and water evidence.

文の形

will — decision now

use will plus infinitive for a decision made at the moment of speaking

The sampling lab is unavailable? I’ll call the university team now.

will — prediction or future fact

use will for a neutral prediction or fact about the future

The new reporting rule will affect every approved supplier next year.

be going to — prior intention

use be going to when the decision or plan already exists

We’re going to interview agency workers before final approval.

be going to — visible evidence

use be going to for a strong prediction based on present evidence

That untreated sample is turning dark; it’s going to fail the clarity test.

present continuous — arrangement

use am, is or are plus -ing for a diary arrangement, especially with a time, place or purpose

We’re meeting the worker representatives at the east gate at nine on Tuesday.

present simple — timetable

use the present simple for a published or fixed schedule

The return train leaves at 18:12, and the visitor centre closes at five.

present simple with be — personal schedule

be is commonly used in the present simple for a person’s scheduled location or availability

Maya is at the laboratory on Wednesday and away on Thursday.

追加の練習

Northbank Components: claim, evidence or open risk?

Maya and Owen examine evidence about a supplier's ethical conduct.

Northbank Components employs 240 people and supplies circuit housings to medical-device manufacturers. Its public code promises fair recruitment, safe work and lower water use. An independent payroll review sampled 60 employee records and found equal base-pay bands for comparable roles. However, it did not examine promotion decisions or agency workers.

The factory legally discharges treated water into a canal. It complies with the current permit, and meter data shows that water use per unit fell 18 percent after a closed-loop cooling system was installed. Residents still report an unusual smell after heavy rain. Northbank has agreed to joint sampling with the local authority next month; no test has yet identified the source.

Last year, a sales agent offered a customs official an undeclared ‘speed fee’. Northbank reported the approach, ended the agent’s contract and introduced approval checks for intermediaries. No improper payment was made. The company also donates equipment and staff time to a technical college, whose principal confirms that 48 adults completed repair training.

The supplier is cheaper than the verified alternative by 4 percent. The purchasing director must decide whether to approve it now, reject it, or make approval conditional on evidence about agency workers, promotions and canal sampling.

Confirm the visit for the independent auditor

Maya and Owen check the visit confirmation and safeguards checklist.

Subject: Northbank evidence visit — Tuesday arrangements

Hello Owen,

We’re meeting the independent facilitator at Northbank’s east gate at 08:45 on Tuesday. The confidential worker forum begins at 09:00, and the site shuttle leaves for the canal at 11:15. The purpose is to test the supplier’s employment and water claims while protecting participants’ identities. Managers will receive themes, not names.

We’d like to invite you to observe the first upstream and downstream samples. We strongly recommend wearing waterproof closed shoes because the canal bank is uneven. As you’re presenting at 14:00, we’ll send you the chain-of-custody record and arrange a laboratory call on Thursday. You’re also welcome to join our 16:30 meeting with the technical-college principal; it is optional and will verify the reported training results.

The return train leaves at 18:12. Could you confirm by noon tomorrow whether you’re joining the sampling visit and college meeting? I’ll issue the final itinerary immediately afterwards.

Regards,

Maya

Accept, decline or delay without ambiguity

accept

make a clear positive commitment

Why not? That sounds useful. Please add me to the afternoon tour.

partly accept

accept one part while setting a limit

I’d be glad to join the briefing, but I’ll need to leave before the site walk.

decline

refuse clearly and politely, normally with a brief genuine reason

Thanks for the invitation, but I’m visiting another supplier that afternoon.

partly decline

reject the proposed option while leaving another option open

The evening reception won’t work for me, although I could join the morning session.

delay the answer

avoid committing until a named uncertainty is resolved

That would be helpful, but can I let you know after I check the train times?

この単元を学ぶ

どの方法で学びますか？

アカウントをお持ちですか？

無料アカウントで1つの単元をずっと開いておけます。

訪問確認で明確にすべきこと

証拠を確かめる訪問は、取引先の一番よい生産ラインを見学する場ではなく、その主張を検証する場です。この会話では、購買責任者が来訪する監査担当に、工場の隣の運河で採取する水質サンプルについて説明しています。

聞いて答えてみましょう。任意なのは何で、何が勧められ、代案は何ですか？（サンプル採取の立ち会い、防水の靴、サンプルの管理記録と木曜日の電話。）

Owen Good. What are we doing about the canal concern?

Maya We’d like to invite you to observe collection of samples upstream and downstream. We strongly recommend bringing waterproof shoes because the bank is uneven.

Owen I can join the first collection, but I’m presenting to a client at two.

Maya That’s fine. Alternatively, we’d be delighted to send the chain-of-custody record and arrange a call with the laboratory on Thursday.

未来の言い方：時の表現ではなく意味で選ぶ

すべてを“will”で書くと、読み手は何が予約済みで何が予測にすぎないのかを区別できません。日本語の「〜する予定です」は、相手と決めた約束であれば英語では現在進行形で表せます。

“We’re meeting the worker representatives at the east gate at nine on Tuesday.”：決まっている約束（現在進行形）
“The return train leaves at 18:12.”：時刻表（現在形）
“We’re going to interview agency workers before final approval.”：前から決めていた計画（going to）
“The sampling lab is unavailable? I’ll call the university team now.”：その場での決定（will）

招待、歓迎、助言：各項目の拘束力を示す

どの表現も、それが予定なのか、任意なのか、助言なのかを読み手に伝えます。文法に注意しましょう。“advise someone to do”、“recommend doing”、“recommend that someone do”は正しく、“recommend to do”は誤りです。「ご自由に〜ください」にあたるのが“You’re welcome to…”で、任意だけれど歓迎していることを伝えます。

招待：“We’d like to invite you to join the community sampling team.”
歓迎（任意）：“You’re welcome to request any non-confidential inspection record.”
助言：“We advise you to wear closed shoes, and we strongly recommend speaking to agency workers.”
代案：“Alternatively, we’d be delighted to arrange a video call with the night-shift supervisor.”

招待にあいまいさのない返事をする

“Maybe, we’ll see”のような返事では、相手は予定を組めません。どこまで参加するかをはっきり伝え、理由か次の行動を添えましょう。

“I’d be glad to join the briefing, but I’ll need to leave before the site walk.”：一部だけ受ける
“That would be helpful, but can I let you know after I check the train times?”：理由を示して返事を保留する

倫理の語彙：主張か、証拠か、残るリスクか

“Comply with regulations”は法律上の最低基準を満たすという意味で、害がないことの証明ではありません。問題そのものには名詞を、行動の評価には形容詞を使います。

話し合ってみましょう。法令を守るだけで十分でしょうか。それとも企業は自社の問題も公表すべきでしょうか。

credibility, credible：“Independent sampling gave the supplier’s water-quality claim greater credibility.”（信頼性、信頼できる）
deception, deceptive：“Calling the entire range recyclable was deceptive because only the packaging could be recycled locally.”（欺くこと、誤解を招く）
bribery, a bribe：“The agent tried to bribe an inspector, who reported the offered bribe as evidence of attempted bribery.” 賄賂を渡そうとしたことと、実際に支払ったことは別です。
generosity, generous：“The donation was generous, but it did not cancel the company’s duty to repair the damage.”（気前のよさ、気前がよい）

自分に合った方法でこの単元を学ぶ

5つの要素で書く確認メール

特定の1人に向けて150〜180語で書き、確定した時間を先に置きます。件名：“Supplier evidence visit: Tuesday arrangements”。

確定した予定：“We’re meeting the facilitator at the east gate at 08:45. The worker forum begins at 09:00.”
目的：“The aim is to test the supplier’s labour and water claims.”
招待と助言：“We’d like to invite you to observe the first sample collection, and we recommend waterproof shoes because the canal bank is uneven.”
代案：“As you’re presenting at 14:00, we’ll send you the chain-of-custody record.”
日付のある依頼：“Could you confirm by noon on Monday whether you’ll join the optional 16:30 meeting?”

よくある間違い

予定をぼやけさせたり、証拠を誇張したりする間違いです。

“We recommend to bring waterproof shoes.” “recommend bringing”に直します。
“Welcome to request any record.” 主語を入れます：“You’re welcome to request…”
“It complies with regulations, so there is no problem.” 法令順守は最低基準であり、証明ではありません。
“A corrupted inspector.” 形容詞は“corrupt”です。
“Let me know.”で終えること。日付のある決定を1つ求めましょう：“by noon on Monday”。

1日10分の練習

仕事での実際の訪問、監査、現場見学を1つ選んで練習しましょう。

3分：その訪問について、約束、時刻表、計画を1文ずつ英語で言います。
4分：特定の1人に向けて、5つの要素でメールを書きます。
3分：会話を1行ずつまねて言い、一部だけ受ける返事をしてみます。

次のステップ

次は、試行をいつ見直すかを示す決定メモです。

よくある質問

英語の訪問確認メールはどう書けばよいですか？

確定した日付、時間、集合場所から始め、目的を書きます。任意の部分は“We’d like to invite you to…”で示し、日付のある依頼を1つ書いて締めくくります。

“recommend to do”と“recommend doing”、どちらが正しいですか？

“recommend doing”か“recommend that someone do”が正しい形です：“We recommend bringing waterproof shoes.” “advise”は人を目的語にとります：“We advise you to wear closed shoes.”

未来の予定に現在進行形を使うのはどんなときですか？

すでに決まっている約束、特に時間や場所がある予定に使います：“We’re meeting the principal at 16:30.”