We’ve been in business for over 30 years, and in that time we’ve built a reputation for providing consistent, quality work even on short notice. You might be wondering how we do it. How do we deliver error-free translations with fast turnaround times? There are three secrets to our success: Processes, people, and technology. Here’s how we use each of these elements to ensure consistency in translation.
Translation Processes
No matter what business you’re in, you need a robust set of processes to rely on. At K International, we’ve developed a workflow that ensures quality and catches errors early, so we can correct them before we return the project to the client.
We hold ISO 9001:2015 accreditation for quality. All of the processes that make up our workflow meet this standard. Our internal Process Manager audits all of our operations regularly, and external auditors visit quarterly. We document any noncompliance found in these audits and deal with it appropriately so that it never becomes a pattern or impacts our clients.
How our quality assurance process sets our team up for success
Our Quality Assurance process begins with the source copy before we start translating. We systematically review the source copy for accuracy, and to identify any ambiguities, cultural issues or terms that may be difficult to translate. We then bring these back to the client and develop a plan to move forward.
After the initial review, we create language packs for all our linguists, including a glossary, a style guide, and any special instructions. After the linguists finish their translation, the result is checked first by the Project Manager and then proofread by another linguist. The proofreader and the original linguist will work together to address any issues found until both are satisfied. Then, it’s off to the Project Manager for another QA check.
The translation team continues to perform quality checks during the typesetting and design process, catching and correcting any typos or errors that might creep in. Once everyone involved has signed off on the translated document, it goes back to the Project Manager for a final QA check before we deliver it to the client.
Every aspect of this workflow has been carefully designed to set our linguists up for success and to ensure that we catch mistakes quickly.
People Behind Translation
Processes are important, but people are even more so. So, we’re careful to recruit only the most qualified linguists to work on our clients’ projects. Our baseline requirements for translators include the following qualifications:
- Must have been awarded a degree in translation, NVQ level 6 or a recognised postgraduate qualification in translation.
- No less than three years of proven experience as a professional translator.
- Translators may only translate into their mother tongue.
- All translators must be able to pass our training and competency testing.
Of course, there are often additional requirements for specific projects. For example, all of our Welsh translators are members of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru; the association of Welsh translators and
interpreters. Also, some projects may require industry experience to ensure the translator is familiar with all of the relevant terminology. If the work requires translators to hold specific security clearances, we’ll verify those as well.
Translation Technology
We use two critical pieces of technology to support our quality control processes and to make our teams even more effective at what they do:
MemoQ
MemoQ is a unique computer-assisted translation software suite. We use it to implement translation memories, glossaries, and terminology lists for all of your projects. These features not only help control costs, but they also preserve your company voice and ensure that all of your projects maintain a consistent style and tone.
MemoQ’s automated QA tools check spelling, punctuation, terminology and more. This does not replace thorough quality checks by our professional linguists and project managers, of course. However, it does help them do their jobs more efficiently, and it provides one more fail-safe to catch errors. By requiring each person involved in the QA process to sign off, MemoQ also helps ensure that no steps are missed.
Tracklingua
Tracklingua, our bespoke translation management system, makes it easy for you to order projects and track them throughout the translation process. But that’s not all it does. It also makes it easier to communicate with our translation team. By cutting out messy email chains, Tracklingua makes it easy to share information that will improve the final product.
Are you looking for a reliable language services provider that delivers the quality you can count on? Take a look at our language translation services and contact us for your next project.