FAQ

Who can be certified by LinquaCert?

Translation agencies with in-house and/or freelance translators.

How should procedures and processes be described?

ISO 17100 consists of nine procedures that must be described. The content of the procedures can be summarized. The documentation depends on the size of the company and the level of IT support. It is possible for manuals to be in the form of prose, flowcharts and mind maps.

Which procedures and processes must be described according to ISO 17100?

  • Maintaining and updating the required competencies (related to translation, governance, expert reviews, editing).
  • Analysis and processing of inquiries, project feasibility, preparation of offers, conclusion of contracts with customers.
  • Document and share language specifications.
  • Project review in terms of specifications.
  • Accounting and payment process.
  • Archiving and compliance with all legal and contractual obligations.
  • Customer satisfaction and corrective actions.
  • Information security (listing sensitive information, analyzing potential risks, creating an action plan) and secure storage.
  • Qualifications and skills of people for translation projects.

You can reach us by phone on +41 44 552 66 19 or send an email to Mr. Markus Kukla, head of the certification body. We look forward to hearing from you!

Which procedures must be described according to ISO 18587?

  • Determine whether or not the source language content is suitable for MT and subsequent post-processing.
  • Checking the final product for specifications before delivery to the customer.
  • Feedback from post editors on the performance of the MT system.

What is the difference between procedure and process?

A procedure is a description of how individual standing operations are routinely performed. The level of detail includes steps that include employees, documents, and hardware and software.

A process describes WHAT is done and the detail is quite vague. Processes have defined output variables that are measurable.

Do all orders need to be processed according to ISO 17100 for certification?

The certification confirms the company's ability to complete orders in accordance with ISO 17100. When mention of ISO 17100 is included in marketing materials, a customer assumes that services are offered and processed in accordance with ISO 17100. Exceptions are possible and require a clear description in the contract documents (e.g. in the offer or order confirmation).

Does ISO 9001 certification or customer satisfaction make sense in addition to ISO 17100?

ISO 9001 certification may be a requirement for entry into certain industries. ISO 9001 is the globally recognized standard for management systems and is well known by buyers. The standard is based on the principle of continuous improvement and can be combined with ISO 9004 to achieve valuable synergies. On the other hand, the formal requirements of ISO 9001 are not necessary for pure translation services.

Customer satisfaction certification is recommended for translation companies that have already conducted thorough satisfaction surveys. With a rating for friendliness, commitment and reliability, sales activities are particularly well supported by this certification and the translation company can also credibly highlight its unique characteristics in the market.

How compatible are ISO 17100 and ISO 18587?

Both standards are well suited for joint certification. They are structurally similar and contain a detailed description of the qualification requirements for translators, editors and post-editors. ISO 18587 focuses particularly on the professionalism of post editors. In addition, both standards cover preparation, production and post-production in a similar way.