Terralíngua holds ISO 9001, ISO 17100, and ISO 18587 certifications. They address different aspects of quality management, human translation, and the full human post-editing of machine translation. Understanding their scope helps you specify the service and review process your project needs.
What Certification Means
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops standards. Independent certification bodies assess conformity and issue certificates; ISO does not certify companies itself. A certificate applies to a defined scope. It provides evidence of conformity to specified requirements, rather than a guarantee that every individual deliverable will be free of errors.
Three Standards with Different Purposes
ISO 9001: Quality Management
ISO 9001 sets requirements for a quality management system. It addresses how an organization manages its processes, evaluates performance, and improves its work. At Terralíngua, the practices described below support this approach:
- Project records: Maintain records that help trace project instructions, decisions, and work performed.
- Performance monitoring: Use performance information to identify issues and opportunities for improvement.
- Defined processes: Document responsibilities and procedures so that work can be managed consistently.
- Quality audits: Use audits to assess the management system and identify matters requiring attention.
- Continual improvement: Address problems and use findings to improve processes over time.
ISO 17100: Human Translation Services
ISO 17100 addresses the resources and processes used to deliver translation services that meet applicable specifications. It includes translator competence, project management, and revision by a person other than the translator. Machine translation followed by post-editing falls outside its scope.
- Professional competence: Use translators and revisers with the competence required for their roles.
- Project preparation: Establish the project specifications and manage the work against those requirements.
- Translation and revision: Include the translator’s check and revision by another qualified linguist under the applicable workflow.
- Final verification: Complete the agreed verification and delivery steps for the translation service.
ISO 18587: Full Human Post-Editing
ISO 18587 addresses full human post-editing of machine translation output and the competence of post-editors. The starting point is machine-generated text that a person checks and corrects against the source. Limited or light editing should not be presented as the full post-editing service covered by this standard.
- Source-based review: Check and correct the machine output against the source rather than judging fluency alone.
- Service scope: Define the full post-editing service and the specifications the finished text must meet.
- Post-editor competence: Assign people with the competence needed to carry out the post-editing work.
- Corrections: Address errors in meaning and language as part of the agreed full post-editing process.
Terralíngua’s Certification History
Terralíngua obtained ISO 9001 certification in 2010 and ISO 17100 certification in 2017. These certifications support our quality management and human translation services within their respective scopes.
We obtained ISO 18587 certification in 2020. It supports our full human post-editing service where machine translation is appropriate for the assignment. The choice between human translation and a machine-assisted workflow depends on the material, target languages, intended use, and agreed requirements.
Specify the Right Workflow for Your Project
A certification is most useful when it is connected to a clear project brief. Before work begins, establish:
- Translation method: Confirm whether the assignment uses human translation with revision or machine translation with full human post-editing.
- Project specifications: Provide terminology, reference materials, style preferences, and the intended audience and use.
- Review responsibilities: Identify the language review included and who will approve technical or company-specific content.
- Related requirements: State any formatting, accessibility, multimedia, or regulatory requirements separately so that the relevant work can be assessed.
- Certification evidence: If certification is part of your supplier approval process, request the current certificates and check their scope and validity against your requirements.
Certification does not automatically establish compliance with every regulation that may apply to your content. It also does not promise a particular price or turnaround time. Client technical and regulatory approvals remain separate from the provider’s translation and quality management processes.
Tell us about your source material, target languages, intended use, and required review. We can discuss the appropriate workflow and provide certification information for your supplier assessment.