In order to visualise the company’s long tradition of quality management in daily operations ad hoc in the autumn of 2006 completed its certification procedure and audit for the then brand-new ÖNORM EN 15038.

The translation industry has no specific admission regulations for providers which makes it difficult for outsiders to clearly identify the quality of a provider’s services at first glance. The Internet turned the industry into a global village more or less over night as at first view it (almost) no longer makes difference whether translation jobs are placed with domestic companies or commissioned somewhere in the low-cost countries of Eastern Europe or even India or Latin America. The differences in most cases surface only once the finished product is on the table and when it is too late. Many an operating instruction for some electronic gadget may make the day even for chronically depressed technophobs thanks to its hilarious language, but things definitely go from funny to scary at the idea of lying in an operating theatre with the surgeon experimenting with new instruments following instructions of such a nature.

The prime benefit of  ÖNORM EN 15038 for clients is that it enables them to separate the wheat from the chaff and filter out those providers who regard quality management not only as a core issue in their daily business, but also make sure throughout every phase of the translation process that the focus is on the quality of the final product, thus in turn also enhancing the client’s success through perfect communication.

ÖNORM EN 15038 is a process-oriented standard for the translation industry which defines highly practice-oriented criteria for guaranteeing thorough and uninterrupted quality management throughout the entire translation process. Elements include proper quotations, the due analysis of the specific requirements upon placement, the selection criteria and testing of new staff/translators, the monitoring of the individual steps of the translation process, permanent further training, double proof-reading of translated texts employing correctors, final controls, and post-delivery follow-ups to verify client satisfaction. All companies certified according to this standard undergo audits every two years to prove the sustainable and thorough quality of their services.