QUALITY ASSURANCE

ParlExperts' quality-assurance measures encompass and inform our entire production process. We follow a stringent total quality philosophy, continuously evaluating how we can improve our processes to streamline and safeguard the integrity of our work product.

Our quality-assurance efforts are concentrated on five areas:

Linguist Qualification: The most fundamental aspect of our quality-control efforts is to use only qualified, professional linguists to translate and edit documents. We use only linguists with at least five years of experience translating professionally. In addition, these linguists must have relevant university degrees in languages and proven subject-matter expertise. We also look for professional certifications, such as those issued by American Translators Association and the Chartered Institute of Linguists that are awarded upon the successful completion of an examination. In addition, they are given our own test translation assignment, which they must pass before they can be considered for work on a live client project.

Linguist Selection: For every project, our project managers match the right linguist to the project. Criteria for a correct match include native-language fluency and country of origin, when market-specific translations are needed. In addition, subject-matter expertise is vitally important so that the translation fully reflects the underlying meaning of any text. Lastly, ability to meet the deadline in terms of volume and quality are important as well, and the project manager will assemble a team to meet a deadline without sacrificing quality.

Glossaries, Translation Memories and Style Guides: For every client we compile client-specific glossaries, translation memories, and style guides. These act as the basis for all our translators and editors to maintain consistency and client preferences on the levels of terminology, style, and overall approach. 

Glossaries are compiled focusing on specialized terminology pertaining to a client and their industry. Client-specific glossaries validated by the client's in-country resources make these an invaluable tool during the project and beyond, for future updates.

Translation memory databases store previously translated materials and act as a repository for future reuse. Once created, any subsequent documents sent for translation can be compared to these repositories to find content that is identical, or similar, to what has been used before. These translations can then be automatically populated into the document for reuse if identical, or edited if slightly different. Reusing previous translations in this way lowers costs, accelerates turnaround times and, most importantly, maintains consistency between translations.

Style guides identify client preferences and serve as a tool for translators to maintain consistency in terms of format and tone. Style guides also set standards for our client's internal review cycle, making it easier for their reviewers to understand the parameters against which to judge, which reduces the natural tendency to make stylistic changes based on personal preference.

Quality Control Check Points: Throughout the production process of our translations our project managers monitor quality control check points. These are project stages where a quick check can catch a developing problem at an early stage so that it can be corrected before it develops into a major problem. These project stage checks help keep a project on schedule and avoid the extra time and costs associated with rework.

Proofreading and Project Signoff: Proofreading is one of the most important quality-control steps. It is during this step that documents are reviewed as a whole for both content and format. On multilingual projects proofreading also allows for a review across language versions. A checklist provides a standardized list of quality points to confirm. Any errors caught during the proofreading process trigger a revision cycle for corrective action. Once the final proofreading round has been passed, the project manager in charge of the project checks against the project specifications for deliverables and signs off on the completed project before delivery of the translated work product.

ParlExperts' quality-assurance measures encompass and inform our entire production process. We follow a stringent total quality philosophy, continuously evaluating how we can improve our processes to streamline and safeguard the integrity of our work product.

Our quality-assurance efforts are concentrated on five areas:

Linguist Qualification: The most fundamental aspect of our quality-control efforts is to use only qualified, professional linguists to translate and edit documents. We use only linguists with at least five years of experience translating as profession. In addition, these linguists must have relevant university degrees in languages and proven subject-matter expertise. We also look for professional certifications, such as those issued by American Translators Association and the Chartered Institute of Linguists that are awarded upon the successful completion of an examination. In addition, they are given our own test translation assignment, which they must pass before they can be considered for work on a live client project.

Linguist Selection: For every project, our project managers match the right linguistto the project. Criteria for a correct match include native-language fluency and country of origin, when market-specific translations are needed. In addition, subject-matter expertise is vitally important so that the translation fully reflects the underlying meaning of any text. Lastly, ability to meet the deadline in terms of volume and quality are important as well, and the project manager will assemble a team to meet a deadline without sacrificing quality.

Glossaries, Translation Memories and Style Guides: For every client we compile client-specific glossaries translation memories and style guides. These act as the basis for all our translators and editors to maintain consistency and client preferences on the levels of terminology, style, and overall approach.

Glossaries are compiled focusing on specialized terminology pertaining to a client and their industry. Client-specific glossaries validated by the client's in-country resources make these an invaluable tool during the project and beyond, for future updates.

Translation memory databases store previously translated materials and act as a repository for future reuse. Once created, any subsequent documents sent for translation can be compared to these repositories to find content that is identical, or similar, to what has been used before. These translations can then be automatically populated into the document for reuse if identical, or edited if slightly different. Reusing previous translations in this way lowers costs, accelerates turnaround times and, most importantly, maintains consistency between translations.

Style guides identify client preferences and serve as a tool for translators to maintain consistency in terms of format and tone. Style guides also set standards for our client's internal review cycle, making it easier for their reviewers to understand the parameters against which to judge, which reduces the natural tendency to make stylistic changes based on personal preference.

Quality Control Check Points: Throughout the production process of our translations our project managers monitor quality control check points. These are project stages where a quick check can catch a developing problem at an early stage so that it can be corrected before it develops into a major problem. These project stage checks help keep a project on schedule and avoid the extra time and costs associated with rework.

Proofreading and Project Signoff: Proofreading is one of the most important quality-control steps. It is during this step that documents are reviewed as a whole for both content and format. On multilingual projects proofreading also allows for a review across language versions. A checklist provides a standardized list of quality points to confirm. Any errors caught during the proofreading process trigger a revision cycle for corrective action. Once the final proofreading round has been passed, the project manager in charge of the project checks against the project specifications for deliverables and signs off on the completed project before delivery of the translated work product.