ISO9001 in language services
When choosing a service provider for legal translation, it can be difficult to know whether you will receive the level of service you need and expect. You need a provider that will not only provide an accurate legal translation, but also listen to your needs and deliver on time. You are placing a significant amount of trust in the provider you choose, and it is easy to be misled by service providers that promise a high-quality service without the right expertise and processes. However, there are ways to objectively understand the level of service a translation business provides, including whether that business has ISO9001 certification.
This article looks at what ISO9001 means for those instructing legal translation services.
What is ISO 9001 Certification?
ISO 9001 certifies that a business is committed to adhering to excellent processes, particularly a Quality Management System (QMS).
When a company has ISO 9001 certification, the company’s processes and continual improvement of their QMS is monitored in order for them to maintain certification.
Crucially for those instructing legal translation services, ISO 9001 was designed to help customers identify businesses that are focused on meeting the needs of their customers, improving the quality of their services, and continually analysing and effectively addressing any potential problem areas in the delivery of their services.
What are the requirements of ISO 9001 certification?
ISO 9001 certification has strict requirements based on eight specific management principles. Certification must be renewed at least every three years, which means businesses must continually review the following principles within their business. At IMD Translation and Interpreting, we are committed to excellence and invite an external assessment of our processes and certification on an annual basis.
Customer focus
Translation service providers who wish to gain certification must fully understand their customer’s needs and ensure they meet or exceed their requirements.
Leadership
Service providers must have strong leadership, which means the leaders in the business must clearly define the organisation’s strategy and vision and communicate this to others in the business.
Involvement of people
The employees in the language translation service must be involved in designing the processes and given responsibility for improving them. All employees must fully understand the level of quality that must be provided to customers, and the people in the business should be given key objectives to work towards.
Process-based approach
The activities of the legal translation provider must follow clear processes which should be regularly analysed for improvement and efficiency.
System approach to management
All language providers' established processes should be part of an overarching system that allows for greater improvement and efficiency.
Continual improvement
All aspects of the language service providers' processes should be monitored, analysed, and continually improved. Any internal audits must be documented, and records must be kept to help improve the system.
Factual approach to decision making
Decision makers should set metrics for collecting information that will allow them to make informed decisions about the business.
Mutually beneficial relationships
One of the key benefits for customers of ISO 9001 certified translation providers is that customers should be seen as partners, and the business should strive to look to customers to improve their service. At IMD Translation and Interpreting we hold being ‘respectful’ and ‘collaborative’ as core values; we look to understand your linguistic needs and work with you to implement tailored solutions.
What are the benefits of using an ISO 9001 certified legal translation provider?
When you choose a legal translation provider with ISO 9001 certification, you are assured of the quality of translation. While this certification focuses on processes and improvements, these can ensure that the translations delivered are on time and of the highest quality. Certified providers follow processes that involve working closely with customers and understanding their needs. However, because they have strict processes in place, every client receives the same high standard of service.
Here at IMD Translation, our quality management system has received ISO 9001 certification. When you choose to work with us, you can be confident that the service you receive will follow a rigorous process and will be focused on your specific needs and requirements. We have also received ISO 17100 certification, which is specific to the language industry and translation processes - you can read more about it here.
Contact IMD Translation - ISO 9001 certified legal translators
At IMD Translation, we understand the importance of quality when instructing a legal translation and how this may affect the outcome of a case. We guarantee that we will always provide high-quality translations on time. Contact us today.