Buying translations? BS EN 15038 could help.
What is it?
Robertson Languages is pleased to announce that we are one of the very first companies in Europe to be certified to the new translations standard. Published in 2006, BS EN 15038 Translation Services is the first and only pan-European standard for translation services. If a translation company complies with the standard, and especially if they are fully certified by an independent certification body, it demonstrates that the company is committed to providing a quality-focused service.
Why are we proud to comply with this standard?
RLI is already certified to ISO 9001, so why did we also want to adopt this new standard? Because it demonstrates our determination to provide our clients with translations that meet or exceed their specifications.
What is in it?
It lays down the steps that need to be taken to provide a competent service, including assessment of translators and revisers, technical resources, project management, translation itself and requires the company to have a quality management process.
Why does it help the purchaser?
Its primary objective is to “establish and define the requirements for the provision of quality service”. A client who works with a translation supplier who is certified to the standard can expect a consistently high quality service. It requires effort on the part of the supplier to comply with the standard and to continue to monitor and improve their service. If they commit to this, they obviously place great value on quality.
Where can I find a copy?
Because standards are copyright, we are unfortunately unable to make BS EN 15038 accessible to our clients. To buy a copy, you will need to contact BSI (http://www.bsi-global.com/en/Shop/)
Who wrote it?
Representatives of translation companies, freelance translators, purchasers and universities from most of the EU countries met regularly during a three-year process managed by CEN. Everyone had an opportunity to participate and create a standard which suits the various parties.
Liz Robertson, one of our Directors was the Chairman of the UK delegation and is one the UK’s leading experts in this field. She speaks regularly at conferences on the subject. If you need further information, contact her at liz@robertsonlanguages.co.uk.