ISO 17100 is an international standard specifically for translation services. It defines the requirements for a high-quality translation process — from qualified translators to project management and quality assurance.
Here’s a detailed overview 👇
🌐 ISO 17100:2015 — Translation Services Management Standard
Full name:
ISO 17100:2015 — Translation services — Requirements for translation services
🎯 Purpose
ISO 17100 provides a framework for delivering professional translation services that meet client and industry expectations.
It ensures that translation companies (or individual providers) have:
- Competent and qualified linguists
- Proper project management
- Defined quality assurance and revision procedures
- Secure handling of client data and materials
In short: it’s about consistent, high-quality translation outputs.
⚙️ Key Requirements
- Human resources competence
- Translators must have recognized qualifications (e.g., a degree in translation or equivalent experience).
- Revisers, reviewers, and proofreaders must also be qualified and distinct from the translator.
- Pre-production (project preparation)
- Clear project specifications agreed with the client (scope, language pairs, subject matter, deadlines, format, etc.).
- Production (translation process)
- Translation by a qualified translator.
- Revision by a second qualified linguist (a must for compliance).
- Optional review or proofreading based on client needs.
- Post-production
- Final verification to ensure completeness, formatting, and consistency.
- Client feedback management.
- Technology and confidentiality
- Proper management of CAT tools, terminology databases, and secure file handling.
🏢 Who Can Be Certified
- Translation agencies / Language service providers (LSPs)
- Sometimes large organizations with in-house translation departments
Certification is issued by an independent ISO-accredited certification body, after an audit of your processes and documentation.
✅ Benefits of ISO 17100 Certification
- Demonstrates professionalism and credibility to clients.
- Ensures consistent translation quality through standardized processes.
- Improves client trust and helps win international tenders or government contracts.
- Encourages continuous improvement and staff development.
📄 Certification Process (in brief)
- Gap analysis (compare your processes to ISO 17100 requirements)
- Implement improvements (training, documentation, revision workflow)
- Internal audit and management review
- External audit by a certification body
- Receive certification (valid for 3 years, with annual surveillance audits)
Would you like me to show an example of what documentation or procedures a translation company needs to prepare for ISO 17100 certification (like SOPs, translator qualification records, revision checklists, etc.)?
