Home Project Management Quality Consulting & Auditing Authoring and CMS Translation Software Localisation Training DeskTop Publishing Software General Software Software Localisation On-Line Help Localisation Web Site Translation Software as a Service Services Machine Translation Beta Test Programmes Newsletter Contact Us News About Us Books Downloads SiteMap

ISO 9001:2008 Quality Standard for Translation Companies

Why should we bother with ISO 9001?
ISO 9001:2008 is a recognised world-wide quality standard, it shows your clients and prospects that you are committed to quality. Unlike previous quality standards ISO 9001 is focused on meeting quality requires as defined by customer needs - the implementation of ISO 9001 is an opportunity to look at business effectiveness and customer focus.

What is 9001?
ISO 9001 is part of the ISO 9000 family of standards for quality management systems. ISO 9000 is maintained by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization and is administered by accreditation and certification bodies. Some of the requirements in ISO 9001 would include:

* a set of procedures that cover all key processes in the business;
* monitoring processes to ensure they are effective;
* keeping adequate records;
* checking output for defects, with appropriate corrective action where necessary;
* regularly reviewing individual processes and the quality system itself for effectiveness; and
* facilitating continual improvement

As a specialist in the Translation Industry Amicus TransTec can help Translation Companies implement the above and other ears i=of the standard in readiness for Certification to the standard.

How can Amicus TransTec help Translation Companies implement 9001:2008?
Amicus TransTec will work with you to create a unique proposal focusing on your needs and objectives. The following is an outline of process we undertake to help you design and implement a quality management system to gain registration to ISO 9001:
1. Conduct a gap analysis to compare your company’s existing activities with the requirements of ISO 9001 and provide guidance to address shortcomings.
2. Prepare and agree an implementation timetable.
3. Provide coaching in the requirements of ISO 9001.
4. Define your Quality Management System processes and assist to set measurable objectives, if not already available.
5. Prepare a Quality Manual that includes Procedures to meet the requirements of ISO 9001 and, if required EN 15038. We will provide the Manual as a Word document for your review and approval.
6. Help you select an assessment body accredited by UKAS that gives due recognition to your business activities.
7. Attend periodically to review progress and help resolve actions arising.
8. Train internal quality auditors.
9. Assist with the internal audits and advise on corrective actions.
10. Conduct a pre-assessment audit and advise on corrective actions.
11. Help with the preparation for, and attend a management review of, the QMS.
12. Attend the certification assessment and, if required, advise on corrective actions.

Certification to an ISO 9000 standard
A company or organization that has been independently audited and certified to be in conformance with ISO 9001 may publicly state that it is "ISO 9001 certified" or "ISO 9001 registered." Certification to an ISO 9000 standard does not guarantee the compliance (and therefore the quality) of end products and services; rather, it certifies that consistent business processes are being applied.

Although the standards originated in manufacturing, they are now employed across a wide range of other types of organizations. A "product", in ISO vocabulary, can mean a physical object, or services, or software.

The ISO 9000 Family
The ISO 9001 series of standards consist of:

* ISO 9000 – Fundamentals and Vocabulary: this introduces the user to the concepts behind the management systems and specifies the terminology used.

* ISO 9001 – Requirements: this sets out the criteria you will need to meet if you wish to operate in accordance with the standard and gain certification.

* ISO 9004 – Guidelines for performance improvement: based upon the eight quality management principles, these are designed to be used by senior management as a framework to guide their organizations towards improved performance by considering the needs of all interested parties, not just customers.

return to top