09/04/2015

DIN EN 15038 is currently the only valid process standard for translation services. This standard, which has been in existence since 2006, sets out specific requirements for the quality management of translation companies, particularly in the areas of processes, resources and employee qualifications. Thus, for example…

DIN EN 15038 is currently the only valid process standard for translation services. This standard, which has been in existence since 2006, sets out specific requirements for the quality management of translation companies, particularly in the areas of processes, resources and employee qualifications. Thus, for example, translators are required to meet certain minimum criteria in terms of qualifications and experience. For quality assurance purposes, the mandatory proofreading of the translation must be carried out by a second qualified translator, to name just two examples.

The standard was somewhat controversial in the translation industry for some time, partly because most translation agencies were not set up for these restrictive process specifications or simply saw no tangible benefit in them. This reaction is reflected in the number of certified companies: only about 40 translation service providers in Germany have been certified to DIN EN 15038 since the standard was introduced. However, a much larger number state that they work in accordance with the standard or at least base their processes on it, although they do not have their processes audited. For example, there are around 500 translation companies registered with DIN CERTCO who claim to produce translations in accordance with DIN EN 15038.

But for clients who commission translation work – normally businesses who are themselves certified – simply ‘basing’ processes on the standard or paying lip service to it is often not good enough. After all, very few companies are in a position to check that a translation is linguistically correct, let alone assess its technical accuracy. So it’s hardly surprising that businesses which commission translations are increasingly demanding DIN EN 15038 certification as proof of professionalism. Another reason is that translation services are often opaque and difficult to compare for people unfamiliar with the industry. Although the standard does not constitute a ‘seal of quality’ in itself, it does define the same, equally valid requirements for all service providers, allowing them to be compared and ensuring a high level of quality.

In the coming months there will be a new standard for translation services replacing DIN EN 15038, namely ISO 17100. Once completed and released by the responsible bodies, this will supersede DIN EN 15038. Some of the main new features in ISO 17100 relate to the qualifications of project and translation managers, the specialist qualifications of translators and regular translator training by translation agencies. Unlike DIN EN 15038, this standard is also valid worldwide. The certification audit for Germany and the rest of Europe is offered by Austrian Standards. A recent check indicated that TÜV SÜD no longer offered certification for DIN EN 15038.

More information on DIN EN 15038 / ISO 17100:
LICS – Language Industry Certification System
TÜV SÜD certification database
DIN EN 15038-certified: oneword GmbH passes re-audit