What it Means to be ISO 9001 Certified for Translation Companies

ISO 9001 certification is available to all sizes and types of organisation, and is known around the world as an important Quality Management System standard.

It is ideal for companies in industrial sectors and services, as it helps organisations to improve management processes in order to compete successfully in a global business arena.

For translation companies, ISO 9001 certification offers an assurance to customer and clients that the translation provider follows a process. This process encompasses the entire organisation, alongside senior management. It shows that the translation provider has demonstrated that it meets the regulatory requirements and applies the systems effectively in order to be a benefit to customers, employees and management.

Overview of ISO 9001

According to ACS Registrars Ltd, a UKAS Accredited Certification Body, most organisations can take around six months to achieve accreditation of ISO 9001.

This is a significant commitment by any company and requires several audits, which check the written Quality Management Systems match what is being done on a day to day basis throughout the company.

Primary Requirements of ISO 9001

The strict operational standards that are required to fulfil certification for ISO 9001 are based on the following primary management principles:

1. Customer focus – the translation service provider should understand their customer’s needs. They should then be able to meet or exceed these requirements
2. Management – in order to improve business, leadership of the company must have a defined company vision that is successfully communicated to all levels of the workforce.
3. Inclusive – a company must include its employees, and give them ownership, of the processes and improvements required. Quality policy, and the measurable objectives of each employee should be understood at all levels of the company.
4. Process – all company undertakings should be managed for efficiency. Where improvement is required these should be implemented and checked.
5. Systematic approach to management – all processes should be assimilated into a thorough checking system to improve efficiency and success. Overarching systems should be set up in order to oversee all aspects of the process.
6. Performance improvement – this should be continuously reviewed and monitored to improve each process. A documented procedure for internal audits is required and records kept to improve the system.
7. Decision making – requires a factual approach and should use predetermined metrics to collate information. This information should then be used as a basis for decision making, which should then be recorded.
8. Equally beneficial customer/provider relationship – this ensures that both the translation provider, and the client, have benefits within the working relationship. The partnership must exist to support the two sides.

Certification for ISO 9001 must be renewed every three years, however, some translation providers renew every year in order to ensure a higher quality of service.

There are no varying levels within the ISO 9001, you either achieve accreditation, or you don’t.