Task:

In the summer of 2018, our team faced an extraordinary challenge: we were asked to translate more than 35,000 pages of standards (ISO, IEC and BS) covering a wide range of technical topics from English into Russian in a fairly short time (5 months to be exact). Source documents were provided by the customer both as PDF files and in hard copy.

The translation was required for the standard harmonization project* commissioned by one of our key customers.

The schedule was tight; the volume was big; and the work was hard.

Solution:

To accomplish the task, we first set up a working group of project managers, coordinators, translators, editors, proofreaders, layout designers, and the leading project editor from the Center of Expertise.

Then we prepared general requirements for document layout as well as for the translation of general sections, which ensured uniformity throughout the entire production process. A glossary played a significant role in the successful implementation of the project.

Since the standards were on various technical topics, our managers divided all translators into groups (electrical engineering, information technology, management, etc.) based on the editors’ recommendations. This allowed us to get a competent translation at an early stage, which was then checked by editors. Then layout and proofreading followed, and, after the final quality check, the finished documentation was sent to the customer.

Manager’s comments

“Initially, we realized that we had to work very hard on highly-specialized documentation while being pressed for time. An important stage was the analysis of topics and the selection of specialists. By the third month, our capacity reached 5,000 pages per month, with the peak of 12,000 pages.”

* Standard harmonization means bringing one standard in compliance with another to ensure the interchangeability of products (services), mutual understanding of test results and information contained in the standards.