Quality Management Tools

Translation Quality doesn’t happen by accident: it is the result of many tools, processes and technologies that come together in a single workflow, and governed by a culture of quality that a company nurtures.
Prisma’s culture of quality is built on a foundation of three key components:

1. ISO QUALITY SYSTEM

Since 1999, Prisma has been an ISO-certified translation company. We believe in building quality into the translation process, not “inspecting” it in afterwards. Our ISO 9001:2008 quality system covers such critical functions as:

  • Translator qualification. All Prisma translators are native-speaking professionals that meet our rigid quality standards.
  • Project planning. Our project plans are built with cross-checks, QC steps, and launch meetings to ensure quality and accuracy.
  • Corrective actions. A formal process oversees the handling of any corrections that may be required.
  • Document version control. We have many processes and guidelines designed to manage the correct versions of your documents.
  • Certifications of Translation Accuracy. We offer CTA’s for each Prisma translation to guarantee that it was carried out according to our Quality Process.

2. PRISMETRICSTM: PRISMA’S TRANSLATION METRICS SYSTEM

PrisMetricsTM is Prisma’s translation metrics system that enables us to measure the quality of our output. Based on a Six-Sigma model, we capture key project data on the fly, and roll it up to higher-level reports that indicate quality performance.

As a Prisma client, you are given access to your own PrisMetricsTM data via real-time, online reports accessed through Prisma Online (“POL”). In this way, you can track quality, continuous improvement, and the accuracy of our work.

PrisMetricsTM reports are excellent ways to demonstrate to your own management the efforts and progress of the translation team to deliver the highest quality and greatest value for your translation spend.

3. THE PRISMA QUALITY TOOLKIT

We maintain an array of industry tools and apps to help manage quality, including applications that facilitate such key quality steps as:

  • Document check-in/check-out
  • Quality checking (QC’ing)
  • Consistency checks
  • Software validation
  • Spellchecking
  • Font management
  • Version control

These tools and many others are an essential part of our quality process, as well as timesavers that result in reduced cost and greater translation value delivered to you.

Many companies have their own quality processes in place. To learn about our FREE Translation Best Practices Consultation, including an assessment of your own translation management practices,  click here.