Quality management processes are crucial to the success of any business, and can be considered exceptionally critical when referencing a localization provider. SimulTrans recognizes this need for quality management from our clients, and in July 2009 had its quality management system recertified using the updated ISO9001:2008 standard.

The ISO9001 quality standard was changed, from ISO9001:2000 to ISO9001:2008. The three major changes to the certification were designed to not only improve consistency throughout these certified quality processes, but to also clarify existing requirements. One change is the redefinition of the in-house quality management system, and the required documentation for this system. ISO9001:2008 specifies that documents of external origin are now considered to be part of the quality system, and must be considered a requirement for any audit.

A second change to the standard included a change from conformation to “product requirements” instead of “quality”. This clarification is useful for both clients and localization providers alike, as it enables the system to track the requirements of the client in terms of every service provided. It also allows the client to set requirements in terms of the product, and not simply be held to a level of “quality”, where quality can have multiple definitions and interpretations.

The final change to the ISO9001 standard for 2008 is the increase in protection of a client’s assets. This change requires an ISO9001 accredited firm to account for the security of a client’s information, in any format, within their quality management system. In effect, this allows a client to have more confidence in an ISO9001:2008 accredited firm, as they know any data they provide would be under a greater level of scrutiny and security than ever before.

With this ISO9001:2008 recertification, SimulTrans is reaffirming its commitment to its clients and their overall success. We strive to provide our clients with the highest quality translation and localization services possible, and ISO9001:2008 is just one more way we provide that quality management to our clients.