Manufacturing is a truly international industry and you only have to look at products like the iPhone for reference, which is designed in California and assembled in China. This journey from the design table to the production line and, ultimately, store shelves is typical of the manufacturing industry and each product crosses multiple borders and language barriers along the way.
None of this would be possible without the right language services at each stage of the journey. In this article, we look at seven ways manufacturing translation keeps the world’s supply chain moving.
How manufacturing translation builds the world’s products
In today’s manufacturing industry, translation is an essential tool at each stage of production – from the early conceptual design process to the product being bought online or in-store. None of these steps would be possible in a globalised market without language services keeping the flow of ideas, communication and guidelines in motion.
Here are seven crucial roles manufacturing translation plays:
- Design: Translating key design documents created in specialist software such as Adobe InDesign and AutoCAD.
- Training material: Providing training material for staff in overseas manufacturing locations.
- Manufacturing guidelines: Translating manufacturing guidelines to ensure every product is built to spec and safety standards.
- Health & safety: Translated health and safety guidelines for manufacturing staff and consumers in each target market.
- Packaging & documentation: Translating and localising product packaging and documentation for each target market.
- Marketing: Localised, adapted marketing campaigns that address the unique needs of each market and their target audiences.
- Legal: Translation of legal documentation to protect manufacturing businesses at each stage of the production and retail process.
From the design room to the shop floor, manufacturing translation and other key language services ensure that international teams can pull together – something major industries, including consumer technology, automotive, fashion and retail, couldn’t function without.
What do you need from a manufacturing translation service?
Above all, you need a company with specialist experience in translating essential documentation at each stage of the manufacturing process. Aside from the steps outlined in the previous section, you will often need to translate a number of documents and materials including:
- Operator manuals and user guides
- CAD files (including DWG, DXF and DGN), Structured FrameMaker and DITA
- Content originating from CMS, PIM and DMS applications
- Installation and maintenance manuals
- Product specifications, technical data sheets, and parts lists
- Patents and patent applications
- Training material and e-learning modules
- Product catalogues and brochures
- Presentations and tenders
It is essential that you work with a certified translation provider with a proven track record for manufacturing translation. You don’t only need the necessary language skills to translate documents into other languages; you also need the technical knowledge and experience that comes with handling specialist documentation – from design specs to legal contracts and more.
Something else you should look for in a translation company is the tools used to manage your translation projects. With the right technology, a language company like us can help you create a faster, more secure workflow that delivers greater consistency and turnaround times without compromising on quality.
If you’d like to know more or wish to request a quote, please submit your request here.