{"id":29816,"date":"2025-11-05T15:35:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T14:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/?p=29816"},"modified":"2025-11-14T16:55:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:55:02","slug":"technical-documentation-translation-industrial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/blog\/technical-documentation-translation-industrial\/","title":{"rendered":"Industrial Technical Documentation &#8211; the Crucial Importance of Accuracy in Translation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"29816\" class=\"elementor elementor-29816 elementor-29695\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a606e81 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a606e81\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d5d658 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d5d658\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>Introduction: technical translation, a strategic priority for industry<\/strong><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an international industrial climate where safety and regulatory compliance are paramount,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/blog\/technical-translation\/\">technical translation<\/a> errors can have <\/span><b>dramatic consequences<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A poor translation can trigger a chain of costly problems in terms of safety, compliance and brand image. Avoid these pitfalls by leaving your project to the experts!<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/our-services\/translation\/\">Translation<\/a> errors should be avoided in every sector, but the medical sector is even more sensitive as our health is at stake. Let\u2019s look at the case of knee replacements in Germany: between 2006 and 2007, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nda.observatoireplurilinguisme.eu\/es\/informes-tem%C3%A1ticos\/economico-y-social\/88888938-sp-952\/827-allemagne-47-erreurs-medicales-liees-a-une-faute-de-traduction-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">47 patients fell victim to a translation error in the labeling of these medical devices<\/span><\/a> (source in French)<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What was the error in question?<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The English expression \u201c<\/span><b>non-modular cemented<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d, which means \u201c<\/span><b>cannot be modified and must be cemented<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d, was incorrectly translated into German as \u201c<\/span><b>prosthesis that does not require cement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d. A single terminological blunder such as this could endanger hundreds of people and destabilize an entire organization.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In industry, as is the case in the medical sector, translation errors cause major operational inefficiencies. As a matter of fact, <\/span><b>regulatory audits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sometimes uncover critical errors in safety documentation translated by AI or by non-professional translators, resulting in fines of several million euros.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fact is that technical translation is not a simple administrative task, it is an essential <\/span><b>strategic component<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure the quality of production processes and the end-user experience. This vital step enables manufacturers to achieve success in their projects from start to finish, which is why it is important to leave your technical projects in the hands of <\/span><b>experienced and reliable professionals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>Version internationale\u2019s expertise for industry<\/strong><\/h2><h3><strong>A partner that specializes in critical sectors<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is in this crucial linguistic area that Version internationale supports many companies operating in a wide range of technical sectors:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/sectors\/it-and-new-technology\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/sectors\/industry\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">industrial<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, medical, scientific, legal, financial, etc. <\/span><b>Because accuracy is not an option but a necessity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for all these sectors and their stakeholders, a team of linguists who undergo continuous training, specialist freelance translators, and experienced project managers handle the most exacting requests.<\/span><\/p><h3><strong>A proven methodology to ensure a high level of reliability<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/our-services\/termbase\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">approach driven by methodology and precision<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is what makes the difference between a smooth partnership and a project that falls apart. At Version internationale:<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Beforehand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, technical glossaries, often provided by clients and expanded upon during the process, are created for each project.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Afterwards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, technical specialists proofread and correct the work in a process known as <\/span><b>quality assurance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><b>QA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quality in technical translation is also governed by strict international standards. The <\/span><b>ISO 17100<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> international quality standard lists the requirements expected during the different stages of the translation process:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research, resource selection, then translation and proofreading guarantee the impeccable quality of the end document.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29709\" src=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-05-at-15.31.54.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"546\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-05-at-15.31.54.png 492w, https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-05-at-15.31.54-300x254.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px\" \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can we talk about translation without talking about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trados.com\/learning\/topic\/cat-tool\/#:~:text=CAT%20tools%20are%20designed%20to,paragraphs)%20for%20them%20to%20translate.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? These tools, which have become essential in modern technical translation, offer features that are now almost impossible to do without:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Translation memories for consistency;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specialized terminology databases;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automated quality control;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collaborative workflows.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h3><strong>The human touch underpinning technical translation<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When drafting this article, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/who-are-we\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">J\u00e9r\u00e9my<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who has worked at Version internationale for several years as a Project Manager, agreed to share his thoughts on the rigor required when managing technical projects. Once again, several different steps are required so everything runs smoothly:<\/span><\/p><p><b>Before the project is launched<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: the client and the project manager ensure that nothing is missing from the specifications provided and that everyone working on the project has fully understood them.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We find it important to know about the products and the sector our clients operate in, to select translators who are experts in the field.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">J\u00e9r\u00e9my Saussey, Project Manager at Version internationale.<\/span><\/p><p><b>During the project<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Version internationale calls on the right people, carries out regular controls and manages the workflow established with the client.<\/span><\/p><p><b>After the project is delivered<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: several follow-up discussions with clients are sometimes required, especially when the project covers new products without any pre-defined terminology.<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-05-at-15.32.23.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"544\" height=\"387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-05-at-15.32.23.png 524w, https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-05-at-15.32.23-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>When accuracy changes everything &#8211; real-life examples and testimonies<\/strong><\/h2><h3><strong>A successful takeoff thanks to strict attention to terminology<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In technical translation, rigor is essential: particular attention needs to be paid to the quality of source documents, to the thorough preparation of documents beforehand and ensuring that the accurate terms are used.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is a real-life example from J\u00e9r\u00e9my:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We worked on the translation of in-flight menus for <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/blog\/translating-in-flight-menus\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air\u00a0France<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The initial phase of fully decoding the language used was important to avoid any ambiguity and ensure passenger safety. For example, the term <\/span><\/i><b><i>grenade<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in French, can be translated as \u201c<\/span><\/i><b><i>pomegranate<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d or \u201c<\/span><\/i><b><i>grenade<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d in English. In addition, we also paid particular attention to the translation of the names of nuts, which are often allergens. Meticulous work, which is essential to ensure clear and secure communication upon arrival!\u00a0&#8220;<\/span><\/i><\/p><h3><strong>Success stories that prove the added value of VI<\/strong><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clients are in the best position to talk about their experience, and when they\u2019re happy, it puts the entire industry in a positive light. With this in mind, we were lucky enough to hear from a valued client of Version internationale. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardis-group.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hardis group<\/a>, a supplier of sustainable IT solutions, told us about their experience:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout our 20 years of working together, Version internationale has positioned itself as a partner to support our international expansion in a dozen different languages &#8211; with the localization of our WMS and its user documents.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have <\/span><\/i><b><i>dedicated contacts<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who have excellent knowledge of our challenges and requirements. Working together, we have created localization processes and tools, adapted to our specificities and constraints. We have created a comprehensive terminology database with the help of <\/span><\/i><b><i>local subject matter experts<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> whom they recommended to us.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust is key: new tool, new process, new language, we know that Version internationale will offer us tailor-made and pragmatic solutions, without any unnecessary extras.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dominique-marty-coach38\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dominique Marty<\/a> &#8211; Translation &amp; Document Manager &#8211; Hardis Supply Chain<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>Conclusion: with Version internationale, accuracy is a strategic advantage<\/strong><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Version internationale\u2019s expertise is embodied by professionals who can translate the complexity of your documents with accuracy, guaranteeing you <\/span><b>operational simplicity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at all levels. They can manage complex document formats with the help of different tools and in accordance with various standards.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This process has been designed for industry, <\/span><b>for you<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to save you time and ensure a smooth translation process. Translation carries a significant financial burden, accounting for nearly a quarter (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oneword.de\/en\/save-on-costs-with-machine-translation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23.75%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) of technical documentation costs. Neglecting this step can have negative consequences, both financially and in terms of reputation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, according to a 2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.technical-communication.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tekom<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> study, nearly two thirds of industrial companies have taken this on board and already translate their documentation into at least ten languages.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6847c37 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6847c37\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3c3731 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3c3731\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calling on translation professionals for your technical projects = <\/span><b>avoidance of risks and guaranteed benefits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e66bd7 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"8e66bd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">GET IN TOUCH<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-099a758 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"099a758\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ajoutez votre titre ici<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction: technical translation, a strategic priority for industry In an international industrial climate where safety and regulatory compliance are paramount,\u00a0technical translation errors can have dramatic consequences. A poor translation can trigger a chain of costly problems in terms of safety, compliance and brand image. Avoid these pitfalls by leaving your project to the experts! Translation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":29815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classifiee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29816"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29833,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29816\/revisions\/29833"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.versioninternationale.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}