Language services have become part and parcel of the human age-old effort aimed to build a connected world, which we now dub as the globalized world of the 21st century.
As far as business is concerned, companies that wish to expand globally will have to use various language services so that important parties across borders ─ customers, overseas staff, suppliers, etc. ─ can overcome language barriers and do business effectively.
And top of the domains that have remarkably benefited from translation is the manufacturing industry, which is smartly using manufacturing translation services to take advantage of business opportunities in a global market. Players in the global manufacturing landscape have come to understand, through experience, how fast technological breakthroughs, short product cycles, and globalization are making translated material an important part of their business.
But we can still ask: Are manufacturing translation services really important and strategic to the broad spectrum of sectors in the global manufacturing scene?
In the 21st century, the entire supply chain is being transformed to cope with a changing world in which borders are falling apart. Take the 8 main components of the chain: planning, information, source, inventory, production, location, transportation, the return of goods ─ and INFORMATION! Did we say “information”?!
Yes, we did, and we also have to say that in a global manufacturing scene dominated by a non-stop flow of information, no manufacturer will succeed only with factories, resources, and a huge capital. It’s a matter of life and death for them to stay abreast with all the latest information about the various aspects of production, and, probably, more importantly, to ensure that all the information related to production processes and operations is fully understood by all stakeholders.
These stakeholders might be customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, distributors, local community, national government, regulatory authorities, etc. who may speak different languages in different production locations. So, having this flow of information translated is the real open sesame to success in both local and overseas markets.
Also, let’s take the production location part of the process. Manufacturers are seeking to sell their products to foreign audiences in overseas markets by using smaller operations that are near to local markets. With this, the instructions should be translated so they could be understood by the staff who manufacture the products, by suppliers, distributors, and customers. If the product materials are not professionally translated, the products may be misrepresented, quality may be sacrificed, and this may wreak havoc with the prospects of the entire business.
Types of manufacturing translation services
To describe the functions and operating instructions of manufactured products, the manufacturing industries usually use advanced scientific terms and technical expressions. These expressions should be translated with accuracy and consistency to make sure that the optimal customer experience is delivered and regulatory requirements with regards to safety are met.
However, manufacturing translation services cover many types of technical documents that include:
- Safety materials and data sheets
- Patents and patent applications
- Product labeling, specifications, and descriptions
- Packaging and catalogs
- Regulatory documentation
- Maintenance and policy manuals
- User and operating instructions
- User manuals, installation, operator and maintenance manuals,
- Marketing materials (i.e. websites, brochures, and product catalogs)
- Legal documentation
- Training materials
However, the question is still there: What are the rising trends that a manufacturer should follow to remain competitive in the global manufacturing’s highly competitive landscape?
1- Networked Supply Chain
Nowadays, global manufacturing companies have to gain a competitive edge by moving towards what we describe as a networked supply chain ─ evaluating and implementing changes in response to such dynamic business scenarios as new product introduction, changes in demand pattern, the addition of new supply sources, changes in tax laws, etc. Significantly, at a time when supply chains are becoming increasingly more transparent and automated, the content published on products or processes accessed by these wider networks should be created in the native language. Generally, to achieve sustainable growth, global manufacturers should focus on networking more deeply with consumers and suppliers around the world and in multiple languages.
2- Localization of Digital Content
Localization, not just translation, is the solution. With more companies publishing digital content via mobile platforms, technical documentation needs to evolve so it can be clearly read and understood online through a mobile device and in multiple languages. Manufacturing companies have to work closely with professional language service providers to ensure that technical content is professionally and efficiently localized.
3- Marketing through Social Media
Manufacturing companies have to leverage social media to monitor what is being said about their brands and their products across the globe. Moreover, they have to use social media campaigns to reach out to their global audiences.
Why Future Trans?
When it comes to manufacturing translation services and manufacturing localization services, it’s our top-notch clients who have said in their testimonies why we are the leader in this area of language services.
According to our clients, Future Trans’ major strength is our professional linguists and subject matter experts who have been selected based on the two criteria of linguistic excellence and knowledge of the specific content being translated.
When it comes to our process for manufacturing translation services, we implement one of the most meticulous, thorough quality assurance systems in the entire language services industry, comprising multiple phases of linguistic, technical, proofreading and style reviews.
With regard to technology, our translators use the latest in translation memories, translation management systems, CAT tools and other tools that ensure that they deliver translations that are accurate and consistent.
Last but not least, each translator has to sign commercial confidentiality and corporate nondisclosure agreement, and therefore they fully respect the confidential documentation provided in connection with each project.
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