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ISO 18587 – POST EDITING OF MACHINE TRANSLATION OUTPUT

Superior Post-Editing Services

ISO 18587 OVERVIEW

Designed for the language services industry – such as TSPs (Translation Service Providers), their clients, and post-editors – ISO 18587 is an international standard which specifies requirements for content processed by MT (Machine Translation) systems. Regardless of whether your business is big or small, gaining and maintaining ISO 18587 certification shows that your organisation values the quality of its translations and is committed to maintain a consistently high standard of services. Using a holistic approach, ISO 18587 provides a standard of quality by which to measure the content produced by MT systems. 

ISO 18587 Benefits

Gaining ISO 18587 accreditation is a win-win for your business and your customers. From consistently yielding high-quality services to demonstrating your trustworthiness to your stakeholders, organisations offering content generated by MT systems should strive to gain this accreditation. For a deeper understanding towards why achieving this certification would be profitable across-the-board, here’s a list of its top benefits.  

Work with An Expert

For some companies, it might be tempting to read the standard and attempt to implement these processes without receiving any expert guidance. However, this is typically not enough to implement an efficient, long-term management system. A literal interpretation of this standard may easily create an overly bureaucratic management system, yielding the opposite results of what would otherwise be achieved. Instead of a structured system based on the smart analysis of data, you could end up with an overly complicated and inefficient system.  

Instead, hiring an expert consultancy with years of experience is the best way to effectively meet your ISO standards. Make sure to choose an expert you trust, to provide you with a grounded approach that will simplify your life, rather than over-complicate it.  

Certification Bodies

When looking to get ISO certification, choosing to work with the right certification body is a crucial part of the process. It is important to make sure that your certification body is fully accredited, as only these entities are truly qualified to provide ISO certification. In Malta, we have a number of accredited certification bodies, all of whom are able to provide a thorough assessment of the ISO 18587 standard requirements.

GET YOUR JOURNEY TO ISO CERTIFICATION FUNDED

As a Malta Enterprise approved advisor, Luke can help his clients reap the full benefits of currently available funding. Applicable to any business based in Malta, the Government of Malta’s current funding schemes have never been better. The precise amount depending on your company’s size and ownership structure. 

For more information, simply get in touch for a free consultation session! Luke will help you to make the most of the best available funding incentives applicable to your business.

GET YOUR JOURNEY TO ISO CERTIFICATION FUNDED

Luke’s approval as a Malta Enterprise approved advisor means that his clients can reap the full benefits of currently available funding schemes. Find out whether you are eligible for funding, by getting in touch with Luke!

Funding Opportunities

For Translation Service Providers, getting ISO 18587 certification is a crucial milestone. Recognizing the importance of working towards this standard, there are various funding opportunities to be found in Malta. These include:  

  • 50% Tax Credits  
  • cash grants by Malta Enterprise, JobsPlus, & other entities. 
ISO 18587 - Post Editing of Machine Translation Output

ISO 18587: A Closer Look

Why is it Needed and What Does It Cover?

Although Machine Translation (MT) has been around for some time, it has recently gained popularity due to the emergence of Neural Machine Translation (NMT). Although advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), MT, and NMP continue to drive the industry toward natural-sounding machine translation, the raw MT output is far from perfect and requires human Post-Editing (PE) for high-quality results. 

ISO 18587:2017 describes the post-editor’s tasks in Machine Translation Post-Editing, outlines the proficiencies required for post-editors, and defines the best practices for delivering high-quality MT post-editing services. Using a high-level system that allows it to be easily implemented alongside other ISO management systems, this standard follows the same ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ model which defines all of the revised ISO standards. The following shows a brief overview of everything covered by the ISO 18587 standard:  

  • Defining the organisation’s overarching scope 
  • Normative References 
  • Terms and definitions for concepts related to machine translation, language and content, people or organisations and  translation. 
  • Outlines the required Post-editing processes 
  • Competences and qualifications of post-editors 
  • Requirements of full post-editing 

Achieving ISO 18587

What Does This Say About Your Organisation?

Although achieving ISO 18587 accreditation is not a legal requirement, owning this certification says a lot about what type of business you are running. Adhering to this standard boasts inherent benefits but it also sends the right message to you clients, investors and competitors.  Getting ISO 18587 certification proves that your organisation: 

  • Values the quality of the Machine Translation Post-Editing services it provides  
  • Is compliant with statutes and requirements of the post-editing of machine translation output. 
  • Understands the business related benefits of having good management systems in place. 
  • Is an industry leader which operates at a level of excellence by implementing the most up-to-date management standards. 
ISO 18587 - Post Editing of Machine Translation Output

Frequently Asked Questions

Gaining ISO 18587 certification attest to your company's trustworthiness across-the-board. From ensuring high-quality services to boosting your business growth, ISO 18587 is crucial for any company that offers content generated by MT systems. 

Your ISO 18587 certification will need to be renewed after a period of three years. To maintain your certification, an assessment must be conducted once a year and recertification is issued every three years to ensure that your management systems continue to operate within the ISO 18587 required standards. 

Yes, like other ISO standards that are concerned with different types of management systems - including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 - the ISO 18587 uses a high-level structure. This indicates that the ISO 18587 may be effortlessly integrated within any existing ISO management system. 

The amount of time it takes your company to earn your certification all depends on the size and complexity of your business. Luke will help you to make this process as swift and efficient as possible for your convenience.

Whilst organisations can attempt to optimise their management systems without certification, ISO 18587 provides a structured approach which is sustainable and internationally trusted. 

Therefore, although it is not necessary, it is a recommended tried-and-tested means of achieving Machine Translation management.

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