On behalf of the Globalization and Localization Association, Stacey Brown will examine the best practices in quality assurance for translation projects. We’ll cover practical steps for planning or improving QA processes and for cultivating qualified staff. We’ll also explore different ways to optimize the process for the capabilities of the QA testers. Learn more about different types of testing (language reviews, formatting, functionality, automation) and how to effectively combine these processes to produce the right quality for your job. #lavacon

1. GALA presents:
Quality Control for Translations
The Best Plans, Processes, and People
Stacey Brown, Mindlink Resources
sbrown@mindlinkresources.com
@Mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

2. The Resource for the Language
Industry
Globalization and Localization Association
2013

3. What is GALA?
GALA is the world's largest, non‐profit association for the
language industry. GALA provides resources, education,
and advocacy for the language business. Member
companies are vendors and buyers of language services
and technologies.
www.gala‐global.org

4. GALA Resources
Learn about translation trends, strategies, and
technologies right from your desktop:
•
•
•
•
Free publications and articles
Industry blog
Weekly webinars
Conference recordings
www.gala‐global.org

5. Annual conference on multilingual strategy
Istanbul
March 23‐26, 2014

6. Istanbul
Buenos Aires
Delhi
Regional and Topic Focused Events
Local Networking Events

7. Collective Research, Innovation, and
Standards Program (CRISP)
10 projects and initiatives to improve the
translation industry
• Promotes effective use of standards
• Builds awareness of best practices
• Helps the localization community make open
standards work
www.gala‐global.org

8. "We joined GALA because of the unique perspective its members
and conferences offers. GALA is about the business of localization
with great insights on not just how to localize, but about how to
run a localized business. Clients have a great deal to learn, and to
share, in an setting that steps outside the process and looks in.“
Wayne Bourland
Director, Global Localization Team
Dell
"Amway joined GALA because it is THE go-to association for the
industry. We wanted to participate in and belong to an
organization that supports localization standards and best
practices. Through GALA, we are able to provide feedback and
help guide the future of the industry.“
Catherine Guinon
Manager, Digital Operations
Amway Corporation
www.gala‐global.org/join

9. About the Speaker
• Stacey Brown
– Owner, Mindlink Resources, LLC
– Background as a technical trainer
– Worked as a Quality Manager for 14 years
– Blogs about language quality and other topics at
www.mindlinkresources.com
– Volunteers with GALA Standards Initiative
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

10. Goals
• What is localization quality and why is it
important?
• What are different actions at different stages
in localization production to produce highest
quality?
• What are different testing options?
Quality isn’t just a step in the
process. . .
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

11. What is Quality?
“The difficulty in defining quality is to translate future
needs of the user into measurable characteristics, so
that a product can be designed and turned out to give
satisfaction at a price that the user will pay.
This is not easy, and as soon as one feels fairly
successful in the endeavor, he finds that the needs of
the consumer have changed, competitors have moved
in, etc.”
–Deming
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

12. How you want your clients to
react to your product. . .
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

13. What really happens to your customers if
you don’t integrate quality into process…
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

14. Why is Quality Important?
• Benefits of good quality
–Customer satisfaction
–Schedule predictability
–Better team morale
–It’s cheaper!
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

15. Quality Ranks of 20 Countries
In the US, most software projects at 85% defect removal efficiency
(DRE) even after testing.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Japan
India
Denmark
South Korea
Switzerland
Israel
Canada
UK
Sweden
Norway
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
United States
Brazil
France
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Finland
Capers Jones, The Economics of Software Quality
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

16. What could possibly go wrong?
• Common problems seen in localization projects:
– Translation mistakes
– Graphics issues
– Cultural
inappropriateness
– Truncation
– Broken Links
– Wrong language
– Corrupted Characters
– Inconsistency
– Etc.
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

17. Set up the Foundation for Quality
• Quality isn’t a “step”.
• Quality is effected at
each stage of the
process:
– Team Building
– Project
Planning/Budgeting
– Production
– QA
QA
Production
Project Planning
Team Building

18. Most Successful Projects Integrate
Quality at Every Step
Team Building
Plan/Prepare
Production
(graphics,
translation,
DTP)
QA/Evaluation
Quality
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

19. Step 1: Team Building
• Quality Actions
Team Building
– Keep an updated database
– Qualify resources before the
project hits
– Prepare for human errors
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

20. Step 1: Team Building
• Most translation
projects include the
following personnel:
–
–
–
–
PM
Engineer
Translators (contractors)
QA Testers (sometimes
contractors)
PM
Translator Engineer
@Mindlinker @LavaCon
QA

21. Step 1: Team Building Database
• Create partnerships
– Use industry associations
(GALA)
• Track contractor
information in a database
• Thoroughly screen
contractors
• Provide feedback and
keep a record

22. Step 1: Team Building
Qualify Linguists
• Qualifications for Linguistic Testers
– Native speakers
– Good English skills
– Good technical skills
– Good eye for detail
– Good critical thinkers
• Screen thoroughly (check references, test
skills, when not working out—remove
immediately)
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

23. Step 1: Team Building
Human Errors
• Human errors will happen. Have a plan for
dealing with them.
– Checks and balances
– Root cause analysis
– Automate repetitive tasks
– Use tools
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

24. Step 2: Project Planning
• Quality Actions
Plan/Prepare
– Use a project plan
– Determine project quality
expectations up front
– Use a test plan
– Follow a standard
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

25. Step 2: Project Planning
Create a Project Plan
• Create project plan
– Objective
– Estimates
– Stakeholders
– Structure
– Steps
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

26. Very high
Step 2: Project Planning
Ex. of quality objectives
Marketing
Internal memo
Medical
Internal
Training
“Good Enough”
Legal
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

27. Step 2: Project Planning
Create a Test Plan
• Determine Test Passes/Schedule
– Pre Translation
• Psuedo Translation
• Internationalization
– Translation
• Editing (provides initial audience, critique)
• Proofread (look for punctuation, grammar)
– Post Translation
• Multiple Passes of Testing (functional)
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

28. Step 2: Project Planning
Follow a Standard
QA Definition
Description
Minor
Any error of a lesser severity than major
Major
• Error in highly visible part of doc or software, i.e. header,
TOC, menu command, help/CBT topic
• Error resulting in a misleading statement
• Minor error repeated in several locations
• Previous QA feedback not applied
• Error resulting in potentially offensive statement
Critical
• Error in highly visible part of documentation or software
• Major error repeated in several locations
• Localization error causing application to crash or negatively
modifies/misrepresents functionality of the software
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

29. Step 2: Project Planning
Follow a Standard
Error Categories
Description
Mistranslation
Incorrect understanding of the source text
Accuracy
Omissions, Additions, Cross-references, Headers and Footers
Terminology
Glossary adherence
Language
Consists of Grammar, Semantics, Spelling, Punctuation
Style
Adherence to Style Guidelines
Country
Country standard, local suitability
Consistency
GUI-terminology, Cross-project terminology, Abbreviation
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

30. Step 2: Project Planning
Follow a Standard
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

31. Step 3: Production
Production
(graphics,
translation,
DTP)
• Quality Actions:
– Translation
• Style Guides/Terminology
• Translation Memories
• Machine Translation
– Engineering
• Limit graphic usage
• Use proper document formatting
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

32. Step 4: Quality Assurance
• Quality Actions:
QA/Evaluation
– Use Testing Tools
• Select tools by using LT Advisor on
GALA website
– Use automated testing
• Link checkers, spell checkers
– Split language review/functional
QA
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon

33. Testing Options Depending on
Quality Level
Quality Action
“Good
Enough”
“Good”
“Best”
Use translation tools
X
X
Use Machine Translation/Post Editing
X
X
Use Automation Tools (spell checks, grammar
check, link checkers, etc.)
X
X
X
X
X
Post Production QA (native speaker)
Back Translation
X
X
Translation Proofread/Edit
X
X
Internationalization Testing
X
X
Functional Testing
X
X
In-Country Usability Testing
X
@mindlinker @gala_global @LavaCon