TS EN ISO 17100

TS EN ISO 17100 focuses on the essential processes, resources, and organisational arrangements behind professional translation services, rather than on translation as a purely linguistic act. It provides a common technical framework for a translation service provider to show that its service can meet client requirements and other applicable specifications.

What it governs in the translation service chain

In general technical terms, translation service delivery is a multi-step activity that may include source-text analysis, translation, revision, consistency checks, and final quality verification. The standard is aimed at human translation services and at ensuring that the processes and resources used are structured in a controlled way. This helps a translation service provider align its internal rules with client instructions, relevant industry practice, and applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

Clear boundaries of the standard

• Raw machine translation output plus post-editing is outside the scope of this standard.
• Interpreting services are not covered by this standard.
• The standard provides a framework for demonstrating conformity for specified translation services, but it does not cover every language service in general.

Seen in this context, TS EN ISO 17100 treats translation quality as more than the final text alone: it links quality to competence, workflow control, resources, and verification. Concepts such as translation, revision, terminology consistency, and final checking are central to professional translation practice, and the standard organises them into a service-management framework.