The manufacturing industry has become thoroughly globalized. An automobile company in Japan effortlessly caters to its customers in India. However, this “effortless process” is way more complicated than it seems. With rising global demands, manufacturers face some pressing issues, such as communicating with diverse consumers due to language barriers. Fortunately, with the help of technical translations provided by professional linguistic services, manufacturers can address the problem of linguistic differences.
In this blog, we will discuss some key aspects of technical translations and explore their role in assisting global manufacturers.
What Are Technical Translations?
Technical translation is the method of professionally converting industry-specific technical content into several languages. Language service providers employ skilled linguists with domain expertise to offer accurate translations without losing the essence of the original meaning.
This service is vital for translating:
- User Manuals
- Product Specifications
- Safety Documentation
- Operation Guides
- Engineering Drawings
- Maintenance Instructions
- Warranty and Legal Disclaimers
In precision-driven industries like automobiles, electronics, and heavy machinery, a single mistranslation can have serious consequences. Hence, technical translation services are paramount, not just for their linguistic capabilities, but also for deep domain knowledge.
How Mistranslation Happens in the Manufacturing Industry?
Over the years, mistranslation in the manufacturing industry has reduced drastically, but it still persists. Interestingly, some manufacturers try to translate technical content themselves or by using online translation tools, which leads to more errors.
Some common problems faced while translating at one’s own risk are
- Lack of domain expertise.
- Poor translation of complex terms and jargon.
- Failure of regulatory compliance with translated content.
- No strict quality checks to ensure error-free information.
If these reasons aren’t enough to partner with professional technical translation services, then maybe the following case study might be.
Case Study: Forklift Manufacturer and Mistranslation
A major American forklift manufacturer launched its latest series in the European markets. To save additional costs, the company had translated its technical content, such as user guides, safety manuals, and product descriptions, by itself to cater to diverse linguistic consumers. However, the launch was not as smooth as they might have hoped.
Upon launch, various German customers complained about misinformation in the safety instructions.
While investigating this complaint, the forklift manufacturer concluded:
“The content in the safety manual was precise; however, there were some mistranslated texts in it.”
Taking immediate action, the manufacturer hired a globally renowned technical translation service and retranslated all safety manuals and product descriptions into several European languages, including German.
Once the translation and quality check were complete, the company distributed all these materials across Europe, along with an apology for any inconvenience.
The key takeaway from this scenario is that the importance of technical translations is not just about the language—they are also about precision, safety, and brand reputation!
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Why should Manufacturers Partner Technical Translation Services?
For technical content that contains complex terms and jargon, it is highly recommended to use professional technical translation services.
The reason being
- Technical translation services employ linguists who understand both the source and target languages, along with the industry of the content.
- These translators ensure consistent use of terms, specifically for documents like user manuals and safety guides.
- Technical translation services don’t just focus on precision but also on context by adapting certain terms according to the target market. For example, the standard unit of measurement is different in American and European markets; hence, it would require extra care.
Are Machine Translations Truly Reliable?
Rather than employing a professional manufacturing translation service, some companies choose machine translations (MT) to cut costs. Though machine translations have rapidly evolved over the years, they are still nowhere near human translations—especially for technical industries.
Here’s why machine translation isn’t enough to translate technical documents:
- Cannot handle contextual nuances.
- Does not accurately translate complex industry-specific terms and jargon.
- Machine-translated content has no legal validity.
- High risk of data security, especially for intellectual property.
Even so, if a firm still chooses to translate its content using machines or AI, then professional machine translation post-editing (MTPE) service might be handy. These services carefully review machine-translated content using human linguists to ensure flawless accuracy and cultural relevance.
AI translations and machine translations have come a long way, and to completely discredit their reliability would not be right. These services will play a key role in transforming the translation industry in the future.
Want to explore more about the future of this industry? Check out the blog: Translation Industry 2025: How Does the Next Generation Look Like?
Rely on Professional Linguistic Agencies
For the manufacturing industry, professional technical translations play as vital a role as the product itself. Today, it has become essential for manufacturers to invest in premium linguistic services. One such top-tier translation service in India is Somya Translators, certified under ISO 17100:2015.
Partnering with us gives manufacturing companies a distinct advantage because
- We employ skilled technical linguists with diverse language and industry proficiency.
- We follow all legal regulations to make translated content compliant with international safety standards.
- We have a quick turnaround time, thanks to our efficient workflow.
- We implement several quality checks to ensure flawless accuracy in every translated document.
So, if you seek resounding global success for your products, don’t leave accurate translations up to chance. Rely on us, Somya Translators, and get the highest quality linguistic assistance for several industries.
After all, we ardently believe that precision in language is as important as precision in machinery.
Feel free to reach out to us now for any language requirements.