Manual Creation and Quality Improvement Examples

[Case Study] Creation and Translation of Measurement Equipment Manuals

Do you have any concerns, such as etc.?

Introducing Human Science's solutions based on manual creation and translation projects for domestic sensor, measuring, control, and measurement equipment manufacturers.

Customer's Requests and Challenges

We have received an inquiry for manual creation and translation from a customer through our website.

1. Want to ship products in all languages at the same time (speed)

2. Concerns about translation quality in specialized fields (accuracy)

3. The translator changes every time a request is made, making it difficult to maintain quality. The terminology and expressions are inconsistent.

4. Japanese manuals are difficult to understand. There are also translation errors.

Through phone calls and meetings, we will listen to your challenges, provide estimates, and propose a plan of action.

・Image sensor, image processing equipment

・Digital Microscope

・Laser Microscope

・3D Measuring Instrument

We have been continuously assisting with the creation of Japanese manuals, as well as translating into English, German, Chinese, and Korean since 2009.

1. Want to ship products in all languages at the same time (speed)

In one project, the Japanese version of a 450-page user manual was revised and delivered in English, Chinese, Korean, and German translations within approximately 3.5 months.

To shorten the creation period, translation began from the middle of the Japanese version creation process.

Reflect changes smoothly in other languages while changes occur in product development specifications.

"With thorough implementation of the "Difference Management Sheet", "Translation Check Sheet", "DTP Check Sheet", and the "Operational Management Sheet" that manages them, we have achieved "0 cases" of missed differences."

 

Human Science has 15 in-house technical writers and over 30 translators for each language (supporting 40 languages).

We will assign the best writer and translator from our abundant resources.

Project Structure

In creating the Japanese version, we wrote about 800 pages in approximately 2 months with a team of 5 writers.

We will take custody of the product prototype under development, store it in the security room, and have the writer write while checking the prototype and specifications.

When specifications change, firmware updates will also be performed, so there is no need for customers to go through the trouble of changing specifications.

>>About Security Room (Confidential Information Management)

In the security room, only project personnel will enter and work.

Managed by a password set by the stakeholders to prevent unauthorized access.

2. Concerns about translation quality in specialized fields (accuracy)

When ordering a translation of the instruction manual, one of the concerns that customers may have is "accuracy".

Not only translating Japanese to English, but also assigning translators with experience as in-house translators at measurement instrument manufacturers and familiar with industry-specific terminology and expressions.

In this project, a translator with 9 years of experience and 5 years of experience working for a measurement instrument manufacturer (design, translation) was in charge of the translation.

Translator's History

Translation Experience: 9 years

・Measurement and Control System Manual

・Measuring Instruments / Test Measurement Equipment Sales Promotion Materials

・Technical Documents

・Patent Documents

Measurement Equipment Manufacturer Work Experience: 5 years

・Measurement Instrument Design

・Measurement and Control Equipment/Analytical Instrument Sales Promotion

At Human Science Co., Ltd., we conduct selection and trial evaluations of translators for each "field" such as "measurement equipment", "FA equipment", "system development", and "medical care" when registering.

Native speakers will be considered for review and achievements, and only contracted translators will be assigned to the project.

We have strict standards, and the passing rate is 20%.

After the project is completed, the translator will receive feedback from the client and internal reviewer.

Register evaluations such as quality and responsiveness for projects in the translator database and utilize them for the next translation project.

3. The translator changes every time a request is made, making it difficult to maintain quality. The terminology and expressions are inconsistent.

When translating a large number of manuals in a short period of time, it is necessary to divide the work among multiple translators.

Although the work speed will increase, inconsistency in terminology and expressions may occur.

Established terminology and style guide, conducted "visualization of standards", and achieved stability in quality.

Benefits of Terminology and Style Guide Maintenance

Translation Cost Reduction

Inconsistent terminology and expressions can cause a decrease in reuse rates when using translation memory tools such as Trados, leading to increased costs.
By establishing conventions for unified terminology and expressions, cost reduction can also be expected.

Decrease in number of inquiries to help desk and support center

By avoiding user confusion caused by different expressions even with the same meaning, it can also lead to reducing the operating costs of the help desk.

 

 

Continuous operation of translation memory, glossary, and style guide

 

For customers who do not have a glossary or style guide, we will propose the development of a glossary and style guide through the following process.

Before Translation

• 1. Review of the document to be translated
• 2. Identification of Terminology and Style to be Unified

Translation in progress

• 1. Distribute the documents to be translated and the glossary/style guide to the translator and reviewer.
• 2. Translation and proofreading based on terminology and style guide

After Delivery

• Update Glossary and Style Guide

 

Stabilization of Quality through Utilization of Tools

Conducted checks using Trados and proprietary proofreading tools.

Prevent errors that cannot be caught by human eyes and further enhance quality.

 

Checklist

Translation omissions, unified translation, character garbling, numerical values, terminology, format check, spell check, style check, language rules

 

Check Tool Example

Trados QA Checker, QA Distiller, Xbench, UI Checker (our proprietary tool)

The Localization Project Manager customizes the necessary check items for each project.

4. Japanese manuals are difficult to understand. There are also translation errors.

The instruction manual was created by the development team's engineers.

To create a "user-friendly manual", different document creation techniques are required compared to creating a "specification document".

Translating vague sentences as they are can result in incorrect translations and lead to a decrease in quality.

 

Technical writers analyzed both Japanese and English manuals. They proposed improvement measures, leading to an improvement in the quality of the manuals.

Benefits of Improving Japanese Manuals

Avoid mistranslations and low quality

Incorrect operation methods can lead to loss of trust and even accidents.
Improving the quality of Japanese, English, and multilingual manuals will increase customer satisfaction.

Decrease in number of inquiries to help desk and support center

By providing accurate and easy-to-understand manuals to users, it can also lead to reducing the operating costs of the help desk.

Translation Cost Reduction

Inconsistent terminology and expressions can cause a decrease in reuse rates when using translation memory tools such as Trados, leading to increased costs.
By establishing conventions for unified terminology and expressions, cost reduction can also be expected.

A writer well-versed in manufacturing-related products is in charge of writing.

We have assembled a production team consisting of experienced writers in creating operation manuals for precision equipment.

Technical Writer with 28 years of experience

Production Results

Precision equipment hardware manual, software operation manual, help
CAD/CAM related training manual
Equipment network configuration manual
Equipment management system operation manual, operation manual

Translation Coordinator with 16 years of experience

Production Results (Example)

Measurement Equipment Control Application Operation Manual
　※Based on specifications, actual equipment, and interview results
Laser Microscope User Manual
Medical Equipment Operation Manual
Mobile Phone and Smartphone Operation Manual

Technical Writer with 33 years of experience

Production Results

Measurement equipment/analyzer, mobile devices, OA equipment, AV equipment, PC-related equipment/peripheral devices
PC software (general applications), corporate internal systems (dedicated applications)
※Experience in manufacturing and production management at domestic manufacturers

Related Services

Manual Creation

Manual In-house Support

Manual Improvement

Localization