What is ISO 17100?
ISO 17100 is the international standard for translation services. It sets out the requirements that a quality-assured translation process must meet, from translator qualifications to the mandatory revision of each translation by a second specialist.
Rather than describing the outcome of a single text, the standard describes the process behind it: who translates, who reviews, what resources are used, and which steps are followed. Certification under ISO 17100 confirms that a language service provider consistently follows this process.
What does ISO 17100 require?
Three requirements form the core of the standard.
Qualified specialised translators
Translations are carried out exclusively by individuals with proven translation, language and subject-matter expertise, evidenced through education, qualification or relevant professional experience.
Revision in line with the four-eyes principle
Every translation is mandatorily revised by a second qualified person. This involves a comparison of source and target text in terms of content, completeness and language.
Defined process and resources
Project Management, terminology work, technical resources and data security follow defined, documented procedures.
Important: ISO 17100 covers the human specialised translation only. Post-editing of machine translations is expressly excluded. ISO 18587 applies to that.
And ISO 18587? The standard for post-editing of machine translations
ISO 18587 is the international standard for post-editing: the thorough human revision of machine-generated translations. It starts exactly where ISO 17100 ends.
The rise of neural machine translation has created a need to standardise this process too. ISO 18587 therefore defines the requirements for full post-editing and post-editor qualification. Post-editors require competence in translation, language, research, culture, technology, and the subject matter. In Germany, the standard is known as DIN ISO 18587.
Full post-editing
The result is indistinguishable from a human translation. It’s been fully reviewed and corrected. This is the standard governed by ISO 18587.
Light post-editing
A lighter revision that merely makes the text comprehensible. It is suitable for internal or short-lived content, but not for published specialist texts.
You can find out how COMLOGOS uses machine translation with post-editing in line with ISO 18587 on the page AI-assisted translation and post-editing.
ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 working together
The two standards complement each other: ISO 17100 safeguards human specialised translation, while ISO 18587 governs quality-assured post-editing of machine translation. Providers who hold both standards cover both routes with the same quality requirements: the classic human translation and the AI-assisted one.
How do ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 fit in?
Alongside the translation-specific standards, two general management standards are also relevant: ISO 9001 governs a company's quality management and ISO 27001 governs information security. COMLOGOS is certified under ISO 9001, ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 (via LICS), and has also aligned its processes with ISO 27001.
The standards at a glance:
ISO 17100
Translation services: Process, qualification, revision by a second person.
ISO 18587
Post-editing of machine translations (in Germany: DIN ISO 18587
ISO 9001
Quality management at company level.
ISO 27001
Information security: COMLOGOS aligns its processes with this standard.
What does this mean for clients?
Reliable quality
A defined, audited process instead of random outcomes across all projects, languages and versions.
Traceability
Certified providers are audited on a regular basis. You can rely on documented, repeatable processes.
Lower risk
Especially for safety- and liability-relevant texts, a standard-compliant process reduces the risk of errors and liability.
Further information
AI-assisted translation and post-editing
Machine translation with full post-editing in accordance with ISO 18587.
Go to the service →Technical Translation
Specialised translations in accordance with ISO 17100, following the four-eyes principle.
Go to the service →Certified Quality
Take a look at our certifications and quality processes.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions about ISO 17100 and ISO 18587
What is ISO 17100?
ISO 17100 is the international standard for translation services. It sets out requirements for the translation process, including translator qualifications and a mandatory second specialised revision.
What is ISO 18587?
ISO 18587 is the international standard for fully post-editing machine-generated translations. It defines the requirements for the post-editing process and post-editor qualifications. In Germany, it applies as DIN ISO 18587.
What is the difference between ISO 17100 and ISO 18587?
ISO 17100 covers human specialised translation including revision by a second person. ISO 18587 governs the post-editing of machine-generated translations. ISO 17100 explicitly excludes pure post-editing, for which ISO 18587 applies instead.
What does 'certified under ISO 17100' mean?
It means that an independent certification body has reviewed and confirmed that the provider consistently follows the process described in the standard. The certification is audited on a regular basis.
Is COMLOGOS certified under ISO 17100 and ISO 18587?
Yes. COMLOGOS is certified under ISO 9001, ISO 17100 and ISO 18587, and also aligns its processes with ISO 27001 (information security).
What is the four-eyes principle under ISO 17100?
It refers to the mandatory revision of every translation by a second qualified specialist, who carries out an independent comparison of the source and target texts to check the content, completeness and language.
Translations to Standard, Verifiably
Want specialist translations with documented quality in accordance with ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 standards? Talk to us about your project. We'll help you determine your requirements, languages and process.
ISO 17100 · ISO 18587 · ISO 9001 · LICS · four-eyes principle · since 2007
