ASTM F3130-18

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3130 − 18
Standard Practice for
Language Service Companies
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3130; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This practice specifies the basic policies, processes, procedures, and resources needed by a
LanguageServiceCompany(LSC)toprovidethequalityservicesrequiredbyitsclients.Thispractice
is meant to be a general introduction to the requirements of an LSC, but we leave it for future
exposition as to the specific standards for specified functions including, but not limited to, translation,
interpreting, language training, and language testing.
ThispracticerepresentsaminimumrequirementsforallLanguageServiceCompanies,butismeant
to be supplemented by specific standards pertinent to specific service areas, such as the services
enumerated above. By adhering to the requirements of the practice, an LSC will consistently meet or
exceed client expectations, and that level of performance will bring substantial benefit to the client as
well as greater professional recognition to those companies that are certified to this practice.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This practice establishes minimum management
F1562 Guide for Use-Oriented Foreign Language Instruc-
infrastructure, operations, and development requirements for
tion
an LSC to meet the diverse and evolving needs of its clients as
F2089 Practice for Language Interpreting
expressed in the job specifications for assignments, as outlined
F2575 Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation
in a Job Needs Analysis. The principles presented in this
F2889 Practice for Assessing Language Proficiency
practice are of value to all LSCs and in particular to those
2.2 ISO Standards:
companies starting up in the industry and working to achieve
ISO 2603 Simultaneous Interpreting – Permanent
the description of an LSC eligible for certification in Section 5
Booths – Requirements
of this practice.
ISO 4043 Simultaneous Interpreting – Mobile Booths – Re-
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
quirements
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems – Requirements
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ISO 13611 Interpreting – Guidelines for Community Inter-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
preting
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ISO 17100 Translation Services – Requirements forTransla-
tion Services
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
ISO 18587 Translation Services – Post-editing of Machine
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Translation Output – Requirements
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ISO 20109 Simultaneous Interpreting – Equipment – Re-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
quirements
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F43 on Language Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Services and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F43.05 on the ASTM website.
Language Services Companies. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
Current edition approved March 1, 2018. Published March 2018. DOI: 10.1520/ Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
F3130-18. Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3130 − 18
ISO 29991 Language Learning Services Outside Formal 4. Summary of Practice
Education – Requirements
4.1 This practice describes the essential operating functions
ISO/TS 11669 Translation Projects – General Guidance
necessary for an LSC to satisfy its clients in delivering
2.3 Other Standards:
consistent and reliable value in its language service products.
CAN/CGSB-131.10 Translation Services
4.2 This practice establishes the minimum resources neces-
EN 15038 Translation Services – Service Requirements
sary for a company to withstand adverse events and success-
3. Terminology
fully deliver value to its clients.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4.3 This practice establishes the principle that an LSC must
3.1.1 client—the entity which contracts with the LSC and is
demonstrate acceptable quality for the delivery of its services
responsible for paying for the services rendered.
or products, or both.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Aclientmayormaynotbeanenduser,
4.4 This practice creates auditable criteria, which are in-
that is, one or more individuals who utilize the language
tended to form the basis for certification of an LSC to this
service.
practice by an authorized certifying body.
3.1.2 continuous improvement—the ongoing process of
identifying systemic weaknesses in all operations and taking
5. General Requirements for Language Service
corrective action to eliminate them, or ameliorate them if
Companies to Certify Specific Language Services
elimination is not feasible.
5.1 Experience:
3.1.3 demonstrate—to provide evidence to an independent
5.1.1 The LSC shall have had at least three (3) years of
certifying body, through mutually agreed upon written
continuous operation providing the language service(s) for
documentation, observation, or interview, or combinations
whichitisseekingcertificationwithoutinterruptionpriortothe
thereof, that a task or function can be and, in fact, is performed
date on which certification is requested.
according to the requirements of the standard.
5.1.2 For each language service for which certification is
3.1.4 evaluate—to test or measure, or both, skill and profi-
sought, the LSC shall provide at least three (3) references that
ciencies applicable to a specific function, usually used for
rate the company as satisfactory in performance. The clients
language function.
who submit references shall, in aggregate, represent at least
3.1.5 Job Needs Analysis—a process which solicits neces-
15 %oftheLSC’sbillingforthatserviceforthepreviousthree
sary information to identify the language services required by
(3) years. No single client shall represent more than 90 % of
a client and ensures that the job specifications reflect these
the LSC’s billing for that service for the previous three years.
requirements.
5.1.3 During each of its three (3) years of continuous
operation, the LSC shall have grossed at least USD $100,000
3.1.6 Language Service—a tangible or intangible economic
(or equivalent) per annum or an aggregate of USD $500,000
good that facilitates communication in written, oral, or visual
(or equivalent), or both, for the language services for which it
form between two or more parties where there is insufficient
ability by the parties to directly communicate or comprehend, is seeking certification.
or both, each other linguistically.
5.2 Human Resources:
3.1.7 Language Service Company (LSC)—an organization
5.2.1 The LSC shall demonstrate the ability to recruit
that provides one or more language services.
employees including but not limited to the ability to publish
advertisements for jobs, screen job applicants, and conduct
3.1.8 Quality Assurance (QA)—the Quality Management
interviews and background checks. Examples of the above
activities focused on auditing process procedures to provide
shall be subject to review to ensure they comply with all legal
confidence to management, customers, and third parties that
and policy requirements including but not limited to avoiding
job requirements can be fulfilled.
discrimination by age, race, national origin, religion, and
3.1.9 Quality Control (QC)—the Quality Management ac-
sexual orientation. The LSC should consult the referenced
tivities focused on monitoring and assessing performance in
ASTMStandards(GuideF1562,PracticeF2089,GuideF2575,
real-time to verify job requirements are being fulfilled.
and Practice F2889), as applicable to the service provided, for
3.1.10 Quality Management System—a quality management
additional guidance in the provision of services. The LSC may
system (QMS) is a formalized system that documents
also consult additional standards and guidance as appropriate.
processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving qual-
5.2
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