Project Management Services
M&L has a trusted quality management process based on our experiences from past localization projects. The basics of the project management are to think customer satisfaction first by understanding customer's needs through repeated discussions and hearing sessions. Consistent implementation of a right process leads to successful localization projects. M&L assigns a dedicated project manager to each customer to meet their specific needs. We add an additional process with our standardized process to flexibly respond to the customer's unique requirements.
Consultation and Quotation
When receiving a project opportunity, we immediately assign a dedicated project manager and have a series of meetings or consultations to confirm the scope of the project and receive project documents and source files to be localized. Then, we examine the source files and propose a localization quotation based on the project scope we confirmed.
Project Scheduling
Before getting started the project, we prepare the project schedule based on the customer's requested delivery date and confirm project resources allocation. The project schedule consists of translation, proofreading, QA, DTP and final delivery processes.
Project Setup and File Preparation
Before starting translation activities, we convert the source files to the translation memory-enabled file format. When using a new conversion tool, we check its functionality under the Japanese language environment by using actual English source files.
Translation
The project manager assigns translation staffs according to the project schedule. The assigned staffs check and see the style guide and terminology list provided by the project manager before starting the translation activity. The assigned staffs deliver their translation works according to the project schedule by using SDL TRADOS or other CAT tool for efficient and consistent high-quality translation.
Proofreading
In the proofreading process, the project manager or his or her assigned staff examines if any translation missing by checking the translated contents with the original contents. At the same time, the proofreader corrects redundant expressions or wording for clear and easy-to-understand translation.
QA (Quality Assurance)
Before the DTP process, the project manager prepares and submits the inquiry sheet to ask and confirm unclear expressions and new terminologies in the original contents found in the translation and proofreading processes.
On-site Product Validation under Japanese Environment (Optional)
M&L conducts on-site product validation under the Japanese language environment by checking hardware or software operations in line with the translated Japanese manuals and also checking GUI wording if any expression has difficulty in end-users' understanding. Usually, 7,000 to 10,000 works of the manual document can be validated in 8 hours or a day.
DTP and Help File Build
After the QA process, we correct the translation by incorporating the results of QA and start the document DTP process. Our DTP staff can use various DTP applications including Adobe InDesign, MS Word, Quark Express and FrameMaker as well as web-based. For help file compile or build, our staff has a lot of experiences in the projects using ROBOHELP, MADCAP Flare and HTLM help tools.
Final Check before Delivery
After the DTP process, the project manager conducts final checking before delivery. We examine our standard check items and the customer-defined check items and also conduct spot checking of DTP outputs. If any problem is found, we immediately rework the final deliverable to meet the customer's delivery requirement.
