Saving Potential in Technical Documentation

Requirements in Technical Documentation

During the design and implementation of a machine or system, the Technical Documentation unit receives a lot of information that is generated in various departments. For technical writers, it is important to receive such as soon as possible, not only just shortly before the shipment deadline. Therefore, the internal information flow should be coordinated efficiently, especially between the writers and the development and product management, in order to minimize the time input for corrections from the outset.

Another important purpose of the technical documentation is to prevent faulty handling of the product, thereby reducing the liability risk. Moreover, it must fulfill statutory requirements, e.g. the EU directive concerning machinery.

Cost Optimization Begins Prior to the Translation

Maximum efficiency in the creation of multilingual contents starts with the source text. If the source text is entered in an editorial system in modular form, contents can be produced for various types of media with little effort, and many sections can be reused.

Terminology Management: Using the Same Term Consistently

"Wrench" or "spanner"? "Sneaker" or "tennis shoe"? Selecting the right word often poses a challenge. Due to the widespread use of terminology in all company units—from sales and marketing to product documentation to the board of directors—there is a lot of potential for terminological diversity.

Using the same word for the same concept has a significant impact on the external image of an enterprise and its products and increasingly represents a cost factor, especially in view of the growing number of languages translated into.