Services Interpretation

Interpretation customers that SML serves are mainly from industrial enterprises. We have expertise in simultaneous interpretation for conferences, business negotiations, and technical training with consecutive interpretation. One specialty is interpretation for board meetings of joint ventures.

Our thorough approach to interpretation avoids pitfalls that may have been experienced by foreign companies visiting China. Such pitfalls include inadequate preparation or proficiency on the part of interpreters, or lack of understanding of the subject matter. We ensure that your communication goals can be achieved and you enjoy optimum return on your investment of time in China.

Step 1: Confirmation of customer requirements

Before the project starts, our Project Mana- ger sends a project confirmation list to the customer to confirm subject matter, time- frame, location, and other relevant details in written form.

Step 2: Project preparation

Our Project Manager requests all docu- ments and materials such as content for speeches or presentation files. These are then distributed to the interpreters who will be performing onsite tasks. For business negotiations, all SML participants review the materials to familiarize themselves with the customer’s intentions and goals. In the case of technical interpretation, SML resources also focus on technical back- ground and project status information as required. The Project Manager serves throughout as a single point of contact between SML resources and the customer to clarify any issues.

Step 3: Interpreter selection

At SML, we view interpreter selection as a crucial element in providing successful re- sults for our customers. Depending on the subject matter and the customer wishes, we qualify interpreters from two general categories: technical and commercial. For this purpose, we follow a strict selection procedure based on three criteria:

1.) Language ability: Most SML interpreters have honed their skills through many years of overseas study as well as rich on-the- job interpretation experience.

2.) Professional standards: SML assigns interpreters with relevant technical or pro- fessional backgrounds according to custo- mers’ specific needs. This is true of both technical interpreters and commercial interpreters.

3.) Overall quality: SML requires its inter- preters to have outstanding overall quality. SML arranges business etiquette training for interpreters, and a written procedure document, "Interpreters' Working Guidelines of SML (Shanghai) Translation & Consulting Co., Ltd." is also enforced. This document clearly states the expected performance standards such as politeness, compliance with customer requirements and, most importantly, respect for the confidentiality of our customers' business secrets.

Furthermore, SML selects back-up inter- preters for emergency use, thus guaran- teeing that our customer’s interpretation task will be successfully completed.

Step 4: Customer tests

In order to let customers get a better feeling for our interpreters' qualifications, we send interpreters’ CVs to customers and arrange telephone tests. If necessary, we can arrange a face-to-face communication test.

Step 5: Project follow-up and coordination

In large simultaneous interpretation projects including equipment services, an SML Pro- ject Manager will be on site all the time. If the project lasts for several weeks or months, interpreters are required to submit weekly reports in written form, and the Project Manager checks the working status with the customer weekly. A customer satisfaction survey will be sent to custo- mers regularly for quality evaluation, and the Project Manager checks each item carefully to make sure that all the custo- mer's requirements have been met.

Step 6: Summary and Evaluation

After the project has finished, the Project Manager informs the interpreters about the customer’s feedback, item by item. This helps interpreters improve their business and service standards. In this way, we strive to provide our customers with con- tinually improving service.