Drawing Translation = Revision?
Drawing Translation = Revision?
(OP)
Hello, I do not know if this question has been asked, but I apologize if it has and I could not find the thread.
I work for a company in the USA that has a French parent company. As such, many of our designs and drawings come from France, in French. This is not a huge issue as the math is the same (metric units) but there are always some notes that need translating on drawings.
My question is, does strict language translation require a drawing revision? So far it seems that we have not been creating a new revision of the plans for just language sake, but I am curious to see if there are any standards governing this practice.
Thank you for your input.
I work for a company in the USA that has a French parent company. As such, many of our designs and drawings come from France, in French. This is not a huge issue as the math is the same (metric units) but there are always some notes that need translating on drawings.
My question is, does strict language translation require a drawing revision? So far it seems that we have not been creating a new revision of the plans for just language sake, but I am curious to see if there are any standards governing this practice.
Thank you for your input.





RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
Making a new drawing with English only?
Taking the latest rev of the French drawing and making in bi-lingual without changing the rev?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
FAQ371-376
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-1091
FAQ559-716
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
The English drawing has the same number and rev. as the French? If a vendor calls for a new copy of drawing 123 rev. C, which one does he get?
How do you know if a French drawing has an English Equivalent?
If the French drawing changes, what do you do? Make "equivalent" changes to the already existing English drawing (if one exists and someone in France knows about it)? Take the new French revision and translate it all again?
If a US vendor points out an error or need for clarification what happens? Does only the English drawing get updated, or the French as well? Previous questions get asked again for this situation.
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
My current idea is some sort of shared webspace that can be updated from either end (of the Atlantic.) Perhaps with an automatic update to "sync" the folder groups together.
We do have at least one copy of PDMworks around here, would that be able to cover inter-office revisions? Or is it only suited for intra-office management?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
I agree very strongly with MintJulep. What you are actually doing is forking your documentation. You generate 456_RevA from 123_RevC.
If you do it this way you can program your PDM system to record the fork. If someone in France wishes to revise drawing 123, he can call you and warn you.
JHG
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
About translations...back in 'the bad old days', our user manuals had been translated using the services of a professor at a well-known university. Our bi-lingual field staff could be heard howling with laughter in the background over the speaker phone. It seems the direct translation of a portion of the instructions was, at least risque, if not actually obscene. Once again, slang usage trumps formal definition.
RedPen
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
regards,
Hydroformer
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
Hydroformer and MadMango,
If you are using translated drawings for fabrication, they have to be translated accurately. The concept of fabrication drawings being "for reference only" cannot work. Your options are to generate and maintain an accurate translated drawing, or do all fabrication in the country where the drawings originated.
JHG
RE: Drawing Translation = Revision?
copy. It is our responsibility to see that the
translation is correct. We do reference the
other countries drawing and rev no. on our
drawing. Our revision blocks only reference
changes that we make. I have seen double borders
on a few drawings. The inside border is the country
of origin and the outside border would be ours but
in these cases we do not translate metric to inch.
We kind of imply with this method that we are simply
reselling the customer of origin's product but
ensure engineering support of that product.
I am certain that other methods work for other
companies. It just helps to be on the same page.