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Multi-national/language collaboration

Multi-national/language collaboration

Multi-national/language collaboration

(OP)
Hello All

Our company is multi-national with design and manufacturing functions in the UK, USA, India and Germany. Our German operation is relatively new aquisition and we are currently in the process of integrating them with our company standards, systems and processes.

The challenge we face however, is how to cope with the language barrier between the German operation and the other 3 nations as the UK, USA and India all use English as their primary language of business.

How do other companies that have multi national bases handle their drawings for example? Our initial thought was to put by lingual notes on the drawings but the interpretation between English and German can vary. Also this can impact on the drawing layout as space can be limited. Should we just use a single language depending upon which countries business owns the design and drawing? If so, how does this affect the ability to source components internationally.

Whilst English is obviously widely used throughout Europe and the World, the staff, both shop floor and office speak very little if any English at our German facility, I had to have an interpreter for a lot of the training, they also use 1st angle instead of our 3rd.

Any information would be most welcome.

Best regards

Simon (NX4.0.4.2 MP4 - TCEng 9.1.3.6.c)

www.jcb.com

RE: Multi-national/language collaboration

Simon,

I work with a German company with offices all over the world. I of course am a native English speaker. I have had dealings with Asian and even South American countries. For the most part a younger generation of Germans will have been taught to speak English in the schools to a fairly high standard. Younger engineers from many of the Asian countries are similarly competent with English. On some occasions we used Babelfish or an other such web based translator to get a sense of the odd written item that we were unsure of.

I don't attempt to speak a language that I'm not fluent in. You'll get as far as an opening sentence using a phrase book, then falter trying to decipher a fluent reply. I always learn the basics of politeness and thank my colleagues for speaking English where possible. I am keen to excuse any falterings or embarrassment on their part in terms of my appreciation for their efforts on my behalf.

The main thing you may strike with the Germans is that they use a lot of first angle projection in industry there, whereas we always use third angle. That can be confusing. Never print or fax drawings without the projection symbol shown it is easy to make an error if you're working in an unfamiliar projection. You should start by asking to clarify their understanding.

Be considerate in a savvy way of anyone you deal with assuming that you know least of anyone it pays dividends. One example of this is that I have learned to ask people whom I meet and work with on CAD for the first time about the state of their color vision. Sometimes you'll talk for an hour about the red line and the green line, not realizing they're trying hard to compensate nodding a lot and understanding very little. If you have a language barrier you'll have to work harder to have the other guy get what you're saying. Use pictures and presentations. If I'm instructing a foreigner I have them repeat back the instruction until I'm satisfied. Never say "do you understand?" Instead ask "What do you understand?" It probably sounds a bit bossy but especially where time zones are involved you either get it right or lose a day. A good colleague of whom I've met many will automatically provide you with that kind of feedback when they understand, and I automatically do it with them.

Enjoy the experience,

Hudson

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