Tomedes Delivers Accurate Translation of Automotive Design Instructions for Seamless Team Collaboration

The client

Company name: NovaTech Lighting Solutions (Pseudonym)

What does the company do?

The company specializes in automotive lighting systems engineering and manufacturing

Deadline set by the client: 3 days

What do they need?

Translation of technical design and engineering documents from Korean to English to support internal collaboration during a team transition

The challenges

Every translation project brings unique hurdles, but engineering documentation poses some of the most complex. From technical language to organizational dynamics, several key challenges had to be tackled to ensure a seamless and professional engineering translation process.

Firstly, the biggest challenge was translating highly technical content filled with specialized engineering terms, abbreviations, and context-specific language. A study found that 68% of errors in engineering translations come from misunderstood terminology, underscoring the need for expert linguists. Tomedes tackles this with its AI-powered Key Terms Glossary, which identifies and defines critical terms before translation begins, helping professionals save time and ensure consistency.

Secondly, HR restructuring added extra complexity, with new team members stepping into roles mid-project, making clear, consistent documentation essential. Deloitte reports that poor communication during restructuring can cause productivity to drop by up to 24%. Tomedes helps prevent this by maintaining translator continuity, using consistent terminology, and applying its automated Style Guide Generator to ensure clarity and alignment across all project files.

Thirdly, engineering instructions and compliance documents must be translated with absolute accuracy, as even small errors can lead to serious issues. Miscommunication in technical content can increase project costs by up to 15% due to rework, delays, or quality failures. According to the Journal of Engineering and Technology Management. Tomedes addresses this risk with its Translation Quality Assurance Tool, which automatically checks translations for fluency, grammar, consistency, and accuracy, ensuring clear, correct, and compliant results every time.

Why Tomedes?

Tomedes is a translation company that specializes in technical translations, and for this project, it assigned native Korean linguists with strong engineering backgrounds to ensure accuracy from the start. These professionals were not only fluent in Korean but also well-versed in engineering terminology, lighting design, and technical schematics. Their subject-matter expertise made them an ideal match for NovaTech Lighting Solutions' documentation needs.

To support them, we used AI-powered pre-translation and quality assurance tools to catch issues early. The system flagged recurring terms, formatting problems, and possible mistranslations before the human translators began. Tomedes also assigned a dedicated project team to provide hands-on support, ensuring fast communication, quick responses to questions, and full transparency from start to finish.

The solution

Firstly, Tomedes handpicked translators with strong backgrounds in automotive engineering to lead the project. Their expertise in component design, manufacturing workflows, and lighting system architecture ensured they could interpret even the most complex documents with ease. This level of subject-matter alignment is critical. According to CSA Research, specialized translators are 43% more likely to deliver first-round approval without revision, significantly reducing turnaround time and rework.

Secondly, Tomedes’ AI tools helped ensure quality from the start. Before translation began, we used automated systems to spot formatting issues, repeated terms, and tricky sections. According to our internal study, using the Pre-Translation Toolkit cuts terminology errors by up to 62%, making the process faster and more accurate.

Lastly, Tomedes stayed in close contact with SL America’s engineering team throughout the project. When translators had questions about specs or formatting, they reached out directly for answers. This kind of teamwork helps. McKinsey reports that real-time collaboration makes projects 35% more likely to stay on track and meet quality goals. The result was clear, accurate documentation that matched real-world needs.

The result

Engineering translation projects are never one-size-fits-all. Each document comes with its own set of terms, diagrams, and context that require more than just fluency in two languages. It takes subject-matter expertise to deliver accurate translations that preserve technical precision.

In this case, the stakes were even higher due to the client’s internal changes and the complexity of the content. With new personnel onboarding and multiple departments relying on the same documentation, clarity was critical. That’s why Tomedes approached the project with both linguistic and operational strategies in mind, ensuring a smooth and professional translation outcome.

Conclusion

Tomedes helped SL America bridge language gaps with precise engineering translations from Korean to English. By combining expert human linguists and AI tools, Tomedes ensured clarity and continuity during an important internal transition. 

Whether you're handling complex technical content or urgent cross-border projects, Tomedes is ready to help. Get in touch today for a free quote.