We consolidated key words, phrases and acronyms into one central location. This glossary will help you cut through the complexity to fully understand the ins and outs of the industry.
Batch production refers to a method in manufacturing in which products are created as specified groups, or amounts, that each go through a series of steps to make the desired product. This type of production is created within...
Continuous manufacturing, otherwise known as process manufacturing, is a flow production method in which factories are continuously producing goods and materials 24/7. In this type of production method, each part of the product flows from one machine to...
Corrective Maintenance is a type of maintenance that is performed to correct problems and restore equipment and machines to a working condition. Unlike Predictive Maintenance, which helps predict future failures, Corrective Maintenance tasks can be either planned or unplanned....
Cyber Physical system (CPS) is a new generation of digital system, composed of computational and physical capability that engage with humans like never before. It’s designed to act like a network of multiple variables with both physical input and...
Industry 4.0 refers to the merging of digitalization with traditional industrial processes. With Industry 4.0, production can be elevated by completely digitizing a factory. And so, the result of Industry 4.0 is ultimately a smart factory...
Discrete Manufacturing is the manufacturing practice of operating with a bill of materials (BOM) to create various parts of a product that are then merged together to form the finished product. Discrete Manufacturing is responsible for creating products like...
IIoT (The Industrial Internet of Things) refers to any type of machine, equipment, or device that can gather and share vast amounts of data by connecting to a network. The connectivity from industrial machines allows for continuous data collection...
Referred to as the fourth revolution in manufacturing, Industry 4.0 represents the transition to automation using smart technology, such as machine learning, big data, AI, etc. Industry 4.0 solutions focus on creating an optimized environment for the manufacturing industry....
Job shop lean manufacturing is a method resulting in a wide variety of products. These products are made in small lot sizes with the ability to achieve maximum flexibility in mind. The products’ operating times and sequences can vary...
Lean Manufacturing is a collection of processes and tools that work together to minimize waste and increase production in the manufacturing industry. The core of this system is to reduce all forms of waste without affecting productivity of the...
Machine Availability, in the context of the manufacturing industry, is one of three major factors in calculating OEE. It takes into consideration all of the events that could have interrupted planned production time, whenever it has been stopped for...
Manufacturing analytics is a complex method of analyzing KPIs in order to optimize the manufacturing process and meet business standards. As the industry continues to evolve and adapt new technology, it turns to new methods to increase product efficiency...
Manufacturing optimization refers to the process of manufacturers seeking methods to enhance their production process. The optimization of a product or system can happen on different levels. Ranging from improving equipment to reducing waste....
Manufacturing Execution System is a shop floor execution software that monitors and analyzes machines to ensure quality and efficiency are implemented in the manufacturing process. The main purpose of an MES is to solidify digital manufacturing and improve production...
Make to Order (MTO) is a manufacturing strategy in which products are only made after a confirmed order is received, also known as mass customization. It’s used for customized orders and is also referred to as the pull-type supply...
Make to Stock (MTS) is a manufacturing strategy in which products are manufactured based on consumer demand forecast. MTS manufacturing relies on the accuracy of demand forecasts to decrease overuse of raw materials and inventory regarded as a push-type...
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is a metric often used in the manufacturing industry to measure the percentage of planned production , in order to reduce cost and optimize processes. There are three components that OEE takes into account: Availability,...
Overall Line Efficiency is a metric found in manufacturing that rides off of OEE measurement (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) - a formula used to measure the percentage of planned production, in order to reduce cost and optimize processes....
Predictive Maintenance is a proactive maintenance technique that uses performance tracking tools to predict possible defects and fix them before they occur. This method is aimed at reducing repair costs and decreasing downtime that result from faulty equipment....
Predictive quality analytics refers to the process of analyzing incoming data in order to recognize and solve problems in advance. This emerging category of AI enables manufacturers to decrease losses in both quality and waste by identifying root cause......
Preventive Maintenance is a proactive type of maintenance that is performed daily to reduce the odds of downtime and machine failure. Preventive Maintenance includes lubrication, simple repairs, cleaning and replacing defective parts. It’s conducted while the equipment remains running...
Repetitive manufacturing is the factory process function in which products are produced for rapid production flow. A distinguishing property of repetitive manufacturing is its primary utilization of assembly and/or production lines, specializing in repetitive production...
Root Cause Analysis is an umbrella term that covers a wide array of methods used to find causes of problems in manufacturing. These approaches try to uncover the root cause of an issue, the primary reason that there is...
Real-time operational intelligence (RtOI) is an up and coming industrial discipline that empowers businesses to intelligently transform mass amounts of data into real-time actionable insights that is accessible at all times....
Run to Target (RTT) manufacturing is a concept found in manufacturing that is typically used alongside productive maintenance, in which it focuses on eliminating product and process variability while continuing to increase machine efficiency....
Shop Floor Control is a system that can collect, track, and analyze relevant data on a regular basis. This method can be completed in a single factory for small businesses, or in several facilities owned by large businesses at...
Smart Manufacturing (SM) is the process of combining various technologies and solutions and implementing them in the manufacturing ecosystem to create a fully-integrated and automated environment that responds in real-time to actions and demands....
SPC in manufacturing refers to the methodology of monitoring and measuring quality processes during the production process. As different processes deal with multiple variations, statistical process control (SPC) is a manufacturing analytics software tool used to pinpoint which areas...
TEEP is a performance metric that is used to measure the real capacity of manufacturing operations - indicating how big of a scope is waiting to be unlocked. This metric provides manufacturers insight into how much potential their factory...
Total productive maintenance is a lean manufacturing strategy that deploys machines, equipment and employee’s effectiveness to maintain and optimize the quality of manufacturing systems. TPM tackles the issue of maintenance in order to identify and eliminate the origin of...
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