Glossary Terms
Terms that are used on the Manufacturing Automation website
Make-to-stock
products manufactured for finished-goods storage before a customer order arrives.
Management by Fact
A key focus of total quality management. Means all employees manage the
work they do by collecting objective data and making decisions based on
this information.
Manual Reset (Adjustment)
The adjustment on a proportioning controller which shifts the
proportioning band in relationship to the set point to eliminate droop
or offset errors.
Manual Reset (Switch)
The switch in a limit controller that manually resets the controller after the limit has been exceeded.
MAP
Manufacturing Automation Protocol is a specification for a suite of
communication standards developed initially by General Motors and based
on the OSI reference model.
Mass Flow Rate
Volumetric flowrate times density, i.e. pounds per hour or kilograms per minute.
Materials handling
the process, which includes mechanical handling, of transporting and
positioning raw materials, semi-finished and finished products in
connection with industrial operations, by conveyors, cranes, trucks,
hopper feeds, and other equipment.
Maximum Operating Temperature
The maximum temperature at which an instrument or sensor can be safely operated.
MES
Manufacturing Execution Systems are plant-floor management systems that
allow downloading recipes and work schedules, and uploading production
results, thereby bridging the gap between business and plant-floor or
process control systems.
Milliamp
One thousandth of an amp, 10-3 amps, symbol mA.
Millivolt
Unit of electromotive force. It is the difference in potential required
to make a current of 1 millampere flow through a resistance of 1 ohm;
one thousandth of a volt, symbol mV.
MIS
Management Information Systems are computerized networks used in
effectively structuring critical information in a form usable for
identification of inefficiencies.
Modelling
the recreation of an event or object in a controlled environment in order to predict results from that event or object.
Modem
a MODulator-DEModulator converts data to a form compatible for sending and receiving on transmission facilities.
Motion Control
the application of moving parts in industrial settings including
sequencing, speed control, point-to-point control, and incremental
motion. Control options include timers and counters, chip-level and
board-level computers, PLCs, and pneumatic sequencers.
Motion profile
The velocity versus time (or position) relationship of the move made by a motion axis.
MRP
Materials Requirements Planning.
MRP II
Manufacturing Resource Planning is a software tool which enables a
manufacturer to plan, allocate and track material and financial
resources for a production process.
Machine language Binary instructions to a computer that it can execute directly, without translation.
Multiplex
A technique which allows different input (or output) signals to use the
same lines at different times, controlled by an external signal.
Multiplexing is used to save on wiring and I/O ports.
Multiplexer
an I/O device that routes data from several sources to a common destination.
NC
Numerical Control is a technique of operating machine tools or similar
equipment in which motion is generated in response to numerically
ordered commands generated by CAD systems, punched tapes, or other
communication media.
NEMA-12
A standard from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association,
which defines enclosures with protection against dirt, dust, splashes
by non-corrosive liquids, and salt spray.
NEMA-4
A standard from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association,
which defines enclosures intended for indoor or outdoor use primarily
to provide a degree of protection against windblown dust and rain,
splashing water, and hose-directed water.
NEMA-7
A standard from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association,
which defines explosion-proof enclosures for use in locations
classified as Class I, Groups A, B, C or D, as specified in the
National Electrical Code.
NEMA-Size Case
An older US case standard for panel meters, which requires a panel cutout of 3.93 x 1.69 inches.
Network
1) Any system of computers and peripherals.
2) In an electrical or hydraulic circuit, any combination of circuit elements.
Node
A terminal on a data communications network.
Noise
An unwanted electrical interference on the signal wires.
OCR
Optical Character Recognition is the machine recognition of characters by light-sensing methods.
OEM
an Original Equipment Manufacturer provides final systems made from assemblies and subassemblies from other manufacturers.
Offset
The difference in temperature between the set point and the actual process temperature. Also, referred to as droop.
OI
operator interface; the hardware and software that shows an operator the state of a process
