Glossary Terms
Terms that are used on the Manufacturing Automation website

Machine vision

1) A computer perception of a visually based sensory output used to
produce a concise description of an image. 2) Devices used for optical
non-contact sensing to receive and interpret automatically an image of
a real scene in order to obtain information or to control a process.

Macro

A kind of computer shorthand that reduces many commands to one, making it easy to activate frequently-used functions.

Magnetic contactor

A device used to open or close.

Make-to-order

products manufactured to specific customer order configuration and delivery time specifications.

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.