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Technology glossary

Search our technology glossary to learn more about common industry terms, as well as the various engineering processes and initiatives that Siemens Software supports.

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    3D modeling

    Create three-dimensional, virtual representations of a physical object

    8D report

    An 8-step process for manufacturing problem-solving

    A-F

    Additive manufacturing

    Produce functional parts in various materials

    Advanced planning and scheduling

    Manage production planning and production scheduling

    Aggregate planning

    Develop an overall manufacturing plan

    Assembly planning

    Create, simulate and optimize assembly processes and operations

    Automotive Ethernet

    Optimize ethernet network for the requirements of automotive applications

    AUTOSAR

    Use automotive open system architecture as a source of standards for automotive software platforms

    Bill of process

    Detail the planned manufacturing approach for a product

    Binder jetting

    Use to produce fast, full-color parts

    Bootloader

    Ensure that the data of an operating system loads into the main memory during the startup

    Camstar Systems

    A provider of manufacturing execution system software, Camstar was acquired by Siemens and is now part of Opcenter

    Complaint management

    Manage complaints and feedback in a timely manner

    Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation

    Describe the temperature, pressure, velocity and density of a moving fluid

    Computer-aided design (CAD)

    Create, modify, analyze and document 2D or 3D graphical representations of physical objects

    Computer-aided engineering (CAE)

    Simulate product performance to improve designs or solve problems

    Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

    Utilize NC software to generate G-code, instructing CNC machines for precise part manufacturing

    Computer-aided quality (CAQ)

    Ensure consistent product and process quality from design through production

    CAPA system

    Analyze and correct production problems

    Defect management

    Implement preventive measures to reduce or eliminate future manufacturing defects

    Demand-driven material requirements planning (DDMRP)

    Reduce overstocks and shortages in the manufacturing supply chain

    Design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA)

    Optimize product designs for efficient production and assembly

    Design for service

    Address serviceability attributes that affect the cost and efficacy of servicing products

    Design simulation

    Verify and validate functions of products in the early stages of design

    Digitalization

    Connect digitized information via digital twins and digital threads

    Digital manufacturing

    Define product and process concurrently to enhance efficiency

    Digital transformation

    Leverage technology at the core of every function and process

    Digital twin

    Use digital twins to advance engineering and product lifecycle management

    Discrete manufacturing

    Create tangible goods from individual components to complete assemblies

    Electrical wiring interconnect system (EWIS)

    Wire systems and components for complex systems

    Electronic batch record

    Provide a complete manufacturing audit trail for manufacturing batches

    Electronic design automation (EDA)

    Design, simulate, verify, manufacture and test electronic systems

    Electronic device history record (eDHR)

    Real-time error-proofing to minimize errors and enhance traceability

    Electronic work instructions

    Intuitive, step-by-step procedures and tasks to perform jobs

    Embedded software

    Specialized programming within non-PC devices to control specific functions

    Engineering automation

    Automatically create designs and documentation based on user-defined rules

    Equipment maintenance management

    Track equipment usage and manage preventative and corrective maintenance

    Field solver

    Analyze and optimize the electrical performance of circuit and circuit board designs

    Finite element analysis (FEA)

    Virtual modeling and simulation of products and assemblies

    Formboard design

    Diagram one-to-one, full-scale representations of harness design data

    G-K

    Generative design

    Generate potential designs for products with artificial intelligence algorithms

    IBS QMS

    Control quality, production, traceability and compliance efforts

    Industrial 3D printing

    Create a solid, three-dimensional object from a CAD digital file

    ISA-95 framework and layers

    Integrate enterprise and control systems

    ISO 9001

    Demonstrate that products meet customer and regulatory requirements

    Just-in-time (JIT) scheduling

    Minimize the time between receiving supplies and delivering finished products

    L-P

    Lean manufacturing

    Prioritize the efficient use of resources in manufacturing while minimizing waste

    Lights-out factory

    Operate in the dark with zero human intervention onsite

    Lot traceability

    Track every aspect of manufacturing across the supply chain

    Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)

    Address the ongoing service needs of high-value physical assets

    Make-to-order (MTO)

    Initiate manufacturing once a customer order is received

    Make-to-stock (MTS)

    Plan and schedule manufacturing based on forecasted product demand

    Manufacturing bill of materials (MBOM)

    Lists all materials and parts needed to produce a specific product and informs the shop floor what to make

    Manufacturing capacity planning

    Maximize output of a plant by comparing maximum production rate to anticipated demand

    Manufacturing compliance

    Technical, legal and corporate requirements, and regulations manufacturers must satisfy

    Manufacturing cost control

    Optimize expenses while ensuring quality and efficiency

    Manufacturing intelligence

    Boost efficiency through real-time data integration, analytics and insights

    Manufacturing operations management (MOM)

    Optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of end-to-end manufacturing processes

    Manufacturing planning and control

    Use digital tools and data insights to coordinate resources, processes and schedules

    Manufacturing quality

    Ensure consistent excellence in products by adhering to production specifications and standards

    Manufacturing resource planning (MRP II)

    Optimize resources through advanced software, lower costs, streamlined production and timely delivery

    Manufacturing scheduling software

    Support scheduling decisions by modeling the manufacturing environment, resources and constraints

    Manufacturing simulation

    Use computer models to digitally test manufacturing methods and procedures

    Master batch record (MBR)

    Guide production through detailing processes and ingredients

    Master production schedule

    Delineate what products a manufacturer will produce, when and in what quantities

    Material extrusion

    Craft 3D objects layer-by-layer, using heated nozzle to deposit thermoplastic layers from a spool

    Material jetting

    Precisely deposit small pin-points of material layer-by-layer

    Material requirements planning (MRP I)

    Optimize material procurement and production scheduling

    Mission engineering

    Evaluate the planning, analyzing, organizing and integrating of capabilities for each phase of a project

    Modal analysis

    Study dynamic properties of linear structures

    Noise and vibration testing

    Analyze the acoustic characteristics of a system and/or its components

    Nonconformance management

    Enable identification and documentation of quality events, review and investigation leading to final disposition

    Paperless manufacturing

    Replace paper-based systems with efficient electronic systems

    Physical asset configuration

    Capture the current structure and composition of a manufactured item or property with a comprehensive digital twin

    Physical asset management

    Manage the entire lifecycle of produced items or property

    Powder bed fusion

    Print 3D functional parts across diverse industries

    Preactor APS

    Improve the synchronization of manufacturing operations with advanced planning and scheduling tools

    Process manufacturing

    Produce goods by mixing ingredients and executing a series of actions

    Product data management (PDM)

    Enable secure data management, process enablement, change and configuration management

    Production management

    Strategically plan and supervise the optimization of resources and processes for production

    Q-U

    Quality standards

    Achieve and demonstrate consistent production and product quality with sets of good management practices

    Regulatory compliance

    Adhere to industry laws, ensuring ethical operation and product safety

    Reverse engineering

    Disassemble and study an existing object to create a detailed representation or model of it

    Robotics simulation

    Use robotics models to virtually engineer automated production systems

    Robotics virtual commissioning

    Use robotics simulation to test behavior based on the real control system

    Selective laser sintering (SLS)

    Enable detailed 3D printing of parts in metals, polymers and ceramics with versatility and precision

    Service asset management

    Get full visibility of a manufactured item or property’s configuration and service status

    Service bill of materials (sBOM)

    Bridge ongoing design to specific configuration requirements through a managed view of an asset’s service material requirements

    Service parts management

    Ensure that parts are available when they are needed

    Shop floor control

    Optimize production processes by tracking orders, managing resources, mitigating risks and ensuring real-time data monitoring

    SIMATIC IT

    The SIMATIC IT manufacturing execution system software portfolio is now part of Opcenter

    Six Sigma in manufacturing

    Minimize waste and produce goods more efficiently with this process improvement method

    Statistical process control (SPC)

    Monitor manufacturing processes, ensuring consistency, quality and efficiency by analyzing real-time data

    Stereolithography

    Cure liquid into a solid 3D shape to make high-accuracy prototypes and parts

    Synchronous technology

    Manipulate and edit 3D geometry more intuitively and efficiently with this modeling approach

    System simulation

    Maximize efficiency while designing new systems or improving existing ones

    V-Z

    Vat photopolymerization

    Utilize hardened resin for producing 3D parts

    Wire harness engineering

    Distribute power throughout a system safely and reliably through this development process