Smart Manufacturing

Terms & Resources

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To assist manufacturers to have a better understanding of the Smart Manufacturing jargon, we have included this list of terms as a handy reference guide to use throughout our Smart Manufacturing blog series.

Sources: Definitions provided as indicated on each term.
Apps
Software applications available as workflow based code modules that manufacturers can assemble into customized real-time SM application systems. SMLC
Big Data
Extremely large data sets that may be analyzed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behavior and interactions. Wikipedia
Business Intelligence
Is the set of techniques and tools for the transformation of raw data into meaningful and useful information for business analysis purposes. Webopedia
Certificate of Analysis
A document issued by Quality Assurance that confirms that a regulated product meets its product specification. They commonly contain the actual results obtained from testing performed as part of quality control of an individual batch of a product.Sigma-Aldrich
Cloud Computing (the cloud)
Defined as a type of computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications. Webopedia
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)
Are integrations of computation, networking, and physical processes. Embedded computers and networks monitor and control the physical processes, with feedback loops where physical processes affect computations and vice versa. Wikipedia
Cybersecurity
Is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. In a computing context, the term security implies cybersecurity. Whatis.com
Demand Dynamics
The concept of a supplier providing materials based on customer demand. Ideally, this demand is taken into account throughout the value chain. It is determined using real-time data that's available to suppliers and customers alike so more accurate decisions can be made.SMLC
Industrial Internet
Refers to the integration of complex physical machinery with networked sensors and software. The industrial Internet draws together fields such as machine learning, big data, the Internet of things, machine-to-machine communication and Cyber-physical system to ingest data from machines, analyze it (often in real-time), and use it to adjust operations. Wikipedia
Industry 4.0
Is the network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and connectivity to enable objects to exchange data with the manufacturer, operator and/or other connected devices based on the infrastructure of International Telecommunication Union's Global Standards.Wikipedia
Interface/Interfacing
In computing, a shared boundary across which two separate components of a computer system exchange information. The exchange can be between software, computer hardware, peripheral devices, humans and combinations of these. Wikipedia
Interoperability
The ability of software and hardware on different machines from different vendors to share data.Webopedia
IT Integrator
Is an individual or company that markets commercial integrated software and hardware systems for manufacturers.SMLC
Machine to Machine (M2M)
refers to technologies that allow both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices of the same type. Wikipedia
Marketplace
A cloud based online store containing both toolkit libraries and Apps that can be selected and used to compose workflows, in addition to a variety of associated services. SMLC
Real-time data (RTD)
Denotes information that is delivered immediately after collection. There is no delay in the timeliness of the information provided. Real-time data is often used for navigation or tracking. Some uses of this term confuse it with the term dynamic data. SMLC
Redundancy
A part in a machine, system, etc., that has the same function as another part and that exists so that the entire machine, system, etc., will not fail if the main part fails Merriam-Webster
Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition (SMLC)
Is a non-profit organization comprised of manufacturing practitioners, suppliers, and technology companies; manufacturing consortia; universities; government agencies and laboratories. SMLC
Smart Manufacturing (SM)
Smart Manufacturing is having the ability to solve problems – existing and future– within an open infrastructure that allows applications/solutions to be implemented at the speed business demands while creating advantaged value. SMLC
SM Application Systems
Customized real-time workflow application systems assembled from selected data management, modeling, analysis, display and interface Apps, which are constructed in the SM Platform to meet the needs of a specific company.  They can be legacy systems and/or newly available through the Apps Marketplace. SMLC
SM Platform
An Advanced Manufacturing technology based on a cloud based, open architecture infrastructure that is currently under development by SMLC.  Through hybrid cloud structures, a suite of cloud services, and an open source and commercial Marketplace, the SM Platform infrastructure makes it possible to integrate existing and future plant level data, simulations and systems across manufacturing seams and orchestrate business real-time action. SMLC 
Test Beds
Specific use cases that are developed and deployed to address manufacturing challenges and opportunities through SM Platform infrastructure functionalities.  These functionalities can be embedded for future use by others through the SM Platform. SMLC
Toolkits
Reusable workflows that contain a set of Apps orchestrated to achieve a specified function. SMLC
Workflows
Orchestrate discrete tasks needed to get the necessary data, contextualize it, analyze it and put it into actionable forms within a needed time frame.  Workflow and App attributes are Meta pieces of information that allow a workflow to be analyzed in terms of overall properties and for the state of the workflow to be monitored during execution. SMLC
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