Reference

Manufacturing Software Glossary

Plain-English definitions for the key terms used in manufacturing software, shop floor operations, and continuous improvement. Definitions reflect how these terms are used in 10in6 and in the manufacturing environments we serve.

Production & OEE

OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness): The percentage of manufacturing time that is truly productive. Calculated as Availability × Performance × Quality. World-class OEE is considered 85%.
Availability: The percentage of scheduled time that equipment is actually running — not down for unplanned or planned stops. One of the three components of OEE.
Performance: The speed at which equipment runs relative to its designed maximum speed. A machine running slower than its ideal cycle time has reduced Performance. One of the three components of OEE.
Quality Rate: The percentage of units produced that meet quality standards without rework. One of the three components of OEE.
FTT (First Time Through): The percentage of units that pass all quality checks and process steps without rework, repair, or scrap on the first attempt. A key KPI in assembly and manufacturing quality programs. See FTT in DQS →
PPLH (Parts Per Labour Hour): A productivity ratio measuring how many good parts are produced per labour hour worked. Used in labour-intensive assembly environments to track productivity and staffing efficiency.
Andon: A visual alert system originating from the Toyota Production System. In 10in6, Andon alerts notify supervisors and maintenance staff when a machine stops, a quality problem occurs, or production falls behind target. See Andon Alerts →
Downtime: Any period when a machine or production line is not producing. Categorized as planned (scheduled maintenance, changeovers) or unplanned (breakdowns, material shortages). Captured and categorized by 10in6 MES.
Cycle Time: The time required to complete one unit of production. Machine cycle time is measured automatically by 10in6 to calculate Performance in OEE.

Quality

SPC (Statistical Process Control): A method of monitoring and controlling a manufacturing process using control charts. 10in6's DQS includes native SPC with Xbar-R, Xbar-S, and individuals charts to detect process drift before defects occur. See SPC →
Cp / Cpk: Process capability indices. Cp measures whether a process is capable of meeting specification limits. Cpk measures whether the process is centered within those limits. Higher values (above 1.33) indicate a more capable process.
Track & Trace (Traceability): The ability to record and retrieve the complete manufacturing history of a specific part or lot — what materials were used, which operator made it, which machine, which quality checks passed. Required in automotive, medical, and food industries. See Track & Trace →
Visual Inspection: A manual or automated quality check using human judgement or machine vision to assess part appearance, dimensions, or assembly correctness. 10in6 DQS supports structured visual inspection workflows with pass/fail capture and image attachments.
Audit-Ready: A state where quality records, traceability data, and inspection results are organized and immediately retrievable in a format acceptable for customer or third-party audits such as IATF 16949. 10in6 maintains audit-ready records by design.

Maintenance

CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System): Software for managing maintenance work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, parts inventory, and equipment history. 10in6 CMMS is purpose-built for manufacturing environments. See 10in6 CMMS →
Preventive Maintenance (PM): Scheduled maintenance performed at regular intervals — by time, cycles, or condition — to prevent equipment failure before it occurs. See Maintenance Checks →
Work Order: A documented task assigned to a technician for maintenance, repair, or inspection. 10in6 CMMS creates, assigns, and tracks work orders digitally with full history and parts consumption records. See Work Orders →
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): Average time between unplanned equipment failures. A key indicator of equipment reliability. Tracked automatically in 10in6 CMMS from downtime event data.
MTTR (Mean Time to Repair): Average time to restore equipment to operation after a failure. A key indicator of maintenance responsiveness. Calculated from downtime timestamps captured by 10in6 MES.

Systems & Protocols

MES (Manufacturing Execution System): Software that connects to production equipment and personnel to collect real-time data, track production against schedules, and report on OEE, downtime, and quality. 10in6 MES connects directly to PLCs and machines. See 10in6 MES →
DQS (Digital Quality System): 10in6's module for digitizing quality check workflows, SPC, visual inspection, track & trace, and audit-ready records. Replaces paper-based quality check sheets. See 10in6 DQS →
PLC (Programmable Logic Controller): An industrial computer that controls machine automation. 10in6 connects directly to PLCs from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron, Beckhoff, and others to collect production data automatically. See PLC Connectivity →
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition): A system for monitoring and controlling industrial processes, typically at a plant-wide or line level. 10in6 can integrate alongside existing SCADA systems. See SCADA Integration →
OPC UA (OPC Unified Architecture): The modern, platform-agnostic standard for industrial equipment communication. 10in6 uses OPC UA as its preferred protocol for connecting to modern PLCs and controllers. See OPC UA Integration →
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning): Business management software covering finance, HR, supply chain, and manufacturing planning. 10in6 integrates with ERP systems including SAP, Oracle, QAD, Epicor, and Sage to exchange production and quality data. See ERP Integration →
IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things): The network of connected industrial devices, sensors, and machines that share data. 10in6 is an IIoT platform purpose-built for the manufacturing shop floor.

Lean & Continuous Improvement

Kanban: A visual scheduling system for controlling inventory and production flow. In manufacturing software, Kanban signals trigger replenishment of parts or materials when inventory reaches a set threshold.
Poka-Yoke: Error-proofing — designing processes or checks so that defects are physically impossible or immediately detected. In 10in6, scan-to-confirm and required quality check completion are forms of Poka-Yoke.
Kaizen: Japanese term for "continuous improvement." A philosophy of making small, incremental improvements to processes on an ongoing basis, rather than large infrequent overhauls.
Lean Manufacturing: A production methodology focused on eliminating waste (muda) in all forms — overproduction, waiting, transport, over-processing, inventory, motion, and defects. Data from 10in6 helps identify and prioritize waste elimination efforts.