iGAM Glossary

Understanding the nuts and bolts of your production line is the key to success in manufacturing. Find definitions to manufacturing, industrial, and automation terms below.

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iGAM Glossary of Industrial Automation Terms

• 3D Printer – a machine that produces physical models from designs manufactured out of raw materials
• 3P – stands for Production, Preparation, and Process; a form of lean manufacturing that focuses on eliminating waste through process and product
• 5S – stands for Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain; a form of lean manufacturing that originated in Japan and centers efficiency around necessary versus unnecessary processes
• Arm – a mechanical device composed of links and joints that is programmable to complete a set of commands
• Axis – the availability of motion in robot joints in linear or rotary actions
• Base – the platform to which a robot arm is attached
• Cellular Manufacturing – a lean manufacturing approach that focuses on strategic arrangement of equipment and processes to reduce waste
• Circuit Breaker – a system used to protect electrical systems from damage caused by short circuits
• Contactor/Contact Block – an electrical system used to turn on and/or off an electrical circuit, typically connected to switches
• Controller System – a computer used to store data, program commands, and execute commands in a robotic system
• Cycle – one complete execution of a set of actions programmed in a robotic system
• Downtime – the period in which any machine is not in production due to malfunction or failure
• End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) – the equipment attached to the end of the robot arm that interacts with the handled materials
• Field Distributer – an interface between the operator and the equipment providing a streamline drive connection to a power supply
• Human Machine Interface (HMI) – an electronic dashboard connecting the user to a machine or device to view data and perform operations
• Inverter – an electronic device used to change circuitry from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC)
• Kaizen – a form of lean manufacturing; Japanese business philosophy meaning “continuous improvement” or “change for the better,” focusing on holistically improving product quality, company culture, and production efficiency
• Kanban – a method of lean manufacturing to manage workflow processes in a visual manner
• Lean Manufacturing – a methodology that applies practices and principles to reduce waste, minimize downtime, increase cost savings, and produce sustainably
• Material Handling – the movement of materials by a robotic arm from one place to another
• Module – equipment that enables field devices to log, archive, and convert data
• Offline Programming – the ability of a robot or piece of equipment to operate separately from programming
• Payload – the capacity of weight that a machine can handle during an operation
• Positioner – a rotating platform used to provide access to materials
• Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) – an industrial computer used as an automation control system with storage for instructions, such as I/O control logic
• Quality Assurance (QA) – the methods and procedures used during testing to ensure a product delivers according to design specifications
• Repeatability – the ability of a robot to perform the same task precisely multiple times
• Robot – a machine programmable by a computer that can perform a variety of tasks
• Robot Programming Language – the channel of communication between human and robot using computer-based commands
• Rotary Joint – a piece of equipment used to connect two parts to allow rotating motion
• Servo Motor – an automatic controller device used to regulate the electric servomechanisms by monitoring the feedback signal
• Six Sigma – a lean manufacturing technique that focuses on reducing error in business
• Teach Pendant – a handheld programming box to remotely control a robot’s movements
• TPM – stands for Total Productive Maintenance; a form of lean manufacturing that strives for production perfection through machine maintenance
• Turntable Trunnion – a pivoting circular revolving table commonly used in work cells
• Uptime – the time in which a robot or other industrial equipment are in use and manufacturing on a production line
• Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) – a device used in a drive system to control voltage and match the motor’s actual load
• Welding – the process of combining metal pieces or parts at a joint or edge using heat
• Work Cell – a complete system composed of one or more robots and a controller; may also include other equipment depending on purpose and production method

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