Industrial Glossary

Electrofused Refractories are high-performance ceramic materials characterized by exceptional density and virtually zero porosity. They are produced by

Industrial refractories are non-metallic materials, generally of a ceramic nature, which possess the essential property of retaining their physical and chemical characteristics (resistance, resistance to corrosion, etc.).

The QQOQCCP method is a systematic analysis and investigation grid. Its name is an acronym for the seven fundamental questions it uses: Who, What, Where, When,

Industrial Engineering is the engineering discipline that deals with the optimization of complex systems involving people, information, energy, equipment and materials.

Productics is the technical discipline that encompasses all automation and computerization methods, techniques and technologies used to design, manage and optimize systems.

Series production is a way of organizing manufacturing where the same product (or a set of similar products) is produced in large quantities.

Operational Performance is an organization's ability to execute its day-to-day processes consistently and superiorly, in order to achieve its overall strategic (financial) objectives,

Muda is a Japanese term meaning waste, uselessness or non-value-added activity. It is the central concept of Lean Management, developed by the

The OKR method (Objectives and Key Results) is a management and communication framework that helps organizations to

The 5 Whys is an iterative questioning technique used in Lean Management and Continuous Improvement (KAIZEN). Its aim is to

Magnesia is magnesium oxide (MgO). It is a refractory material belonging to the Oxidic (or basic) Refractory Materials category, characterized by a

Monolithic (or unshaped) refractories are dry or wet, ready-to-use mixes that are not molded and fired prior to shipment.

Dense (or heavy) refractories are a category of refractory materials characterized by low porosity and high bulk density. They are the opposite of

Oxidic Refractory Materials are the most widespread and oldest family of high-temperature-resistant ceramics. They are mainly composed of oxides

Non-Oxidic Refractory Materials refer to a class of high-performance ceramics whose basic composition is not a metal oxide (in contrast to

Six Sigma is a structured quality management method that aims to reduce the variability (dispersion) of production processes in order to

Zircon Sand is a natural mineral, zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4), extracted from alluvial deposits. It is one of the most important raw materials

Graphite is a crystalline form of pure Carbon. It is an essential non-oxide refractory material, widely used in melting environments for its physico-chemical properties.

The Ishikawa Diagram, also known as the Cause-Effect Diagram or Fishbone Diagram, is a graphical tool for quality management.

Carbon (in various forms such as graphite, coke or carbon black) is an essential non-oxide refractory material. It is used

Brainstorming is a creative group work technique that aims to produce as many ideas as possible in a limited time on the following topics

Refractory Clay (or Refractory Brick Clay) is a type of natural clay characterized by its high purity and low content of fluxes (iron oxides).

Andalusite is a naturally occurring aluminum silicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5. It is one of three polymorphs (along with Sillimanite and Kyanite), meaning that it is

8D Analysis (or Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving) is a structured and highly rigorous problem-solving methodology, standardized and widely adopted in

FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is a method for analyzing failure modes, their effects and their criticality.

Sillimanite is a mineral belonging to the aluminum silicate group, like Andalusite and Kyanite (polymorphs with the same chemical formula :

Silica is the common name given to silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is an extremely abundant mineral oxide, constituting nearly 60 % of the

Mulite is a mineral compound belonging to the aluminum silicate family. It is the only stable compound between alumina (Al2O3) and silica (SiO2).

The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 Law, is a rule of thumb that states that, in most situations, 80 % of the effects come from

The 5S method is a fundamental structuring tool of Lean Management that aims to create an optimal work environment (clean, orderly, safe and

Bauxite is a sedimentary rock, the main commercial source of aluminum (metal) and alumina (aluminum oxide, Al2O3). It owes its name to the village

A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is a quantified, measurable metric used to assess an organization's efficiency and success,

Kanban is an operational and visual Lean Management tool, which takes its name from two Japanese characters: Kan (card or visual signal) and Kan (visual signal).

Industry 4.0 is a term that describes the fourth industrial revolution. It represents the convergence of advanced digital technologies, the Internet and information systems.

Electrofused α-β is a high-performance refractory material based on aluminum oxide (Al2O3), characterized by a two-phase crystalline composition. It is so named because

AZS Electrofusion is an essential type of refractory ceramic (heat-resistant material) used in the most aggressive industrial environments, such as furnaces.

The term Big Data refers to data sets that are so voluminous, generated so rapidly and of such variety that they overwhelm the capabilities of

Fused alumina, also known as electrofused corundum, is a form of aluminium oxide characterized by a massive, angular crystalline structure, obtained by solidification after a phase of

Sintered alumina is a form of technical ceramic composed mainly of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). It is characterized by a very high density and a microstructure of

PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act), also known as the Deming Wheel (popularized by W. Edwards Deming), is an iterative and cyclical method of management.

Poka-Yoke is a fundamental Lean Management technique, invented by Japanese engineer Shigeo Shingō, and used primarily in the Toyota Production System (TPS).

Industrial Performance is the ability of a manufacturing company to achieve its strategic and operational objectives sustainably and efficiently. It is not limited to

PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act), also known as the Deming Wheel (popularized by W. Edwards Deming), is an iterative and cyclical method of management.

The Bill of Materials (BOM) is a structured, hierarchical document that provides an exhaustive list of all components, subassemblies, blanks and parts.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is a centralized, modular information system for managing and coordinating all your business processes.

MRP (Material Requirements Planning) is an information and inventory management system that aims to

The MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is the pivotal software between the strategic planning level and the production level.

Predictive Maintenance (PdM) is the most advanced maintenance strategy. Its aim is to determine the actual state of a piece of equipment in operation in order to

Machine Vision, or Computer Vision (CV), is a technology that enables machines to analyze and interpret images or videos in a

Machine Learning (ML) is a fundamental sub-field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Its distinction lies in its approach: instead of being

Definition and Origins of Lean-Management Lean-Management, often simply referred to as “Lean”, is a global management philosophy derived from the Toyota Production System (TPS).

Definition and Positioning at the Heart of Lean Management The term KAIZEN is a Japanese concept that lies at the heart of the Lean Management philosophy.

Return On Investment (ROI) is a financial indicator (KPI) that measures the efficiency or profitability of an investment. It enables

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a problem-solving methodology that aims to identify the root cause of a problem.

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a computer and software system that enables industrial operators to

The Smart Factory is a highly digitized, connected and flexible manufacturing environment that uses Industry 4.0 technologies to collect,

The Supply Chain is the complete, integrated network of organizations, people, technologies, activities, information and resources.

Takt Time is the maximum time available to manufacture a unit of product to exactly meet customer demand. It establishes the

Digital Transformation is the strategic and organizational process by which a company integrates digital technologies into all aspects of its business. Far

Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) is a performance indicator (KPI) that measures the actual efficiency of a piece of equipment or a production line, taking into account

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), or Taux de Rendement Synthétique (TRS), is the most important KPI in Industrial Engineering for measuring

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a visual analysis tool that enables you to identify and manage your company's value chain.

SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die) is a Lean Management method designed to reduce the number of tool changes to a minimum.

PPM (Parts Per Million) is a quality indicator (KPI) that measures the number of defective (non-conforming) units produced in relation to the number of defective (non-conforming) units produced in relation to the number of defective (non-conforming) units produced in relation to the number of defective (non-conforming) units produced.

MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) is a reliability indicator (KPI) that represents the mean time between failures.

MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) is a maintainability indicator (KPI) that measures the average time required to complete a project.

The Digital Twin is one of the most strategic innovations in Industry 4.0. It represents a dynamic, real-time virtual replica of

IoT (Internet of Things) is the concept of a network of physical objects (machines, equipment, tools, vehicles, products) that are equipped with

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a set of technologies that enable computer systems to mimic human cognitive abilities such as learning and problem-solving,

Industrialization is the pivotal phase that ensures the controlled transition from product design (validated by R&D) to efficient, high-quality production.

Work Instructions (TIs), often referred to as operating procedures or instruction sheets, are essential documents in any quality and Operational Excellence approach. They are

Industrial Engineering (IE) is an engineering discipline that does not focus on the design of physical products (like mechanical or electrical engineering),

The Bottleneck concept is fundamental to the analysis of production and service systems. It refers to the resource (a machine, a workstation

The Pull System is the production and logistics organization model diametrically opposed to the Push System. It is one of the

The Push System is a production organization model in which the manufacture of products is triggered upstream, not by a "push" process.

Operational Excellence (OE) is not just a toolbox, but a strategic management philosophy aimed at sustainably improving an organization's overall performance.

The Dossier de Fabrication (DF), often also referred to as the Dossier de Production or Dossier Industriel, is the essential tool that ensures the transition from the production to the production process.

The Technical Specification (TS) is much more than just an administrative document: it is the DNA and detailed roadmap of every

Cast iron is an alloy of iron and carbon, with a higher carbon content than steel, used for its strength, castability and resistance.

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, widely used in industry for its mechanical properties, strength and versatility.

A refractory material is a product capable of withstanding very high temperatures without deforming or losing its mechanical and chemical properties.

Glass is a solid, amorphous, transparent material made mainly from fused silica. It is widely used in industry for its properties