Industrial engineering focuses on optimizing complex systems, improving efficiency, and ensuring quality in production and operations. This glossary provides key terms commonly used in the field, covering concepts related to manufacturing, logistics, process improvement, and system management. Whether you're a student, professional, or just exploring the discipline, these terms will help you better understand the principles and practices of industrial engineering.
automation
noun
He use of largely automatic equipment in a system of manufacturing or other production process.
Example: Unemployment due to the spread of automation.
fr: automatisation
efficiency
noun
The state or quality of being efficient.
Example: Improve milling efficiency.
fr: efficacité
inventory
noun
A complete list of items such as property, goods in stock, or the contents of a building.
Example: Look in the inventory.
fr: inventaire
lean
noun
A deviation from the perpendicular; an inclination.
Example: The vehicle has a definite lean to the left.
logistics
noun
The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies.
Example: The logistics and costs of a vaccination campaign.
fr: logistique
maintenance
noun
The process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained.
Example: We support local initiatives that ensure the maintenance of community spirit.
fr: maintenance
manufacturing
noun
The making of articles on a large scale using machinery; industrial production.
Example: Even in manufacturing they no longer dominate.
fr: fabrication
optimization
noun
The action of making the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.
Example: Diverse scientific and engineering topics such as OPTIMIZATION automatic programming.
fr: optimisation
production
noun
The action of making or manufacturing from components or raw materials, or the process of being so manufactured.
Example: The production of chemical weapons.
fr: production
quality
noun
The standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.
Example: An improvement in product quality.
fr: qualité
reliability
noun
The degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification can be depended on to be accurate.
Example: These data throw doubt on the reliability of national statistics.
fr: fiabilité
safety
noun
The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.
Example: They should leave for their own safety.
fr: sécurité
scheduling
verb
Arrange or plan (an event) to take place at a particular time.
Example: The release of the single is scheduled for April.
fr: planifier
supply
noun
A stock of a resource from which a person or place can be provided with the necessary amount of that resource.
Example: There were fears that the drought would limit the exhibition's water supply.
fr: approvisionnement
workflow
noun
The sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.