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glossary of terms
the glossary of terms for the Eng 1430 class at the University of Manitoba.
95
Engineering
Undergraduate 1
04/09/2013

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Term
representations, usually mathematical in nature, of a real item. Typically developed for use in analysis.
Definition
Abstract Models
Term
the closeness to the truth.
Definition
Accuracy
Term
the outcome of making improvements to a product of system in such a way as to make it more valuable to the customer.
Definition
Added Value
Term
attempt to minimize exposure, implement proper housekeeping practices, and devise appropriate worker training
Definition
Administrative Controls
Term
a situation in which everyone on a team accepts and fully supports a decision.
Definition
agreement
Term
a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end especially by a computer.
Definition
algorithm
Term
parallel, but not similar situations that can be used to illustrate or explain one another
Definition
analogies
Term
the detailed assessment of the performance of an engineering design, usually based on mathematical models.
Definition
analysis
Term
simplifications of complex behaviours that permit a situation to be assessed and analysed within the powers of the design tools we have available.
Definition
approximations
Term
a water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel
Definition
aquifer
Term
"information" that forms the basis of creative design. Used in the absence of known fact and subject to revision as the situation becomes more clearly defined.
Definition
Assumptions
Term
a truth that cannot be derived but for which there are no counterexamples or exceptions.
Definition
axiom
Term
"information" that is founded on faith, or an unprovable conviction.
Definition
Belief
Term
a design approach, based primarily on experience, that is considered to be "best" for the particular circumstance.
Definition
Best Practice
Term
inclinations, either recognized or unconscious, that can rise out of past experience
Definition
biases
Term
a component of a system which accepts inputs and produces outputs while functioning within the component is unknown.
Definition
black box
Term
a free-for-all approach to developing ideas for problem solution.
Definition
brainstorming
Term
formalizing acceptance of the project or phase and bringing it to an orderly end
Definition
closing processes
Term
documents that define minimum standards, normally under force of law, for the performance of an engineering design.
Definition
codes
Term
documents, either legal or voluntary compliance, that define expectations for the behaviour of a professional.
Definition
codes of ethics
Term
exchange of information in graphic, written or spoken form. a case of both "sending" and "receiving" messages.
Definition
communication
Term
an idea. within the design context, conceptual design is the preliminary stage in which ideas are assembled in a general way, prior to any assessment or analysis
Definition
concept
Term
a situation in which everyone on a team is willing to "stand behind" a decision.
Definition
consensus
Term
limitations imposed on an undertaking. may be of physical, financial, political, legal, technical, environmental, ethical or any other origin.
Definition
constraints
Term
ensuring that project objectives are met by monitoring and measuring progress and taking corrective action when necessary
Definition
controlling processes
Term
a comparison of benefits gained versus costs incurred.
Definition
cost-benefit
Term
bringing into existence new and different solutions to problems, regardless of the nature of the problem.
Definition
creativity
Term
a PERT type approach developed in the mid 20th century by dupont
Definition
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Term
an assessment of work, usually for the purpose of identifying potential improvements, unintended oversights, or undesirable characteristics of the work.
Definition
critique
Term
specific information, often numerical and founded on experiments, that is used in design.
Definition
data
Term
a systematic process of developing a workable solution to a practical problem. involves, at minimum, creativity, analysis, communication and technical competence.
Definition
design
Term
objectives which a particular design is intended to meet. Will have a major impact on the ultimate product
Definition
design goals
Term
a group of individuals, each with a particular set of competencies, who work together to create a final design that meets the design goals for a project
Definition
design team
Term
a representation of some physical thing, in Engineering, usually done with some level of precision and using either electronic or drafting "tools"
Definition
drawing
Term
the ability of a product to remain functional under long term use
Definition
durability
Term
allows the immediate stopping of a machine once a person, or other foreign object, becomes caught by the machine.
Definition
Emergency shut-off devices
Term
originating in or based on observation or experience
Definition
empirical
Term
passive measures designed into the work environment to prevent contact with potential hazards
Definition
engineering controls
Term
the process of assuring that the results of our designs do not have negative (or at least have minimum) impact on the natural environment.
Definition
environmental protection
Term
assessing the performance of alternate designs against established criteria before selecting the final design.
Definition
evaluation
Term
coordinating people and other resources to carry out the plan
Definition
executing processes
Term
fully revealed or expressed without vagueness, implication, or ambiguity
Definition
explicit
Term
the product remains energized but in a safe mode until corrective action is taken
Definition
fail-active design
Term
product continues to operate with reasonable safety until corrective action is possible
Definition
fail-operational design
Term
reduces the product to its lowest level of energy so product cannot operate until corrective action is taken
Definition
fail-passive design
Term
to ensure that a product failure will not result in damage to people, the product itself, or the environment
Definition
fail-safe designs
Term
at one extreme, the complete collapse of a system or structure. at the other extreme, not functioning as intended.
Definition
failure
Term
minimize the consequences of failure using four principle methods: monitoring devices, warning devices, safety factors and margins, failure rate reduction.
Definition
failure minimization
Term
communication from a person who has assessed something to the person responsible for creating it
Definition
feedback
Term
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists
Definition
function
Term
literally a very small spike in voltage in an electrical circuit resulting from a sudden added load. however, thanks to the mercury astronauts in the early 1960's it came to mean any small, unexpected problem associated with a complex system.
Definition
glitch
Term
a project management tool that separates a project into specific tasks and assigns timelines to each task.
Definition
Gantt Chart
Term
a document that contains "best practice" advice respecting a particular product or process. Usually available through either manufacturers or trade associations
Definition
handbook
Term
involving or serving as an aid to learning, discovery, or problem-solving by experimental and especially trial-and-error methods, a "rule of thumb".
Definition
heuristic
Term
capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed
Definition
implicit
Term
a modification of something that exists
Definition
innovation
Term
recognizing that a project or phase should begin and committing to do so
Definition
initiating processes
Term
a process of "revisiting" the assumptions and approximations as well as the analysis of a design solution to make changes and improvements that will impact the eventual design
Definition
iteration
Term
"information" that is found on "fact" as it is currently understood, or scientifically "provable" or measurable data.
Definition
knowledge
Term
a thinking process that allows you to abandon established norms and look at a problem in a completely new and different manner
Definition
lateral thinking
Term
a synonym for constraints
Definition
limitations
Term
the state of being fit to manufacture using processes, materials and skills that are available within "reasonable " cost. The definition of where this "line is drawn" is highly variable throughout history
Definition
manufacturability
Term
a situation in which a decision is made by a vote and 50% +1 are in favour of the decision
Definition
majority
Term
the level of cost that meets the dual goals of low price and acceptable performance
Definition
minimum cost
Term
a design goal often associated with consumer goods, but at least implied in all "built" systems. Lowers the cost of ownership and decreases the probability of premature failure
Definition
minimum maintenance
Term
representations of a real item or system.
Definition
models
Term
unduly adhering to one's own opinion or to preconceived notions
Definition
opinionated
Term
seeking out the most favourable combination of variables to produce an end product with the best chance of success
Definition
optimizing
Term
something brand new
Definition
origination
Term
to provide engineered protection from hazards irrespective of the behaviour of the individuals being protected.
Definition
passive protection
Term
the manner in which a design reacts to the conditions imposed by the environment in which it is used
Definition
performance
Term
a project management tool for large, complex projects that separates the project into specific tasks and assigns both timelines and task interactions. Permits assessment of the critical path to project completion
Definition
PERT diagram
Term
"real" models of proposed designs, ranging from full scale to micro scale and from precise representations to "test" models that reflect the requirements of similitude
Definition
physical models
Term
devising and maintaining a workable scheme to accomplish the business need that the project was undertaken to address.
Definition
planning processes
Term
a situation in which there are more than two alternatives and the largest number of persons, but less than 50%, supports the position being advanced
Definition
plurality
Term
the fineness of a measurement.
Definition
precision
Term
a sequence or series of actions/tasks
Definition
process
Term
are concerned with specifying and creating the project product(s).
Definition
product-oriented processes
Term
failure of parts causing injury
Definition
product reliability failure
Term
are concerned with describing and organizing the work of the project
Definition
project management processes
Term
"first-off", full scale productions of a new design intended for physical assessment of the product and the associated manufacturing requirements
Definition
prototypes
Term
the process of reworking an existing product to improve performance and/or correct problems. A normal step in product evolution.
Definition
redesign
Term
Use of backup systems
Definition
redundancy
Term
a condition in which one can be confident of the performance of a design or the "correctness" of an assumption or theory
Definition
reliability
Term
the process of reducing a "string" of numbers, usually produced as the result of a mathematical assessment, to a "workable" level of precision.
Definition
round-off
Term
an "accepted" process or concept that is used in design. Normally founded on experience and often used where more scientifically valid approaches are not available
Definition
rule-of-thumb
Term
a state of mind. the level of assurance that collapse will not occur, and that persons who use the design will not be placed at undue risk.
Definition
safety
Term
a level of precision that can be justified based on what is known and what can be controlled within a design.
Definition
significant figures
Term
a mathematical and physical properties based process that is utilized to design physical models that will perform in a manner similar to the full scale version. uncontrollable factors, for example viscosity and friction, impact models differently than real systems.
Definition
similitude
Term
a freehand drawing to aid in illustrating a concept rather than detail
Definition
sketch
Term
parts that are interchangeable among a number of models of a particular line of manufactured products. parts that do not require special manufacturing processes, but are widely available within an industry
Definition
standard parts
Term
agreed upon design minimums or procedures within an industry. Normally developed by consensus, but without legal status. often accepted by code writing bodies and incorporated into the code document, thereby altering their legal status
Definition
standards
Term
assembling parts into a functioning system. also considered to be the process of moving from fundamental principles to a functioning application. Using performance specifications for individual parts to create a design that has the fewest possible compromises
Definition
synthesis
Term
the level of accuracy required in manufacturing or construction so that parts will fit and function properly. Often seen as +/- measurements associated with dimensions on drawings
Definition
tolerances
Term
a thought process that follows a logical progression through sequential steps, with each step justified by logic or fact.
Definition
vertical thinking
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