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Group 108 Primate
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Engineering
Undergraduate 1
06/21/2014

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Term
Abstract Models
Definition
representations, usually mathematical in nature, of a real item. Typically developed for use in analysis.
Term
Accuracy
Definition
The closeness to the truth
Term
Added value
Definition
the outcome of making improvements to a product system in such a way as to make it more valuable to the customer
Term
administrative controls
Definition
attempt to minimize exposure, implement proper housekeeping practices, and devise appropriate worker training
Term
agreement
Definition
a situation in which everyone on a team accepts and fully supports a decision
Term
algorithm
Definition
a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end especially by a computer
Term
analogies
Definition
parallel, but not similar situations that can be used to illustrate or explain one another
Term
analysis
Definition
the detailed assessment of the performance of an engineering design, usually based on mathematical models
Term
approximations
Definition
simplifications of complex behaviours that permit a situation to be assessed and analysed within the powers of the design tools we have available
Term
aquifer
Definition
a water bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel
Term
assumptions
Definition
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.
Term
axiom
Definition
a truth that cannot be derived but for which there are no counterexamples or exceptions
Term
belief
Definition
information that is founded on faith, or an unprovable conviction
Term
best practice
Definition
a design approach, based primarily on experience, that is considered to be best for the particular circumstance
Term
biases
Definition
inclinations either recognized or unconscious that can rise out of past experience
Term
black box
Definition
a component of a system which accepts inputs and produces outputs while the functioning within the component is unknown
Term
brainstorming
Definition
a free for all approach to developing ideas for problem solution. Normally used in the context of developing concepts
Term
closing processes
Definition
formalizing acceptance of the project or phase and bringing it to an orderly end
Term
codes
Definition
documents that define minimum standards, normally under force of law, for the performance of an engineering design
Term
codes of ethics
Definition
documents, either legal or voluntary compliance, that define expectations for the behaviour of a professional
Term
communication
Definition
exchange of information in graphic, written, or spoken form. A case of both sending and receiving messages
Term
concept
Definition
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
Term
consensus
Definition
a situation in which everyone on a team is willing to stand behind a decision
Term
constraints
Definition
limitations imposed on an undertaking. May be of physical, financial, political, legal, technical, environmental, ethical or any other origin.
Term
controlling processes
Definition
ensuring that project objectives are met by monitoring and measuring progress and taking corrective action when necessary
Term
cost-benefit
Definition
a comparison of benefits gained versus costs incurred
Term
creativity
Definition
bringing into existence new and different solutions to problems regardless of the nature of the problem
Term
Critical path Method (CPM)
Definition
a PERT type approach developed in the mid 20th century by Dupont
Term
critique
Definition
an assessment of work, usually for the purpose of identifying potential improvements, unintended oversights, or undesirable characteristics of the work. Most notably, a critique is not just criticism.
Term
data
Definition
specific information, often numerical and founded on experiments, that is used is design. The word data is plural
Term
design
Definition
a systematic process of developing a workable solution to a practical problem. Involves, at minimum creativity, analysis, communication, and technical competence
Term
design goals
Definition
objectives which a particular design is intended to meet. Will have a major impact on the ultimate product
Term
design team
Definition
a group of individuals, each with a particular design is intended to meet. Will have a major impact on the ultimate product
Term
drawing
Definition
a representation of some physical thing. In engineering usually done with some level of precision and using either electronic or drafting tools
Term
durability
Definition
the ability of a product to remain functional under long term use
Term
emergency shut-off devices
Definition
allows the immediate stopping of a machine once a person, or other foreign objects, becomes caught by the machine
Term
empirical
Definition
originating in or based on observation or experience
Term
engineering controls
Definition
passive measures designed into the work environment to prevent contact with potential hazards
Term
environmental protection
Definition
the process of assuring that the results of our designs do not have negative (or at least have minimum) impact on the natural environment
Term
evaluation
Definition
assessing the performance of alternate designs against established criteria before selecting the final design
Term
executing processes
Definition
coordinating people and other resources to carry out the plan
Term
explicit
Definition
fully revealed or expressed without vagueness, implication, or ambiguity
Term
fail-active design
Definition
the product remains energized but in a safe mode until corrective action is taken
Term
fail-operational design
Definition
the product continues to operate with reasonable safety until corrective action is possible
Term
fail-passive design
Definition
reduces the product to its lowest level of energy so product cannot operate until corrective action is taken
Term
fail-safe designs
Definition
to ensure that a product failure will not result in damage to people, the product itself, or the environment
Term
failure
Definition
at one extreme, the complete collapse of a system or structure. At he other extreme, not functioning as intended. When something is designed and it does not do the job for whatever reason it is deemed a failure
Term
failure minimization
Definition
minimize the consequences of failure using four principle methods: monitoring devices, warning devices, safety factors and margins, failure rate reduction
Term
feedback
Definition
communication form a person who has assessed something to the person responsible for creating it
Term
function
Definition
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists
Term
glitch
Definition
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 in a complicated system
Term
Gantt chart
Definition
a project management tool that separates a project into specific tasks and assigns timelines to each task
Term
handbook
Definition
a document that contains best practice advice respecting a particular product or process. Usually available through either manufacturers or trade associaions
Term
heuristing
Definition
involving or serving as an aid to learning, discovery, or problem solving be experimental and especially trial and error methods, a rule of thumb
Term
implicit
Definition
capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed
Term
innovation
Definition
a modification of something that exists
Term
initiating processes
Definition
recognizing that a project or phase should begin and committing to do so
Term
iteration
Definition
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
Term
knowledge
Definition
information that is founded on fact as it is currently understood or scientifically provable or measurable data
Term
lateral thinking
Definition
a thinking process that allows you to abandon established norms and look at a problem in a completely new and different manner
Term
limitations
Definition
a synonym for constraints
Term
manufacturability
Definition
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
Term
manufacturability
Definition
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 industry
Term
majority
Definition
a situation in which a decision is made by a vote and 50% + 1 are in favour of the decision
Term
minimum cost
Definition
the level of cost that meets the dual goals of low price and acceptable performance
Term
minimum maintenance
Definition
a design goal often associated with consumer good but at least implied in all built systems. Lowers the cost of ownership and decreases the probability of premature failure
Term
models
Definition
representations of a real item or system. Can range from physical scale models, through dimensionally similar models, to the mathematical representation
Term
opinionated
Definition
unduly adhering to one's own opinion or to preconceived notions
Term
optimizing
Definition
seeking out the most favorable combination of variables to produce an end product with the best chance of success
Term
origination
Definition
something brand new
Term
passive protection
Definition
to provide engineered protection from hazards irrespective of the behavior of the individuals being protected
Term
performance
Definition
the manner in which a design reacts to the conditions imposed by the environment in which it is used
Term
PERT diagram
Definition
Program evaluation and review technique - a project management tool for large and 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
Term
physical models
Definition
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
Term
planning processes
Definition
devising and maintaining a workable scheme to accomplish the business need that the project was undertaken to address
Term
plurality
Definition
a situation which there are more than two alternatives and he largest number of people but less than 50% supports the position being advanced
Term
precision
Definition
the fineness of measurement
Term
process
Definition
is a sequence or series of actions/tasks
Term
product-oriented processes
Definition
are concerned with specifying and creating the project product
Term
product reliability failure
Definition
failure of parts causing injury
Term
project management processes
Definition
are concerned with describing and organizing the work of the project
Term
prototypes
Definition
first off full scale productions of a new design intended for physical assessment of the product and the associated manufacturing requirements
Term
redesign
Definition
the process of reworking an existing product to improve performance and/or correct problems. A normal step in product evolution
Term
redundancy
Definition
use of backup systems
Term
reliability
Definition
a condition in which one can be confident of the performance of an design or the correctness of an assumption or theory
Term
round off
Definition
the process of reducing a string of numbers, usually produced as the result of mathematical assessment to a workable level of precision
Term
rule-of-thumb
Definition
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
Term
safety
Definition
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
Term
significant figures
Definition
a level of precision that can be justified based on what is known and what can be controlled within a design. While level of mathematical and computer precision may permit calculations to many decimal places, at some point the level of error, or the reliability of the numbers becomes questionable. Significant figures can be justified based on their design reliability
Term
similitude
Definition
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 fiction, impact models differently than real systems
Term
sketch
Definition
a freehand drawing to aid in illustrating a concept rather than detail
Term
standard parts
Definition
parts that are interchangeable among a number of models of a particular line on manufactured products. Parts that do not require special manufacturing processes but are widely available within an industry
Term
standards
Definition
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
Term
synthesis
Definition
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
Term
tolerances
Definition
the level of accuracy required in manufacturing or construction so that parts wills fit and function properly. Often seen as plus minus measurements associated with dimensions on drawings
Term
vertical thinking
Definition
a though precess that follows a logical progression through sequential steps, with each step justified by logic or fact
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