OCR A level, Design & Technology, Product Design, Glossary

Additive manufacture

involves joining or building up material such as the creation of models in a FDM 3D printer

Additive Printing

A manifacturing process joining materials from 3D model data.

Aesthetics

aspects relating to the visual appeal of products.

Anodising

coating (usually aluminium) with a protective oxidised layer by electrolysis.

Anthropometrics

scientific measurements of the human body applied to the design and construction of products.

Assembly Jigs

can be used to hold a part in place while a process is being carried out.

Batch Production

The manufacture of groups of products to increase efficiency and economy.

Bespoke

A product specially made to order for a customer.

Biological Nutrients

Organic non-toxic materials that can safely re-enter ecosystems.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual, a community, or an organisation.

CFRP

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic

Cloud computing / storage

Web-based hosting of computer files / applications for access in multiple locations.

Collaboration

Working as a team, rather than individually, to achieve a goal.

Composite Material

A material comprised of two or more different materials, resulting in a material with enhanced properties.

Compressed Boards

Made from chips, strands, or particles of timber glues together under a compressive force.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

3D CAD simulation tool for fluid flows in or around a product.

Computer-aided Engineering (CAE)

The simulation and analysis of product and component performance using computer software.

Continuous Flow Production

A highly automated 24/7 production process, usually requiring a small workforce.

Control Measure

Any action carried out in advance that protects against a possible danger or injury.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

Legislation to prevent, reduce, or control people's exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.

Copyright

Gives rights to creators of original ideas, information, or intellectual works.

Critical path analysis (CPA)

Analysis of the stages in a project to ensure time-efficient completion.

Culture

The social behaviour of different societies influenced by their customs and ideas.

Customer Reach

The number of potential customers a company can reach through a marketing strategy.

Cycle time

The time taken to complete a manufacturing process.

Demographic

A particular sector of the population. This may relate to age, education level, spending power, geographical location, etc.

Design for disassembly (DFD)

A strategy that considers the future need to disassemble a product for it to be repaired, refurbished, or recycled.

Design Rights

Gives rights to the designer or creator of a design (does not cover 2D work).

Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM)

A system where parts are produced by machines such as 3D printers directly from CAD files.

Eco-Materials

Often called environmentally friendly materials, those materials that enhance the environmental improvement throughout the whole lifecycle.

Ecological Footprint

The impact on the environment and natural resources.

Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS)

A computerised system used in retail shops to record sales and track levels if stock.

Electroplating

Involves the coating of an object in a thin layer of metal by using electricity.

Emerging Technologies

New technologies which are currently being developed.

Enterprise

A business venture or project.

Ergonomics

The promotion of optimum design usability and efficiency through the study of how people interact with products and their working environment.

Exploded View

A drawing, usually in isometric projection, showing the relative position of parts for assembly.

Fairtrade

Involves better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

Fast Fashion

A term explaining a quick transaction from catwalk to high-street stored to capture current trends.

Feasibility analysis

A consideration of how possible and realistic it is to proceed with a project.

Ferrous

Metal that contains Iron.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Software which analyses the stress in elements of a CAD design.

Fixture

Holds work in a given position while a manufacturing process takes place. Fixtures are always fixed to the machine bed.

Flowchart

A diagrammatic representation of a process using standardised symbols.

Former

Used to make sure that parts are formed or bent to the same shape.

Functional Performance

How the product works for functions.

Galvanising

A process in which steel is coated with zinc.

Gantt Chart

A graphical method (bar chart) of showing the time allocation for organising the stages of a manufacturing process.

Generative Design

The production of large numbers of alternative design possibilities using biomimicry-related techniques.

GRP

Glass-Reinforced Plastic

Hardwoods

Timber from a broad leaf deciduous tree. Usually slow growing.

Hazard

Anything that could cause someone harm.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The main piece of legislation for British health and safety law.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

A national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety, and illness.

High-volume (mass) production

Making large numbers of standardised products in highly mechanised factories.

Human Factors

The study of how humans behave physically and psychologically in relation to a product.

Human Interferance

The part(s) of a product that the user comes into physical contact with or that provides feedback, such as images or sound.

Hydrophobic

Highly water repellent.

Iconic Design

Usually a highly innovative design regarded as an inspirational benchmark to other designers.

Inbound Marketing

Market research used to establish whether a gap in the market exists.

Inclusive design

Designing products for ease of use by consumers with the maximum possible range of abilities, without the need for adaptations.

Intellectual Property

Rights covering all types of intangible, non-physical products.

Invention

A completely new device, machine, or system that didn't previously exist.

Inventory

A manufacturing company's assets in the form of materials, parts, or products.

Isometric Drawing

A pictorial drawing method showing horizontal lines sloping at 30° to horizontal.

Iterative Design

A cyclic approach to creating optimum designs by incorporating feedback from on-going, evaluative testing processes.

Jig

Used to hold and position work and / or locate or guide a tool to ensure accuracy and repeatability.

Just-in-time (JIT) manufacture

The manufacture of products as needed, in response to existing orders.

Knock-down (KD) fittings

Allow products to be assembled and disassembled many times, without weakening the joint.

Laminated Boards

Layers glued together in a well-organised structure with a synthetic resin that sets rapidly under heat and pressure.

Lean Manufacturing

A system that aims to reduce waste and continuously improve in order to add value for customers.

Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)

Analyses and evaluates the economic impact of a product through all stages of a product's life, from the initial extraction of raw materials through to final disposal or recycling (not to be confused with the product lifecycle).

Logistics

The detailed organisation of activities such as the transportation of materials, parts, and products.

Low Temperature Casting

Used for metals such as pewter which melt at low temperatures and can be poured into a variety of mould material.

Market Penetration

Increasing the market share of an existing product, or promoting a new product by using a variety of marketing and advertising strategies.

Marketing Mix

The best blend of marketing methods used to engage the intended target market.

Mass customisation

A manufacturing technique which uses online ordering to combine the flexibility and personalisation or custom-made products with the low unit costs associated with mass production.

Mathematical Modelling

The use of simulation software to model the effect of changes in designs prior to manufacture.

Mechanical Properties

Properties associated with how a product reacts to an external force.

Metal Alloy

A metal made of two or more metals, or combining two or more elements, one which must be a metal.

Microcontroller

An electronic device that can be programmed to carry out specific tasks.

Modelling

Preliminary stages of designing, using a range of 2D and 3D techniques to explore potential design iterations.

Modern Materials

Materials that are developed through the invention of new or improved processes.

Modular / Cell production system

Workers, CNC machines, robots, and AGVs organised in groups for efficient, flexible manufacture.

Mould

A hollow shape used to pour material into, like a jelly mould.

Non-ferrous

Metals that do not contain Iron.

Oleophobic

Highly oil resistant.

Outbound marketing

Marketing that raises awareness and allows the customer to 'find' the product.

Participatory design

A design process that requires the involvement of all stakeholders and users.

Patent

Gives rights to technical and functional aspects of a product or invention.

Percentile

A specific statistical percentage range, often used to define appropriate anthropometric data for design purposes.

Perspective drawings

A 3D drawing method that adds realism by the use of receding size for more distant elements.

Physical Properties

Properties associated with actual make-up or structure of the material.

Planned Obsolescence

The process of designing a product to go out of fashion or no longer function after a specific time period.

Presses

Ensures the material is formed to shape when pressure is applied to the material.

Price Point

The chosen price for a product to retail at.

Price Skimming

A company sets its prices high when launching a product to quickly recover initial expenditures associated with production and advertising. The aim is to achieve a profit quickly.

Pricing Strategy

How companies price their products to take account of production, labour, and advertising costs as well as incorporating a profit margin.

Product Lifecycle

The marketing lifecycle from the introduction to decline of a product.

Project Management

The organisation of teamwork to satisfactorily achieve a particular objective.