DESIGN TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Designers, manufacturers and engineers have a vocabulary of their own.
If you’re getting design work done, knowing the right terminology will help you communicate with one another and get the results you envision.
MOQ
Minimum Order Quantity
MOQ is the least amount of products or units that a supplier is willing to produce at one time. MOQs are set by suppliers to cover their cost of production and ensure that they make a profit off of each production run.
BOM
Bill Of Materials
A BOM describes the different components that together create a product. The bill of material contains the item number of each component and the quantity required to successfully manufacture a product.
CAD
Computer-Aided Design
Computer-Aided Design simplifies every aspect of designing, drawing, sharing, visualising and delivering projects. It’s used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve communications through documentation, and to create a database for manufacturing.
PU, PUR
Polyurethane – a flexbile polymer material
Polyurethane is made of two main chemical components: polymers and urethane. During the chemical process, polymers are linked together by urethane groups, creating a versatile solution that can take many forms. This polymer compound creates a stable, safe and durable product that millions of individuals use every single day.
GMP
Good Manufacturing Practice
GMP is a system for ensuring proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. GMP controls quality.Â
ODM
Original Design Manufacturer
This is where an already-existing product design is remade with a few small changes and sells it under their own brand name. Changes can include things like packaging or product bundles, colours and branding, and some limited adjustments to components or functionality. The original brand is the ODM.
OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An OEM traditionally is defined as a company whose goods are used as components in the products of another company, which then sells the finished item to users.
DCR
Document Change Request
A change request which details a problem with a document, specification or SOP (standard operating procedure) and proposes a change to fix it.
QMS
Quality Management System
A QMS documents all aspects of a company’s design and operational controls, including monitoring, issue reporting, continuous improvements and training, in order to ensure that product design and manufacturing have statistically in-control repeatable product deliveries.
CNC
Computer Numerically Controlled
CNC machining is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery.
DHF
Design History File
The design history file documents the design decisions made throughout the development of the product. The DHF provides the chronology of the design, including previous revision information.
ECR
Engineering Change Request
A change request listing proposed improvements or problems with components or assemblies.