Attribute: A quality or characteristic of a part or process.

Attribute Gauge: A device that provides a comparison or measurement that is not based on numerical values. For example: an eye chart.

Calibration: The state in which a measuring instrument is accurate and repeatable for its intended use.

Check: Any assessment of the system methods, tools, or operation that can verify compliance to requirements.

Concept Diagram: A physical sketch illustrating the condition under study.

Consistent Work: The required performance of manpower to tasks using specified materials, tools, methods, operations, and procedures that have been defined to ensure acceptable product or outputs. Components can include and specify safety and environmental requirements as well.

Control Plan: The specified method for organizing and managing a manufacturing or service process.

Corrective Action: The steps taken after a process flaw is recognized to prevent problem recurrence.

DFMEA (Design Failure Modes and Effects Analysis): The tool or document that defines the design considerations that will be applied to a product or process to ensure desired engineering and aesthetic results. The DFMEA is usually the result of a meeting.

Duo: A set of two items, where one is compared to another.

Flaw: A fault having any characteristic that detracts from the intended purpose of a process or service.

Flow Path: The specified route experienced by a component as it travels through a manufacturing or service process.

Foreign Material (FM): Any substance that adversely affects a product or process.

Interaction: A phenomenon that occurs when two or more variables react adversely and explosively.

Lockbox: A device that captures defective parts or materials.

PFMEA (Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis): The tool to define the process considerations that are applied to a product or process to ensure desired engineering and aesthetic results. The PFMEA is usually the result of a quality committee or process group.

Plan of Attack: The steps to be taken to generate clues and to provide problem solutions.

Quality: The fulfillment of customer expectations. If the customer is pleased with the service or product and does not perceive any flaw based on their expectations, it is believed to be of acceptable quality.

Rework: Any operation that is applied to correct a flaw in the product or process.

Sequestered Stock: Product that is captured after a flaw is recognized. It prevents a faulty product or service from reaching the customer.

Sequestering: The method for recalling and holding any product that is in current production, storage, or delivery that keeps the customer from receiving a flawed product.

Sigma: A standard deviation term. This is described as 1/6 of the length of a population distribution. In statistical terms, it is the standard deviation of the mean.

Sporadic Instance: Any spiking occurrence—a rapid and intermittent change in the process flaw production—that does not appear continually as a usual condition.

Sum of Extremes: An evaluation whereby a ranked comparison of as many as 10 samples—two groups of five samples each—provides a clear separation of the data of one group when compared to the other without any tied or overlapping values between members of opposing groups. They are observable at both extremes of the plotted distribution, as explained in the examples in Appendix E.

Tier I and Tier II: The supplier, and the supplier’s supplier, respectively.

Validate: To ascertain that tools or results are correct and meet the ascribed requirements.

Variable: A quantity or characteristic that has distinct properties and can be measured or compared because of its inherent nature.

Variable Gauge: A device that provides numerical data. For example: a ruler.

Witness Marks: Any noticeable scratches or discoloration on parts.

Work Procedures: Job procedures that have been specified to perform a service or an operation. This term can be more inclusive and also specify quality, safety, environmental, catastrophe, and communication considerations.