Multi-Discipline - Also called Multidisciplinary combining or involving several academic disciplines or professional
specializations in an approach to a topic or problem.
Nanotechnology - A branch of engineering that deals with the design and manufacture of extremely small electronic
circuits and mechanical devices built at the molecular level of matter.
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/nanotechnology-molecular-manufacturing
Negotiation Skills/Negotiation Theory Skills - A dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach
an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon
courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests of two
people/parties involved in negotiation process.
One Piece Flow versus Batch - One Piece Flow refers to the concept of moving one work piece at a time in-between
operations. EWAB Flow Technology moves just one piece at a time per pallet. The pallet moves at the speed of Takt
time thus minimizing inventory relative to the geographic distance in-between machines. At extremely high speed
production and short Takt times, each pallet can also hold more than one piece. Batches Of One refers to the ability to
manufacture any size of batch, ultimately down to a batch of one single work piece.
Online learning - Online education is a type of distance learning---taking courses without attending a brick-andmortar school or university. Instead, online students and teachers interact over the Internet. To meet the definition of
online education, a course of study should offer two-way communication between teacher and learner and fall under
the oversight of an educational institution.
On-the-job training (OJT) - A form of training taking place in a normal working situation. On-the-job training,
sometimes called direct instruction, is one of the earliest forms of training (observational learning is probably the
earliest). It is a one-on-one training located at the job site, where someone who knows how to do a task shows another
how to perform it. Training Within Industry – TWI – is one methodology that creates a simple systematic way to
insure that OJT is accomplished correctly, timely, and with the highest quality.
Open Source - Software that comes with permission to use, copy and distribute, either as is or with modifications, and
that may be offered either free or with a charge. http://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/open-source/
Operations Management - The organizing and controlling of the fundamental business activity of providing goods
and services to customers.
OSHA 10 - The OSHA 10 Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training Program is intended to provide an entry
level construction worker's general awareness on recognizing and preventing hazards on a construction site. OSHA
requires employees throughout the US to complete training by December 1, 2013 to be in compliance with new GHS
standards.
Outsourcing - In business, outsourcing involves the contracting out of a business process to another party.
Outsourcing sometimes involves transferring employees and assets from one firm to another or from one country or
another.
Packaging - The technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also
refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages. Packaging can be described as a coordinated
system of preparing goods for transport, warehousing, logistics, sale, and end use. Packaging contains, protects,
preserves, transports, informs, and sells.
PDSA/ PDCA - A scientific method of finding out what works and what doesn’t as a continuous circle of events,
Plan, Do, Study, Act, and then repeat. Popularized by Dr. Deming. Often referred to as PDCA, Plan, Do Check, Act,
but later redefined by Deming for the American (Western) audience as PDSA.
Person Machine Integration - Bringing together component subsystems into a whole and ensuring that those
subsystems function together, a practice known as system integration. Systems integrators may work in many fields
but the term is generally used in the information technology (IT) field, the defense industry, or in media.
Pervasive Connectivity - Everyday devices with embedded technology and connectivity as computing devices
become progressively smaller and more powerful. Also called ubiquitous computing, pervasive connectivity is the
result of computer technology advancing at exponential speeds -- a trend toward all man-made and some natural
products having hardware and software. Pervasive computing goes beyond the realm of personal computers: it is the
idea that almost any device, from clothing to tools to appliances to cars to homes to the human body to your coffee
mug, can be imbedded with chips to connect the device to an infinite network of other devices. The goal of pervasive
computing, which combines current network technologies with wireless computing, voice recognition, Internet
capability and artificial intelligence, is to create an environment where the connectivity of devices is embedded in such
a way that the connectivity is unobtrusive and always available.
Photovoltaics (PV) - Is the name of a method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity using
semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon commonly studied in physics,
photochemistry and electrochemistry. A photovoltaic system employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells
F