A raw material is any purchased or supplied item that is in some way transformed via a manufacturing process.  The raw material is generally converted into a component or a finished product.  

  The easiest way to define over processing is doing more to a product than what the customer, specification or transformative process requires the first time through.  Overprocessing is sometimes referred to as inappropriate processing because it includes steps that are not needed, extra handling, duplication of activities and processes that are just not statistically capable of producing the desired results.

  Internal setup refers to the activities associated with elements of a setup procedure that can only be performed while a process or machine is not running.

  Six Sigma is a strategy that gives organizations a structured means to improve business processes and solve problems.  The result of improved business processes leads to increased performance, reduced defects, reduced variation, improved use of capital and resources and more stable and consistent results/outputs.  

  See: Product Family.

  Process time is the time that the product or service is actually being worked on by an operator or employee.  Process times can be observed and gathered using a stopwatch.

  ​In the most basic form 3D printing is a process by which layers of material are added to create various products and components.  This process, known as additive manufacturing allows people to create complex products like: Aerospace products, cases and many supplies for various divisions of the military at a fraction of the price it would take to mold or sculpt different items.  Products and components are most often created using CAD drawings or 3D models.  Once the design is complete it is then sent over to a 3D printer so the additive manufacturing process can begin.  One exciting note about the 3D printing process is that in today's day and age many of the machines are available for use inside your home.  We will list our top 5 options in the description below. 

  A huddle is an action by a team to strategize, support and motivate one another towards accomplishing or aligning objectives and goals.  Huddles are typically held before an activity takes place.  Huddles can be held in any area or department of an organization, they do not need specific rooms just a format to conduct the huddle.  The main difference between a huddle and a meeting is both how it is conducted and the amount of time the huddle takes compared to a meeting.  Huddles can be performed in under 7 minutes.

  The 8 forms of waste are also referred to as the 8 forms of muda.  A Lean strategy attempts to remove any and all forms of waste from business processes.

  Six sigma and many other forms of project management use "tollgates"  to check the progress of projects in relation to their objectives.  When an assigned individual approves that the team has successfully completed one stage of the project, the team then can "pass" on to the next stage of the project or initiative.  If the team does not successfully complete a stage they can not "pass" on to the next phase.