--- title: Do You Know These Basic Manufacturing Terms? description: Doing some personal manufacturing training to become more hireable is easy! Here are some basic manufacturing terms to improve your knowledge. image: https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/blog%20post%2010.jpeg --- [Skip to main content](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/do-you-know-these-basic-manufacturing-terms#main) - FAQs - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://ontarioeast.ca/happenings/our-team-partners) - [About Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/about-us/) - Search [![site_main_logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo.svg) ![site_main_logo_scrolled](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hubfs/site_main_logo_scrolled.svg) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png) ![Ontario East Economic Development logo](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=245&height=150&name=logo.png)](https://ontarioeast.ca/) - [Show submenu for Regional Profile Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) - [Our Communities](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/our-communities/) - [Advantages](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/advantages/) - [Workforce](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/workforce/) - [Incentives and Funding](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/incentives-and-funding/) - [Success Stories](https://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/) - [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) - [Show submenu for Key Employment Sectors Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/) - [Food and Beverage](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/food-and-beverage/) - [Logistics and Transportation](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/logistics-and-transportation/) - [Other](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/other/) - [Show submenu for Members Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Member Directory](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Become a Member](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/become-a-member/) - [Membership Application Form](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/membership-application-form/) - [Regional Marketing Committee](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/regional-marketing-committee/) - [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) Open main navigation Menu Close main navigation Menu - Search - Show submenu for Regional Profile Regional Profile - Regional Profile - [Regional Profile](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/) - [Our Communities](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/our-communities/) - [Advantages](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/advantages/) - [Workforce](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/workforce/) - [Incentives and Funding](https://ontarioeast.ca/regional-profile/incentives-and-funding/) - [Success Stories](https://ontarioeast.ca/success-stories/) - [Available Properties](https://ontarioeast.ca/available-properties/) - Show submenu for Key Employment Sectors Key Employment Sectors - Key Employment Sectors - [Key Employment Sectors](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/) - [Advanced Manufacturing](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/) - [Food and Beverage](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/food-and-beverage/) - [Logistics and Transportation](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/logistics-and-transportation/) - [Other](https://ontarioeast.ca/key-employment-sectors/other/) - [FAQs](https://ontarioeast.ca/faqs/) - [News](https://ontarioeast.ca/news/) - [Events](https://ontarioeast.ca/events/) - Show submenu for Members Members - Members - [Members](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Member Directory](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/) - [Become a Member](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/become-a-member/) - [Membership Application Form](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/membership-application-form/) - [Regional Marketing Committee](https://ontarioeast.ca/members/regional-marketing-committee/) - [Jobs & RFPs](https://ontarioeast.ca/jobs-rfps/) - [Ontario East Municipal Conference](https://oemc.ca/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) - [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) [Contact Us](https://ontarioeast.ca/contact-us/) Search ![Canada, Employment Ontario, Government of Ontario logos](https://ontarioeast.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ontario-employment-logos.svg) This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. # Do You Know These Basic Manufacturing Terms? For Ontario East September 06, 2019 ![](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/blog%20post%2010.jpeg?width=565&name=blog%20post%2010.jpeg) If you haven’t worked in the manufacturing industry before, some terms may be confusing. Every industry uses its own jargon and unique way of communicating, and **manufacturing does as well**.  Here are some basic manufacturing terms and what they mean, to help you shine in a job interview, or just for general [manufacturing training](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/this-is-your-career-on-manufacturing-training) knowledge that might help you understand the world of manufacturing. Basic Manufacturing Terms #1: Industry 4.0 Industry 4.0 is the name given to the concept of smart factories that can do all the production work and even plan productions all on its own. The term was first coined in Germany, as the German government strongly supports the computerization and further automation of the manufacturing industry. Industry 4.0 is also sometimes referred to as [the Fourth Industrial Revolution](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/the-4th-industrial-revolution-and-what-it-means-for-your-job-search). ## Basic Manufacturing Terms #2: Kaisen Similar to lean manufacturing, *Kaisen* is a Sino-Japanese word (Japanese words originated in or derived from Chinese speech) that means “improvement.” In a manufacturing context, it means **to continuously improve the production process**, from CEO to line worker. *Kaisen* is notably mentioned in The Toyota Way, the management and production philosophy that guides the Toyota Motor Corporation and is credited for much of the company’s success. ## Basic Manufacturing Terms #3: Automation “Automation” is a word that’s thrown around a lot when discussing the future of manufacturing. [Automation](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/will-automation-and-technology-adoption-in-manufacturing-hurt-jobs) means a procedure or process performed with either minimal or no human interaction. Many people fear automation will take away jobs, which it does sometimes, but often forget automated processes also create new roles, either to run a process, to program a process, or to repair machines that have broken down. ## Basic Manufacturing Terms #4: Bottleneck ![null](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5Dx2fMOU-jkq5tIkzAVaYXTvmzlaUqZAJKmw6vGKjVDWpL_CsQsjTbQmtkT9OB9pWt2EaiPPeyykbC_vgbIejoQNFOmScJumfQNzvX318uC_uVSW0v24vpFJ1whPprG2K1HGmRUl) You may have heard of “bottlenecking” used **to describe traffic jams**, but the same term is used in manufacturing to describe a similar concept. A bottleneck is any time in a [production line](https://blog.ontarioeast.ca/life-in-eastern-ontario-is-supported-by-modern-manufacturing) when parts arrive at a process faster than the machine or employee at that point in the line is able to process the parts. ## Basic Manufacturing Terms #5: Supply Chain A supply chain is a system of organizing the entire supply process from the gathering of raw materials, to the manufacturer of a product to the wholesaler, retailer, and finally the sale to the customer. Supply chain systems describe software that is used to organize complex supply chains for easier management. ## Defining a New Career in Manufacturing Can Change Your Life! 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