The 3 Domains of Ergonomics

B2B business models are often categorized as either vertical or horizontal. A vertical B2B model focuses on a single industry or 'vertical,' providing specialized products and services tailored to that sector's unique needs (e.g., software for dentists). In contrast, a horizontal B2B model offers a product or service that is applicable across multiple industries (e.g., accounting software or office supplies).

LCA system boundaries define which life cycle stages are included in the assessment. A "cradle-to-grave" analysis covers the entire product life, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and final disposal. In contrast, a "cradle-to-gate" assessment is a partial LCA that ends when the product leaves the factory gate, excluding the use and disposal phases.

Design for Disassembly (DfD) is a design strategy focused on enabling the easy and cost-effective separation of a product's components and materials at its end-of-life. By prioritizing non-destructive separation, DfD facilitates repair, reuse, remanufacturing, and high-purity recycling. Key techniques include using mechanical fasteners over adhesives, modular construction, and clear material labeling to maximize value recovery.

The 1.5 sigma shift is an empirical correction used in Six Sigma calculations to account for the long-term dynamic variation of a process. It posits that over time, a process mean will tend to drift by about 1.5 standard deviations from its short-term centered position. This shift is the reason a 6 sigma process corresponds to 3.4 DPMO, not the theoretical 2 defects per billion.

A standardized categorization of artificial satellites based on their wet mass, including fuel. The primary classes are minisatellites (100–500 kg), microsatellites (10–100 kg), nanosatellites (1–10 kg), picosatellites (0.1–1 kg), and femtosatellites (<100 g). This classification provides a common language for engineers, manufacturers, and launch providers to define mission scale, technical requirements, and cost estimations.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), sometimes named Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), a material extrusion technique, builds objects by selectively depositing molten material in a pre-determined path layer-by-layer. A thermoplastic filament is unwound from a coil and fed through a heated extruder nozzle. The nozzle melts the filament and deposits it onto a build platform, where it cools and solidifies, fusing with the layer below.

Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life. This "cradle-to-grave" or "cradle-to-cradle" analysis considers raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair, maintenance, and final disposal or recycling. It quantifies inputs like energy and raw materials and outputs like emissions to air, water, and soil.

Solid-state batteries replace the liquid or polymer gel electrolyte of conventional batteries with a solid, ion-conducting material, such as a ceramic or solid polymer. This design aims to improve safety by eliminating flammable liquid electrolytes and to increase energy density and lifespan by enabling the use of high-capacity anodes, particularly pure lithium metal.

Six Sigma is a quality management methodology aiming for near-perfection. A process operating at a "six sigma" level has a yield of 99.9997%, meaning it produces only 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO). This standard corresponds to a process where the nearest specification limit is six standard deviations away from the process mean, accounting for a 1.5 sigma shift in the mean over time (refer to the specific details on the debated 1.5 sigma shift as an empirical observation).

Rapid prototyping is a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) data. In iterative design, it allows for fast creation of tangible models for user testing and stakeholder feedback, enabling quick design refinements before committing to expensive tooling and manufacturing processes.

Electrostatic actuation is a primary method for inducing motion in MEMS. It utilizes the attractive force between two electrodes separated by a dielectric gap when a voltage is applied. The force is proportional to the square of the voltage and the capacitance gradient. Common designs include parallel-plate capacitors for out-of-plane motion and comb drives for large in-plane displacement.

The NIOSH lifting equation is a tool used by occupational health and safety professionals to assess the risk of musculoskeletal injury associated with manual lifting tasks. It calculates a Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) for a specific task, representing the maximum weight a healthy worker could lift without increased risk of low back injury, considering factors like task geometry and frequency.