Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Surface micromachining builds MEMS devices by depositing and patterning thin films on a substrate. It involves a sequence of depositing a sacrificial layer (like silicon dioxide), patterning it, depositing a structural layer (like polysilicon), and finally removing the sacrificial layer to release the mechanical structure. This process allows for the creation of complex, free-standing microstructures directly on the wafer surface.

Stereolithography is a vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing process. It employs an ultraviolet (UV) laser to selectively cure and solidify a liquid photopolymer resin. A build platform is submerged in the resin, and the laser traces a cross-section of the object on the surface. The platform then moves down by one layer thickness, allowing a new layer of resin to be cured on top.

Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven methodology for eliminating defects in any process – from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service. The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes a process where 99.99966% of all opportunities to produce some feature of a part are statistically expected to be free of defects (3.4 defects per million opportunities).

ISO 9001 is the world's most recognized standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It provides a framework and a set of principles that ensure a common-sense approach to the management of an organization to consistently satisfy customers and other stakeholders. It is based on seven quality management principles, including a strong customer focus and a process-based approach.

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.

'Use by' dates are related to food safety. They are used on foods that are highly perishable from a microbiological perspective and could pose an immediate danger to human health after a short period. In contrast, 'best before' or 'best if used by' dates relate to food quality, indicating when the product will be at its peak flavor, texture, and nutritional value.

Concurrent engineering, also known as simultaneous engineering, is a design philosophy that emphasizes the parallelization of tasks. Instead of a sequential process where design is completed before manufacturing is considered, it involves a team-based approach where designers, manufacturing engineers, and other stakeholders work together from the outset. This overlap significantly reduces product development time and improves design quality.

The Juran Trilogy, developed by Dr. Joseph M. Juran, is a foundational quality management approach consisting of three interconnected processes: Quality Planning, Quality Control, and Quality Improvement. This framework provides a structured way for organizations to manage for quality. It emphasizes that quality does not happen by accident; it must be planned and managed systematically.

Parametric modeling is a CAD paradigm where designs are defined by parameters and constraints rather than just geometric shapes. Dimensions and relationships between features (e.g., parallelism, tangency) are stored as parameters. Modifying a parameter value automatically updates the entire model, maintaining the defined constraints. This approach facilitates design iteration, automation, and the creation of design families.

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.