When developing an industrial product, technical vocabulary can quickly become complex.
Between product architecture, BOM, DFM, NPI, prototype and LCA, numerous terms structure the various stages of development and industrialisation.
Understanding this vocabulary is essential for:
- communicate effectively with a design office
- structure a hardware project
- anticipate industrial constraints
- secure the transition from prototype to production.
In this industrial glossary, we invite you to discover the main terms used in the development of an electronic or mechatronic product.
Product definition and design
The first step in an industrial project is to transform an idea or user need into a workable technical architecture.
This phase generally involves a mechanical, electronic or mechatronic design office, which is responsible for defining the product’s structure and technical characteristics.
Product specifications
The product specifications formalise the product’s objectives, functions, and technical, regulatory, and economic constraints. They serve as a reference throughout the project.
👉 Key elements for successful specifications
Functional specifications
Functional specifications describe what the product must do. They translate user requirements into measurable functions.
Technical specifications
Technical specifications detail how functions will be performed: components, performance, mechanical, electronic or software constraints.
Product architecture
Product architecture defines the overall organisation of the system: its sub-assemblies, their interactions and their role. It enables a complex product to be structured into several modules (mechanical, electronic, software).
Mechatronics design office
A mechatronics design office combines mechanical, electronic and software expertise to design products incorporating several technologies.
Hardware
Hardware refers to all of the physical components of a product: electronic boards, mechanical casings, connectors, sensors, etc.
Firmware
Firmware is software embedded directly in the electronic product. It controls the components and manages the operation of the system.
Software
Software refers to the software associated with the product, such as mobile applications, cloud platforms, or monitoring tools.
Artwork
In electronics, artwork refers to the design of the printed circuit board (PCB) layout, including component placement and trace routing.
IoT sensor
An IoT sensor is a component capable of measuring physical data (temperature, movement, pressure, etc.) and transmitting it via a connected network.
Prototyping and technical validation
Before industrialising a product, several technical validation phases are necessary.
These steps enable technological choices to be tested and risks to be reduced prior to production.
Prototype
The prototype is an initial functional version of the product that allows technical concepts and ergonomics to be tested.
👉 Key steps for a successful prototype
Proof of concept (POC)
The proof of concept aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of an idea or technology before committing to full development.
PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
The PCB is the printed circuit board that supports the electronic components and provides their electrical connections.
Qualification plan
The qualification plan defines all the tests required to validate that a product complies with its specifications: climatic tests, mechanical tests, electrical tests, regulatory compliance tests.
Test benches
Test benches are pieces of equipment used to check the performance and compliance of electronic products or sub-assemblies.
👉 8 things to know about test benches
Product industrialisation
Industrialisation involves transforming a prototype into a product that can be mass-produced reliably and economically.
DFM (Design for Manufacturing)
DFM involves designing a product with manufacturing constraints in mind in order to facilitate production and reduce costs.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
The bill of materials, or product nomenclature, lists all the components required to manufacture a product.
Industrial tools
Industrial tools are specific pieces of equipment required for manufacturing a product, such as plastic injection moulds or production jigs.
Industrial methods
Industrial methods encompass all the procedures and processes used to optimise production: assembly, quality control, line organisation.
NPI (New Product Introduction)
NPI refers to the structured process that enables the transition from product development to industrial production.
NRE (Non-Recurring Expenses)
NREs are non-recurring costs associated with product development: design, tooling, prototyping or qualification.
Production et supply chain
Once the product has been industrialised, production and supply chain management become strategic.
Supply Chain
The supply chain encompasses all flows related to the procurement, manufacturing, storage and distribution of a product.
Engineering Run (ER)
Initial production carried out by engineers using industrial tools, in small quantities (a few dozen parts). This allows verification that the product can be manufactured under conditions close to actual production.
Pilot Run (PR)
Intermediate phase where production is carried out by industrial teams with the support of engineers. The aim is to refine manufacturing processes and stabilise production methods.
Serial Run (SR)
Final validation stage before mass production, with larger volumes (hundreds of parts). This confirms the robustness of the product and the industrial process before ramping up production.
Everything you need to know to move from prototype to mass production
Sustainable design and environmental impact
Today, companies are increasingly incorporating environmental considerations into product design and manufacturing.
Eco-design
Eco-design involves integrating environmental impacts into the design phase of a product.
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
LCA is a method for assessing the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle.
Circular economy
The circular economy aims to extend the life of products and limit resource consumption.
Product decarbonisation
Product decarbonisation involves reducing CO₂ emissions associated with the manufacture, use and end of life of a product.
Altyor has been a mission-driven company since 2023. Discover our commitments to sustainable development.
Why mastering this industrial vocabulary is essential
Understanding these terms enables you to better structure an industrial project and communicate effectively with engineering teams.
In hardware projects, success often depends on the ability to coordinate several areas of expertise: mechanics, electronics, software, industrialisation and supply chain.
An industrial partner capable of covering all these aspects helps to secure product development and its transition to industrial scale.
Are you developing a hardware or IoT product?
The success of an industrial project depends on effective management of design, industrialisation and production.
At Altyor, our teams support companies from the initial product idea through to mass production.