Glossary

A fieldbus is a digital, two-way communication link which can connect multiple intelligent measurement and control devices. It serves as a Local Area Network (LAN), in particular for the machines, controllers, and sensors which are directly involved in production processes.

Fill rates measures the extent to which stored inventory satisfies customer demand. If a customer orders 100 units, and inventory only has 50, then the fill rate is 50%. In this way, a higher fill rate is representative of higher customer satisfaction.

Software to implement finite capacity scheduling uses actual production capacity as a key parameter for its scheduling calculation. This is different from the original production scheduling method, MRPII. MRPII assumes infinite capacity and creates schedules by working back from customer due date. This allows an MRPII schedule to be unachievable, because it assumes no limit on the number of items a workcentre can process in a day.

There are many different approaches to finite capacity scheduling, including, for example, constraint based scheduling, and also MRPII add-ons which adjust an MRPII schedule to match actual capacity.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a mathematical method which is at the heart of simulation software. FEA uses 3D meshes of millions of cells to represent the complex geometry of an item. By performing calculations for every single point or cell in the mesh, then combining the results, FEA determines the overall result for the item.

FEA based simulation is used in product-design software to conduct graphical on-screen analysis of structural loads, thermal behaviour, and fluid flows.

First In First Out (FIFO) is a strategy used in material handling. In the FIFO model, items that have been ready and available the longest are the first to be used. FIFO, for example, is appropriate when goods are perishable. FIFO is the opposite of Last In First Out (LIFO).

First Pass Yield (FPY) calculates the percentage of products or components that pass inspection without requiring rework or repair during the initial manufacturing process.

First-Pass Yield is the percentage of finished products that meet all quality-related specifications at a final test point without being scrapped, rerun or reworked. In process industries, yield often is calculated as the percentage of output that meets target-grade specifications (this excludes output which is off-grade, even when it is still saleable).