Tag Definitions

When you’re trying to understand what someone else is saying, terminology can be a nightmare. On this page, you’ll find a list of the tags and definitions used in this blog. The titles of each of the tags are linked off to the posts for which they were used.

    3D Authoring: These software applications allow users to create deliverables such as documentation and instructions by leveraging 3D CAD models. These deliverables are often used in manufacturing, quality, procurement, service and other types of activities that are downstream from engineering. This type of software application does not create engineering documentation that is then released to manufacturing in order to initiate production.
    Actify: The following definition comes from the Actify corporate website. >>>> <em>Founded in 1996 and based in San Francisco, Actify enables everyone in your organization and supply chain to access 3D/2D CAD files and product design data with no complex infrastructure or expensive CAD software required. Actify, Inc. is a privately held company with customers and reseller partners in more than 45 countries worldwide.</em>
    Autodesk: (NASDAQ: ADSK, wikipedia entry for Autodesk, corporate website) The following definition comes from the Autodesk corporate website >>>> Autodesk, Inc., is a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Customers across the manufacturing, architecture, building, construction, and media and entertainment industries—including the last 16 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects—use Autodesk software to design, visualize, and simulate their ideas before they’re ever built or created. From blockbuster visual effects and buildings that create their own energy to electric cars and the batteries that power them, the work of our 3D software customers is everywhere you look.
    CEO Insights: Posts with this tag include perspectives and research representing the priorities of current CEOs. These insights provide value to the leaders of engineering organizations in terms of context in which they must lead their organizations.
    Cloud Computing: The following definition comes from the Cloud Computing entry on wikipedia. >>>> Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network (typically the Internet).
    Development Strategy: Posts with this tag cover different strategies that can be adopted in an engineering organization. In particular, these are often related to design and engineering activities.
    Engineering Ethics: Posts with this tag include some aspect related to ethics in engineering. The following definition comes from the Engineering Ethics entry in wikipedia. >>>> Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics and system of moral principles that apply to the practice of engineering. The field examines and sets the obligations by engineers to society, to their clients, and to the profession. As a scholarly discipline, it is closely related to subjects such as the philosophy of science, the philosophy of engineering, and the ethics of technology.
    Generational Issues: Posts with this tag cover issues that can arise in engineering organizations with respect to different generational cohorts (definition of Generational Cohort from the wikipedia entry for Demographics). This can include topics or issues specific to one generation with respect to engineering organizations. But it also includes conflict between engineers of different generations.
    Graebert: The following background comes from the Graebert corporate site. >>>> Graebert GmbH is a Graebert enterprise. Graebert enterprises have sold CAD systems since 1983. Graebert was the first German distributor of AutoCAD. Mr. Graebert contributed substantially to the worldwide success of the product.
    IDE: IDE is an acronym that stands for Integrated Development Environment, which is used to develop application or embedded software. The following definition from the IDE entry in wikipedia. >>>> An integrated development environment (IDE) (also known as integrated design environment, integrated debugging environment or interactive development environment) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development.
    Knovel: Knovel is a provider of a technical reference system. The following definition of their product is from the Knovel corporate website. >>>> Knovel is specifically focused on the engineering community, offering an unmatched depth and breadth of validated engineering content aggregated from the most trusted sources. Knovel’s comprehensive collection of content, covering 28 subject areas, is continually updated as new titles are available to reflect the evolving needs of users.
    Kubotek: The following background is from the Kubotek USA corporate site. >>>> The Kubotek Corporation Creation Engineering Division is the leading pioneer in 3D geometry-based engineering software. By utilizing its technology foundation in pure geometry, as opposed to model history/constraints, Kubotek delivers high value solutions and practical improvements to customer efficiency.
    LCI Case Studies: Posts with this tag include the 'voice of the engineer.' They often focus on engineers talking about their careers, experiences, strategies and use of technology to drive personal or organizational improvements.
    LCI Frameworks: Posts with this tag contain technology structures or frameworks. The purpose of such structures or frameworks is to explain what the technology does, how it is different from other technologies and what value it provides.
    LCI Presentations: Posts with this tag announce upcoming or completed events where Lifecycle Insights is present or speaking.
    LCI Publication: Posts with this tag announce upcoming or already posted publications such as whitepapers or eBooks.
    LCI Software Reviews: Posts with this tag include an overview of a specific technologies capabilities. They include a short background of the company and their product, the capability that the technology provides as well as commentary and analysis of the value, if any, that the technology provides.
    Leading the Team: Posts with this tag focus on approaches engineering managers and executives can leverage to improve the productivity of their organizations.
    Managing Your Workload: Posts with this tag provide insight and guidance for individual contributors on how to manage expectations and control the often overwhelming technical workload that comes with being an engineer today.
    Mashup Applications: The following definition comes from the Mashup (web application hybrid) entry in wikipedia. >>>> In Web development, a mashup is a Web page or application that uses and combines data, presentation or functionality from two or more sources to create new services. The term implies easy, fast integration, frequently using open APIs and data sources to produce enriched results that were not necessarily the original reason for producing the raw source data.
    Mechanical CAD: The following definition comes from the CAD entry in wikipedia. >>>> Computer-aided design (CAD), also known as computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) ,[1] is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer. CADD software provides the user with input-tools for the purpose of streamlining design processes; drafting, documentation, and manufacturing processes. CADD output is often in the form of electronic files for print or machining operations. CADD software uses either vector based graphics to depict the objects of traditional drafting, or may also produce raster graphics showing the overall appearance of designed objects.
    Modern Engineer's Profile: Posts with this tag address how the profile of the modern engineer has changed with respect to their role in a manufacturing enterprise, the emerging need for skills, changing technology and leadership qualities.
    PDM: The acronym PDM stands for Product Data Management. This refers to software systems used to manage data and information that describes a product often in mechanical or electrical contexts. The PDM entry for wikipedia defines PDM as a subset of PLM, with which I do not agree. I see this type of system as separable and standalone from the definition of PLM.
    PLM: The acronym PLM stands for Product Lifecycle Management. In my eyes, this refers to software systems that enable processes during the development cycle of a product, not across all of the lifecycle phases of a product. It is not a business process or practice. Furthermore, it is not an umbrella term that includes CAD, CAE, CAM or PDM as some others have defined it. My definition of PLM does not agree with the one defined in the PLM entry in wikipedia.
    PPM: This type of software system supports the initial and ongoing decision to fund and assign resources to develop a specific product. This stands in contrast with the definition of PPM as it exists as a part of the Product Management entry in wikipedia.
    Professional Tracks and Advancement: Posts with this tag relate to both the different potential career paths in engineering as well as how to advance yourself in an engineering career.
    PTC: (PTC, NASDAQ: PMTC, PTC entry in wikipedia, PTC corporate web site)The following background comes from the PTC corporate web site. >>>> PTC is all about helping discrete manufacturers succeed by meeting their globalization, time-to-market, and operational efficiency objectives in product development. As one of the world's largest and fastest-growing software companies, we deliver a complete portfolio of integral Product Lifecycle Management solutions to over 25,000 customers in the Industrial, High Tech, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Consumer, and Medical Device industries.
    Rapidform: The following background is from the Rapidform corporate website, which is owned by INUS Technology. >>>> Since its founding in 1998, INUS Technology, Inc. has been a world leader in providing technology and services that unlock the power of 3D scanning. Our flagship Rapidform software processes 3D scan data for a variety of uses, from manufacturing and quality control to medical treatment and archeology. Rapidform is used by thousands of people every day for reverse engineering, verification and many other applications. We are a global company headquartered in Seoul, Korea with sales and support offices in the United States, Germany and Japan.
    SCM: The acronym SCM stands for Software Configuration Management. The following definition comes from the SCM entry in wikipedia. >>>> In software engineering, software configuration management (SCM) is the task of tracking and controlling changes in the software. Configuration management practices include revision control and the establishment of baselines.
    Simulation / CAE: Simulation refers to the use of software applications to predict and improve the performance of products often prior to design release. In mechanical engineering, this can include the use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) as well as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
    Simulation Management: Simulation Management (aka SLM) refers to a software system that manages the data used to run simulations as well as the results of simulations. This system also is often used to automate processes and procedures for simulation activities. The acronym SLM stands for Simulation Lifecycle Management.
    Social Technologies: In the context of this blog, the tag social technologies identifies posts that discuss the use of social media specifically in the context of product development. The following definition comes from the social media entry in wikipedia. >>>> Social media includes web-based and mobile technologies used to turn communication into interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content." Social media is media for social interaction as a super-set beyond social communication. Enabled by ubiquitously accessible and scalable communication techniques, social media has substantially changed the way organizations, communities, and individuals communicate.
    Spaceclaim: The following background is from the Spaceclaim corporate web site. >>>> SpaceClaim was founded in September 2005 to create solutions that would enable engineers to leverage 3D design to innovate, win more business, and get products to market faster. Since then, SpaceClaim has become the leader in 3D Direct Modeling solutions for rapid concept design and geometry manipulation, with adoption rates within engineering, product development, and manufacturing companies soaring.
    Talent Management: The following definition comes from the Talent Management entry in wikipedia. >>>> Talent management refers to the skills of attracting highly skilled workers, of integrating new workers, and developing and retaining current workers to meet current and future business objectives. Companies engaging in a talent management strategy shift the responsibility of employees from the human resources department to all managers throughout the organization. The process of attracting and retaining profitable employees, as it is increasingly more competitive between firms and of strategic importance, has come to be known as "the war for talent." Talent management is also known as HCM (Human Capital Management).
    True Engineering Technology: The following background is from the True Engineering Technology corporate web site. >>>> True Engineering Technology is a software solutions company founded by Mathcad inventor Allen Razdow. Our innovative truenumbers® framework helps groups and departments improve their productivity, traceability and engineering quality by managing their most pervasive kind of engineering data: numbers.
    Vistagy: The following background is from the Vistagy corporate web site. >>>> VISTAGY is a business segment within the Siemens PLM Software business unit and is a leading global provider of specialized engineering software and services focused on the specific requirements of vertical industries. In conjunction with the overall Siemens PLM Software portfolio, our products and services enable engineers to work how they think so they can efficiently create rich product descriptions for better–informed decision making early in development as well as throughout the downstream manufacturing planning and production phases of a product's lifecycle.
    Visual Programming: The following definition comes from the Visual Programming Language (VPL) entry in wikipedia. >>>> In computing, a visual programming language (VPL) is any programming language that lets users create programs by manipulating program elements graphically rather than by specifying them textually. A VPL allows programming with visual expressions, spatial arrangements of text and graphic symbols, used either as elements of syntax or secondary notation.
    Vuuch: The following background comes from the Vuuch corporate web site. >>>> Connections in Vuuch are deliverable-centric and dynamic. Tools like Linkedin and Facebook statically connect people based on relationships or common groups. The Vuuch deliverable-centric and dynamic connections improve how work gets done by connecting people based on what on what needs to get done. Vuuch knows business deliverables - RFIs, products, parts, presentations, purchase orders, ECOs and customer complaints to name a few and Vuuch can be configured to understand any business deliverable.
    Z Corp: The following background of Z Corp, which has been acquired by 3D Systems, comes from their corporate web site. >>>> We completed the acquisition of Z Corporation on January 3, 2012 bringing the people, the products and solutions and channel partners under one brand, as one company - 3D Systems. 3D Systems is a leading, global provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including personal, professional and production 3D printers, integrated print materials and on-demand custom parts services for professionals and consumers alike.