A reference guide to key terminology used across the MachineMetrics platform. Terms are organized alphabetically within functional categories.
Machines & Controllers
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Alarm | An error code generated directly from a machine's controller. Can trigger automated downtime classification and workflow notifications. |
| Axis | A direction of motion (linear or rotary) that a machine offers and can be independently controlled by a machining program. |
| CNC (Computer Numerical Control) | Machine tools controlled by programmed commands, as opposed to manually operated machines. |
| Controller | The computer system that controls the machine's operations, interprets programs, and manages all machine functions. |
| DNC (Distributed Numerical Control) | The practice of transferring CNC programs to and from machines over a network connection, as opposed to manual entry or USB loading. |
| Edge Device | IoT-enabled hardware that collects machine data and transmits it to the MachineMetrics cloud. Serves as the communication bridge between machines and the platform. Can be physical (with Ethernet/wireless and I/O terminals) or virtual (VMware/Hyper-V). |
| Execution State | The operational status of a machine. MachineMetrics uses two states: active (machine is running/in-cycle) and inactive (all other states — idle, stopped, alarm). |
| Feed Override | An adjustable setting on a machine that controls the feed rate (IPM) of axes. Typically ranges from 0–150%. |
| Override | An adjustable setting that controls the speed or feed of a tool or axis. Typically ranges from 0–150%. |
| Program | The G-code program that runs on the machine and defines how operations are performed. Also called Part Program, CNC Program, or Machining Program. |
Machine Types
| Type | Description |
|---|
| Grinder | Machine tool used for grinding — an abrasive machining process. |
| Horizontal Mill | Milling machine where the spindle axis is oriented horizontally. |
| Lathe | Machine tool that rotates the workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform cutting operations. |
| Swiss CNC | A type of lathe designed for small, precision parts using a sliding headstock and guide bushing. |
| Stamp / Press | Machine used for stamping or forming sheet metal. |
| Vertical Mill | Milling machine where the spindle axis is oriented vertically. |
Machine Status
| Status | Description |
|---|
| Active | Machine is actively processing parts (execution = active, no alarms present, not in Setup). |
| Fault | Machine is not processing parts due to an error condition. At least one high-severity alarm is present. |
| Idle | Machine is functioning but not processing parts (execution = inactive, no alarms present). |
| Never Reported | Machine has never reported data to MachineMetrics. |
| Not Reporting | Machine is not currently sending data. Either powered off or the data connection is not working. |
| Setup | Machine is in Setup activity mode. A UI representation of the Setup Activity Mode rather than a formal execution state. |
| Unavailable | The adapter is reporting, but the machine on the other end is off or not connected. |
Connectivity & Data
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Adapter | Software running on the edge device that extracts data from a machine controller and passes it to the MachineMetrics cloud in a standard format. Also refers to the cloud-side mapping that normalizes machine-specific data labels into a common format for analytics. |
| Automapper | MachineMetrics software that automatically maps data-items to their type, subtype, component, and component type based on prior mappings. |
| Configuration File | The YAML or JSON file used to manually define data-items — creating, editing, or transforming inputs and outputs to and from the data mapping. |
| Data-Item | An item in an individual machine's data mapping that represents a specific piece of data captured from the machine in a format usable by MachineMetrics. Data-items are further defined by type, subtype, component, and component type through the mapping process. |
| Diagnostics | A view of all raw data being received from an individual machine. Used to verify connectivity and troubleshoot data issues. |
Communication Protocols
| Protocol | Description |
|---|
| EtherNet/IP | Industrial Ethernet protocol commonly used with Allen-Bradley PLCs and robotics. |
| FOCAS | Fanuc's proprietary protocol for accessing CNC controller data. Enables high-frequency data collection, macro variable reading, alarm data, tool life data, and program information. |
| IO-Link | Sensor-level communication standard supported via MachineMetrics' IO-Link connector for condition monitoring sensors. |
| Modbus | Serial communication protocol for industrial devices. Supported for PLC and sensor connectivity. |
| MTConnect | Open-source manufacturing protocol for CNC machine data exchange. Standardized, XML-based communication widely supported across modern CNC equipment. |
| OPC-UA | Industrial automation protocol for secure, reliable data exchange. Platform-independent and supports complex data structures. |
Cycle Times
Understanding cycle time terminology is fundamental to interpreting production performance in MachineMetrics.
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Active Part Time | The active time for a single part, calculated as Active Time divided by parts produced in the cycle. |
| Active Time | The portion of cycle time during which the machine is actively cutting or processing (execution state = active). Calculated using the median across a time period. If there is no idle time, active time equals cycle time. |
| Actual Cycle Time | The measured time from machine data for completed cycles. Tracked as Current Cycle (in progress), Last Cycle (L1), Average of Last 3 (LAvg), and Overall Average. |
| Cycle | The interval in which a machine starts and finishes processing a part or batch of parts. |
| Cycle Time | The total elapsed time for a single cycle, measured start to start (also referred to as button-to-button or part-to-part time). Multiple parts can be produced in a single cycle. |
| Expected Part Time | The part time stored in your ERP system, used for quoting and planning. MachineMetrics uses this to calculate the Parts Goal and to flag when production standards may need updating. |
| Ideal Cycle Time | The expected time to produce one part based on engineering standards or ERP data. Used as the baseline for Performance calculations. Also called Standard Cycle Time. |
| Ideal Part Time | Calculated automatically by MachineMetrics and used in OEE Performance calculations. Represents the theoretical minimum active time per part based on observed production data. |
| Part Time | Cycle time divided by the number of parts produced per cycle. Accounts for multi-part cycles (e.g., tombstone fixturing, injection molds, stamping dies). |
| Touch Part Time | The idle time per part — Touch Time divided by parts per cycle. Represents the machine idle time attributed to each individual part produced. |
| Touch Time | The idle time within a cycle — the time the machine was stopped while the operator was loading, unloading, or performing manual operations between cutting passes. Because median is used in the calculation, intermittent idle time is only included when it occurs consistently as a normal part of each cycle. Not calculated for cycles under 20 seconds, where all time is assumed to be active. |
OEE & Production Analytics
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
The industry-standard metric for measuring manufacturing productivity. Calculated as:
OEE = Availability × Performance × Quality
A score of 100% means producing only good parts (Quality), as fast as possible (Performance), with no downtime (Availability).
| Component | What It Measures | Formula |
|---|
| Availability | Impact of downtime on scheduled production time | Scheduled Time In-Cycle ÷ Scheduled Time × 100 |
| Performance | Whether the machine runs at expected speed | Ideal Part Time ÷ (Scheduled Time In-Cycle ÷ Scheduled Parts) × 100 |
| Quality | Percentage of good parts produced | Good Parts ÷ Total Parts × 100 |
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Capacity Utilization | The percentage of available machine capacity scheduled for a given time period. |
| Good Parts | Parts that pass quality inspection and are counted toward production output. |
| In-Cycle Time | Time when the machine is actively running production cycles (spindle engaged, cutting, processing). Excludes downtime, idle time, and non-productive periods. |
| MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) | Average time between machine breakdowns. Used to assess machine reliability over time. |
| MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) | Average time to restore a machine to operation after a failure. A key metric for maintenance effectiveness. |
| Non-Optional Time | Total time a machine is available for production, excluding optional shift periods when the facility is not normally operating. Used as the denominator in OOE calculations. |
| OOE (Overall Operations Effectiveness) | An extension of OEE that factors in unscheduled time, using total operations time as the maximum. Formula: (OEE × Scheduled Time) ÷ Non-Optional Time. |
| Parts Goal | A performance indicator showing progress toward expected output quantity. Displayed as a visual wheel (green = on pace or ahead, yellow = slightly behind, red = significantly behind). |
| Scheduled Time | Any time during which parts are intended to be produced. Does not include planned setup periods or time when no job is scheduled. |
| TEEP (Total Effective Equipment Performance) | An OEE variant that uses all calendar time (24/7) rather than scheduled time as the denominator. Measures theoretical maximum equipment utilization. |
| Utilization | The percentage of total time that a machine is in-cycle. Unlike Availability, uses total time (not scheduled time) as the denominator. Formula: In-Cycle Time ÷ Total Time × 100. |
Downtime
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Downtime | Any period in which a machine's execution state is inactive. |
| Downtime Category | The classification assigned to a downtime event to describe the root cause. Organized in a hierarchical structure with primary categories (Machine, Job, Operator, General, Other) and subcategories. |
| Downtime Classification | The process of assigning root cause categories to downtime events. Can be automatic (via Downtime Rules), manual (operator entry in ShopPulse), or hybrid (automatic with operator override). |
| Downtime Event | A single, continuous instance of downtime with a defined start and end time. |
| Downtime Pareto | An analysis view showing the highest-impact downtime categories ranked by frequency and duration. Updates in real-time to help identify improvement priorities. |
| Downtime Rules | Automated classification logic that assigns downtime categories based on machine signals — including alarm-based, state-based, and alarm-message triggers. |
| Planned Downtime | Expected downtime that was planned in advance (e.g., lunch breaks, scheduled maintenance, meetings). Can be scheduled to exclude from OEE calculations. |
| Split Downtime | The act of dividing a running downtime event into two separate events when the root cause changes mid-event. |
| Unplanned Downtime | Unexpected downtime that was not planned. Requires categorization and root cause analysis. |
Activities & Production Runs
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Activity | A single, consecutive block of time tagged with an Activity Type. Activities on a machine cannot overlap and are associated with a Production Run. |
| Activity Mode | The base-level classification of an activity. Defined and controlled by MachineMetrics (not editable by customers). Determines implications for metrics and other data. Activity Modes include: Production, Setup, Rework, and Maintenance. |
| Activity Selection | The process by which an operator specifies the activity type when starting a production run. Can be done via on-screen selection, QR code scan, physical barcode card, or skipped entirely in Production-Only Mode. |
| Activity Type | A customer-configurable label that adds context to an Activity Mode. For example, "Setup: Change Tool" and "Setup: First Piece Inspection" are two Activity Types within the Setup Activity Mode. |
| Production Run | The period during which a machine is actively working on a specific work order operation. Tracks all production activity, parts produced, time elapsed, and operator assignments. |
| Production-Only Mode | A simplified job tracking configuration where activity selection is skipped. Operators start jobs directly into production. Ideal for high-volume, quick-changeover environments. |
Activity Modes Defined
| Mode | Description |
|---|
| Maintenance | Machine repair or preventive maintenance activities tracked within production run context. |
| Production | The active manufacturing phase where parts are being produced. Tracks parts vs. goal, cycle time performance, and expected vs. actual output. |
| Rework | Correction of defective parts. A customer-configurable activity type for tracking time spent on rework operations. |
| Setup | The process of preparing a machine to run a new part or job. Tracks setup time vs. expected, parts produced during setup, and progress. Can be paused; transitions to Production when marked complete. |
Work Orders & Job Tracking
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| ERP-Driven Mode | Job tracking mode where operators use existing ERP processes. ERP creates labor tickets, which MachineMetrics reads in a read-only overlay. Sync interval is typically 5–15 minutes. |
| Labor Ticket | A record of work performed by an operator on a specific work order operation. Contains operator ID, work order/operation reference, start/end timestamps, parts produced, activity type, and duration. |
| Part Operation | A step in a part's routing that defines how the part is manufactured. ERP master data specifying operation sequence, work center, standard setup/cycle times, tooling, and instructions. |
| Production Order Dashboard | A real-time shop floor visibility interface showing machine status, active work order details, production counters, operation progress, scheduled queue, and utilization metrics. |
| Resource | An ERP work center mapped to one or more MachineMetrics machines. Represents where work can be performed. |
| Routing | The sequence of part operations required to manufacture a part from raw material to finished goods. |
| ShopPulse-Driven Mode | Job tracking mode where MachineMetrics is the primary operator interface. Operators use ShopPulse to clock in/out, start jobs, select activity types, and submit labor tickets. MachineMetrics writes labor tickets back to the ERP (bi-directional sync). |
| Work Order | A manufacturing order from an ERP system specifying what to produce, quantity required, and due date. Contains one or more operations defining the routing. Also called Production Order or Shop Order depending on the ERP. |
| Work Order Operation | An individual manufacturing step within a work order routing. Represents specific work to be performed on a specific machine or work center. The modern term replacing the legacy "Job" terminology. |
Quality
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| First Article Inspection (FAI) | A quality verification process for the first part produced in a new job or after setup. Operators can submit FAI requests via ShopPulse, triggering real-time notifications to QA inspectors. |
| Good Parts | Parts that pass quality inspection and are counted toward production output. |
| In-Process Inspection | Periodic quality checks performed during production runs at defined intervals. The system can detect dimensional drift and recommend corrections. |
| Non-Conforming | Product that does not fulfill specified requirements but may be dispositioned for rework, use-as-is, or return to vendor rather than scrapped. |
| Reject | Any part intentionally excluded from the count of Good Parts due to a quality issue. |
| Reject Reason | The classification assigned to a rejected part explaining why it failed quality requirements (e.g., "Dimension Out of Spec," "Poor Material," "Cosmetic"). |
| Scrap | Rejected parts that cannot be reworked and must be discarded. |
Dashboards & UI
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Current Shift Dashboard | Displays current machine activities and details in tile view. |
| Custom Dashboard Builder | A native tool allowing users to design dashboards incorporating custom reports, KPI charts, and trends — without third-party BI tools. |
| Custom Report Builder | A native tool for designing custom reports. Supports save, export to Excel, and direct print from the browser. |
| Dashboard | A configurable view of company machines displayed as tiles with selectable views and data points. |
| Last Few | A display showing the cycle times of the most recently completed cycles — useful for quick performance reference at the machine. |
| Operator Run | A historical record of a single operator being continuously logged in to MachineMetrics. Resets by default at shift change. |
| Parts Goal Wheel | A visual indicator showing progress toward expected production quantity. Color-coded: green = on pace or ahead, yellow = slightly behind, red = significantly behind. |
| Performance Dashboard | Displays a historical view of machine performance in card view. |
| ShopPulse | The operator-facing dashboard and tablet interface. Provides job selection, activity tracking, downtime categorization, part counting, and access to Max AI assistance. |
| Timelines Dashboard | Displays a historical view of machine execution in timeline view. |
Shifts
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Current Shift | The active shift at the current moment in time. |
| Optional Shift | A shift period (such as nights or weekends) that is excluded from OOE calculations when the facility is not normally operating. |
| Previous Shift | The shift immediately preceding the current shift. |
| Shift | A company-defined division of time used to contextualize production data. |
| Shift Change | The transition point between one shift ending and the next beginning. |
Reporting & Automation
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Automations & Workflows | User-configured profiles that activate when trigger conditions are met on selected machines. Previously called "Monitors." Supports email, SMS, and webhook actions — enabling integration with CMMS, MS Teams, Excel, and other systems. |
| Scheduled Reports | A feature enabling automated delivery of reports and dashboards via email. Supports flexible scheduling (daily, weekly, monthly), multiple recipients, PDF attachments, and custom messaging. |
| Workflow Action | A specific action that fires when a workflow's trigger condition is met (e.g., notification, webhook, escalation). |
| Workflow Trigger | The specific condition that initiates a workflow (e.g., downtime threshold, alarm condition, performance deviation). |
Max AI
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Alarm Resolution Assistant | An AI-powered feature that detects alarm triggers and surfaces relevant Knowledge Hub articles. Analyzes alarm context and generates step-by-step troubleshooting guides customized to the current situation. |
| Knowledge Hub (KHub) | A centralized, searchable repository of tribal knowledge — including setup procedures, troubleshooting guides, controller documentation, and alarm code databases. The foundation for all Max AI features. |
| Max AI | MachineMetrics' AI-powered digital workforce for the shop floor. Max AI agents work continuously to execute production plans, handle what ERP can't see, and feed performance data back to ERP. |
| Shift Handover | An AI-assisted shift transition feature. Outgoing operators complete a structured debrief; incoming operators receive a personalized briefing with machine status, required actions, and job priorities. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Tool Anomaly Detection (TAD) | An AI-powered feature that detects abnormal tool behavior during cutting by analyzing spindle load patterns at high frequency (1000 Hz). Can detect breakage, chipping, and wear — and optionally trigger a feed hold. Works with Fanuc FOCAS controllers. |
| Tool Change Event | A captured record when an operator changes a tool, including the time, tool number, reason, and life reset. Used to build predictive models for tool life analytics. |
| Tool Life Monitoring (TLM) | A dashboard feature that tracks tool usage counts against preset limits. Pulls data from CNC controls via Fanuc Macro B variables, P-Codes, OPC-UA, or MTConnect. Counter-based — no AI/ML involved. |
Legacy Terminology
If you encounter older MachineMetrics terminology, refer to this table for current equivalents.
| Legacy Term | Current Term | Notes |
|---|
| Activity Set | Production Run | Production Run is the preferred term for a collection of activities. |
| Job | Work Order Operation | "Job" still appears in some UI elements but refers to Work Order Operation. |
| Job Dispatch | Start Job / Start Production Run | The action of beginning work on an operation. |
| Job Run | Production Run | Same concept, updated terminology. |
| Monitors | Workflows | Renamed for clarity. |
For questions or suggested additions, contact support@machinemetrics.com.
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