The language of modern aerospace.

A U.S. FDA regulation that sets requirements for using electronic records and electronic signatures in regulated environments.

A structured root cause analysis technique that asks "why" repeatedly to trace a problem back to its underlying cause.

5 Whys is a root cause analysis technique that repeatedly asks "why" to trace a problem back to its underlying cause.

5-Whys is a simple root-cause analysis method that repeatedly asks “why?” to trace a problem back to specific, actionable causes.

A structured, eight-discipline problem-solving method used to investigate, contain, correct, and prevent recurring quality and process issues.

Access control is the set of processes and mechanisms that regulate who or what can view, use, or modify specific systems, data, or physical areas.

An access log is a time-stamped record of user or system access events, commonly used to monitor, investigate, and audit activity in industrial and manufacturing systems.

An accreditation body is an independent organization that formally recognizes the competence of certification bodies and laboratories against defined standards.

Administrative controls are documented policies and procedures that govern how people manage security, safety, and compliance risks.

Advanced analytics commonly refers to data analysis techniques such as predictive, prescriptive, and multivariate methods used to derive deeper insights and support complex decision-making.

A software system that performs advanced production and supply planning, often extending or complementing ERP and MRP functions.

An electronic pre-shipment message from a supplier that details what is being shipped, how, and when, aligned to purchase orders and line items.

Aerospace commonly refers to the industry, products, and operations involved in designing, manufacturing, and supporting aircraft and space systems.

Aerospace & Defense Review is a trade publication; manufacturers should evaluate its legitimacy using standard media vetting steps.

Aerospace manufacturing designs and produces aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems under strict engineering and regulatory controls.

Aerospace manufacturing designs and produces aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems under strict engineering and regulatory controls.

The aerospace manufacturing and defense industry designs and produces aircraft, spacecraft, and military systems under strict regulation.

Aerospace manufacturing quality is the control of processes, materials, records, and inspections used to build aerospace parts.

An MES configured for aerospace manufacturing to control execution, traceability, quality records, and work-in-process.

An Aerospace NCR is a record used to document, control, and disposition a nonconformance in aerospace operations.

An aerospace nonconformance is a departure from an approved requirement in a product, process, material, or record.

Aerospace operations are the manufacturing, maintenance, quality, and support activities used to produce and sustain aerospace products.

Aerospace production control coordinates and monitors manufacturing work, materials, capacity, and status across aerospace operations.

Aerospace production visibility is the ability to see current production status, constraints, and quality signals across aerospace operations.

Aerospace quality management is the set of processes used to control quality, records, traceability, and corrective action in aerospace work.

An aerospace quality management system is a structured set of processes, controls, and records used to manage quality and compliance in aerospace design, manufacturing, and support.

An aerospace quality system is the structured quality management approach used to control aerospace products, processes, records, and traceability.

Aerospace supplier operations are the manufacturing, quality, documentation, and delivery activities performed by suppliers in the aerospace supply chain.

Aerospace traceability is the ability to link aircraft parts, materials, processes, inspections, and records across their lifecycle.

Aerospace work-order control is the management of released production or MRO work orders through controlled execution.

Aggregation level describes how granular or summarized data is, such as per unit, batch, shift, line, site, or enterprise.

AI (artificial intelligence) refers to computer systems that perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as pattern recognition, prediction, and decision support in manufacturing operations.

AI-assisted inspection uses AI models to help detect, classify, or prioritize defects during manufacturing inspection.

Use of AI tools to help identify likely causes of quality, process, or equipment issues from operational data.

Aircraft backlog commonly refers to the volume of aircraft orders or maintenance work that has been committed but not yet completed or delivered.

Aircraft on Ground (AOG) commonly refers to an aircraft that cannot fly due to a technical, maintenance, or parts issue.

Aircraft-on-Ground (AOG) is an unplanned condition where an aircraft is unable to fly due to a technical or logistical issue, triggering urgent maintenance and parts support.

Airworthiness commonly refers to the condition of an aircraft or aeronautical product being suitable and safe for flight under applicable regulations.

A legally enforceable aviation requirement that mandates actions to correct an unsafe condition in an aircraft or component.

An Airworthiness Directive is a mandatory instruction issued by an aviation authority to address an unsafe condition.

An alarm code is a numeric or alphanumeric identifier used by equipment or software to label a specific fault, warning, or abnormal condition.

A condition where frequent or poorly targeted alarms desensitize personnel, causing slower or missed responses to important alerts.

Condition where frequent or low-value alerts cause people to ignore or miss important system alarms in industrial operations.

Predefined quantitative or logical limits that determine when a system generates an alert for users or operators.

An amendment is a formally approved, limited change to an existing document, standard, or specification without replacing it entirely.

An architectural layer in industrial and manufacturing systems that aggregates, models, and analyzes data to support monitoring, optimization, and decision-making.

A visual or audible signaling system used in manufacturing to indicate status, call for help, or highlight production or quality issues.

Annex 11 is the EU GMP guideline that sets expectations for using computerized systems in regulated GxP activities, including data, security, and validation.

Annex A commonly refers to the catalog of information security controls in ISO/IEC 27001, used to build and justify a Statement of Applicability.

Annex A controls are the reference set of information security controls listed in ISO 27001 and detailed in ISO 27002, used to treat identified risks.

Annex SL is a high-level structure and set of core requirements used to align ISO management system standards under a common framework.

Anomaly detection is the systematic identification of unusual data patterns or behaviors that deviate from an expected baseline in industrial systems.

ANSI is the American National Standards Institute, a private organization that coordinates and approves voluntary consensus standards in the United States.

ANSI/ISA-95 is an international standard for modeling and integrating business and manufacturing control systems across defined levels.

AOG (Aircraft on Ground) is an operational state where an aircraft is unable to fly due to a technical, maintenance, or regulatory issue.

AOG (Aircraft on Ground) refers to an aircraft that is unable to fly due to an unscheduled technical or logistical issue.

The probability and impact that an aircraft-on-ground (AOG) event will occur due to failures, delays, or shortages in operations or supply.

A structured view of process, part, and supplier risks that can trigger aircraft-on-ground (AOG) events in aerospace operations.

A defined interface that allows one software system to request and exchange data or functions with another system in a controlled way.

API-based KPI access commonly refers to retrieving KPI data through software interfaces instead of manual reports or screen views.

An API contract is a formal, versioned specification of how software systems interact through an API, defining requests, responses, and behavior.

Applicability describes which products, configurations, locations, lots or time periods a given requirement, change, or data record is valid for in manufacturing.

Appraisal cost is the cost of measuring, inspecting, and testing to assess product or process quality before release or delivery.

A defined sequence of review and authorization steps used to approve records, changes, documents, or transactions.

An approved supplier list is a controlled register of external providers that have been evaluated and authorized to supply goods or services to an organization.

An approved supplier list is a controlled register of external providers that have been evaluated and authorized to supply goods or services to an organization.

A controlled list of suppliers an organization has reviewed and authorized for specific purchasing uses.

APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is a structured method for planning and controlling product and process quality, widely used in automotive and regulated manufacturing.

A structured product quality planning method used to define, manage, and validate launch readiness.

APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) is a class of systems that optimizes production plans and detailed schedules using real-time constraints and data.

In manufacturing and ISA-95, an area is a defined part of a site used to group related production or support activities and equipment.

AS9100 is a widely used aerospace quality management system standard based on ISO 9001 and tailored to aviation, space, and defense.

AS 9100 is a widely used aerospace quality management system standard based on ISO 9001, tailored to aviation, space, and defense.

AS9100 is a widely used aerospace quality management system standard based on ISO 9001 with additional aviation, space, and defense requirements.

AS9100D is the 2016 revision of the AS9100 aerospace quality management system standard, aligned with ISO 9001:2015.

AS9100 documentation control is the management of approved quality documents, revisions, access, and records in an aerospace QMS.

AS9100 non-conformance control is the QMS process for controlling outputs that do not meet requirements.

AS9100 product safety is the control of aerospace product risks that could affect safe intended use.

AS9100 Rev D is the aerospace quality management system standard aligned with ISO 9001:2015, used across aviation, space and defense.

AS9100 risk-based thinking is the use of risk awareness in aerospace QMS processes and operational decisions.

An AS9100 surveillance audit is a periodic assessment by a certification body to verify ongoing conformity of an AS9100 quality system.

AS9102 Form 3 is the FAI form used to record design characteristics, inspection results, and characteristic accountability.

AS9103 is an aerospace standard that defines requirements for managing key characteristics using statistical techniques to control and improve process capability.

AS9110 is an aerospace quality management system standard tailored for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organizations in aviation.

AS9120 is an aerospace quality management system standard specifically for stockist and distributor organizations in the aerospace supply chain.

A documented record of how a product, asset, or system was actually built, including real components, revisions, and deviations.

An as-built configuration is the documented, traceable record of how a product, system, or asset was actually built, including parts, revisions, and deviations.

Documented description of how a product, system, or facility was actually built, including materials, configuration, and deviations.

As-built records are documented evidence of how a product, system, or facility was actually built and configured, including deviations from design.

As-designed refers to the product, part, or process definition as specified by engineering and design documentation, before manufacturing or field changes.

ASD-STAN is a European standards organization that develops and maintains aerospace and defense standards on behalf of ASD.

The as-maintained configuration is the documented state of a product or asset after maintenance, repair, or service changes.

An as-maintained record documents the actual condition and configuration of an asset after maintenance activity.

A formal process for evaluating, documenting, and approving information system security and privacy controls before and during operation.

An assessment method is a defined approach for evaluating controls, systems, or processes, such as testing, examination, or interviews, to determine their performance or effectiveness.

An assessment objective is a specific, documented goal or target that an audit, test, or evaluation is intended to measure and verify.

An assessment procedure is a defined method for evaluating controls, systems, or processes using repeatable steps to collect and interpret evidence.

An asset is a managed resource of value to an organization, such as equipment, systems, data, or software, tracked over its lifecycle.

Structured representation of equipment, systems, and locations that defines how physical assets are organized and related in a plant.

A structured, up-to-date record of hardware, software, and related components used in an organization’s operations, typically including identifiers, location, ownership, and criticality.