GLOSSARY

Enterprise Integration and Communications Systems

- M -

MAC
Media Access Control. The lower sub-layer of the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) unique to each type of IEEE 802 Local Area Networks. MAC provides a mechanism by which users access (share) the network. The MACs defined by IEEE 802 are IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD, IEEE 802.4 Token Bus, IEEE 802.5 Token Ring, and IEEE 802.6 Metropolitan Area Network.
Macro Function
A LISP function which serves as a template for translating a LISP form (language structure). [DEC].
Make-to-Order Product
The end item is finished after receipt of a customer order. Frequently, long lead-time components are planned prior to the order arriving to reduce the delivery time to the customer. Where options or other subassemblies are stocked prior to customer orders arriving, the term "assemble to order" is frequently used.
Make-to-Stock Product
The end item is shipped from finished goods "off the shelf," and therefore, is finished prior to a customer order arriving.
Manifestation
The conversion of the subject enterprise product, etc, from a detailed design state to existence as a physical system or object.
Management Decision-making Style
Manner in which management prefers that decisions in the organization be made. Examples include consultative, consensus, delegative, or authoritarian styles.
Management Human Resources Priorities
Top management's attitudes about the importance of such human resource (HR) issues as training and group process skills for workers.
Manufacturing
Production of items from raw materials to finished products ready for subsequent distribution to customers. Generally confined to discussion of metallic raw materials and discrete products.
Manufacturing
Engineering
Analysis, design, operation and management of equipment for the production of products for customers. Generally used in terms of discrete products produced from metallic raw materials.
Manufacturing Lead-time
The total time required to manufacture an item. Included here are order preparation time, queue time, setup time, run time, move time, inspection time and put-away time. [APIC].
Manufacturing Method
The method used to manufacture an item. There may be a choice between different manufacturing methods, such as machining a part versus bending it out of sheet metal.
Manufacturing Planning
The function of setting the limits or levels of manufacturing operations in the future, consideration being given to sales forecasts and the requirements and availability of personnel, machines, materials and finances. The manufacturing plan is usually in fairly broad terms and does not specify in detail each of the individual products to be made but usually specifies the amount of capacity that will be required.
Manufacturing Policy
The set of methods and procedures for operating the manufacturing plant to achieve the goals of management. The term policy is understood to extend to individual measurements and tolerances prescribed to implement production.
Manufacturing - Requirements/Policies/Plans
These are quality, product, and/or environmental requirements and/or policies. These can be internal (to the company) or governmentally-generated. Also included here are manufacturing budgets and plans.
Manufacturing Resource Planning
A method for the effective planning of all the resources of a manufacturing company. Ideally it addresses operational planning in units, financial planning in dollars, and has a simulation capability to answer "what if" questions. It is made up of a variety of functions, each linked together: Business Planning, Production Planning, Master Production Scheduling, Material Requirements Planning, Capacity Requirements Planning and the execution systems for capacity and priority. Outputs from these systems are typically integrated with financial reports such as the business plan, purchase commitment report, shipping budget, inventory projections in dollars, etc. Manufacturing resource planning is a direct outgrowth and extension of MRP (Manufacturing Requirements Planning). Manufacturing Resource Planning is often referred to as MRP II, or as closed-loop MRP.
MAP
Manufacturing Automation Protocol. A specification for a suite of communications standards for use in manufacturing automation developed under the auspices of the General Motors Corporation. The development of this specification was taken over by the MAP/TOP Users Group under the auspices of CASA/SME (The Computer and Automated Systems Association of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers). MAP received little support outside of the automotive industry. (Obsolete term included for historical purposes).
MAP/EPA
Part of the EPA architecture, a MAP/EPA node contains both the MAP protocols and the protocols required for communication to Mini-MAP. It can communicate with both Mini-MAP nodes on the same segment and full MAP nodes anywhere in the network. (Obsolete term included for historical purposes).
MAP Users Group
An organization comprising manufacturing users seeking a manufacturing-specific implementation of OSI networking technology.
MAP/TOP Users Group
The United States and Canada's MAP/TOP Users Group (see CASA/SME).
MAPICS
(Manufacturing, Accounting and Production Information and Control System). An IBM MRP system that ran on the IBM AS/400 minicomputer and included 18 modules of applications.
Market Demand
The total need for a product or line of product. Conditions and events in the marketplace which define the potential product volume and product mix. This includes perceived customer need for product features and product volumes, and marketplace changes due to political, social, and technology changes.
Market Plan
A high-level plan of tasks and schedules to meet marketing and sales objectives.
Market Research
Study of market conditions and future behavior based on market trends, marketing data and customer preferences. [CAMI].
Master Plan
A document presenting a critical look at current plant capabilities and practice (AS-IS); at the desired future state of the plant under the proposed CIM system (TO-BE); and a proposal to manage the transition between them.
Master Schedule
For selected items, a statement of what the company expects to manufacture. It is the anticipated build schedule for those selected items assigned to the master scheduler. The master scheduler maintains this schedule which, in turn, drives MRP. It is what the company plans to produce expressed in specific configurations, quantities and dates. [APIC].
Master Slave
A mode of operation where one data station (the master) control the network access of one or more data stations (the slaves).
Material
Any commodity used directly or indirectly in producing a product, e.g., raw materials, component parts, subassemblies, and supplies. Materials are purchased items or raw materials that are converted via the manufacturing process into components and/or products. [APIC]. This can also be consumable material used to support production operations.
Material Control
The function of maintaining a constantly available supply of raw material, purchased parts and supplies that are required for the production of products.
Material Flow
The progressive movement of material, parts or products toward the completion of a production process between work stations, storage areas, machines, departments, etc.
Material Requisition
An authorization that identifies the type and quantity of materials to be withdrawn from inventory. [CMSG].
Material Specification
The establishment of the properties and the detailed requirements for raw or fabricated material. [SAMA].
Materials Management
A term to describe the grouping of management functions related to the complete cycle of material flow, from the purchase and internal control of production materials to the planning and control of work-in-process to the warehousing, shipping and distribution of the finished product. Differs from materials control in that the latter term, traditionally, is limited to the internal control of production materials.
Materials Planning
The planning of requirements for components based upon requirements for higher level assemblies. The production schedule is exploded or extended through the use of the bills of materials and the results are netted against inventory.
Mathematical Model
A mathematical representation of a process, device, or concept.
MBPS
Million Bits Per Second.
Media
The physical interconnection between devices attached to the LAN. Typical LAN media are Twisted Pair, Baseband Coax, Broadband Coax, and Fiber Optics.
Message
A collection of one or more sentences and/or command statements to be used as an information exchange between applications or users.
Methodology
A collection of methods based on a common philosophy that fit together in a framework called the system development life cycle.
MINI-MAP
A subset of MAP protocols extended to provide higher performance for applications whose communications are limited to a single LAN. A Mini-MAP node contains only the lower two layers (Physical and Link) of the MAP protocols. It can only communicate directly with MAP/EPA or MINI-MAP nodes on the same segment. (Obsolete term included for historical purposes).
MIPS
(Million Instructions Per Second) An approximate figure to denote a computer's raw processing power. It is often misleading, since it does not necessarily provide a good throughput figure of merit.
Mission Support
Output items or activities of an enterprise which are necessary for its own well-being or continuation, those which are for services to the enterprise itself in carrying out its established purpose..
MMFS
Manufacturing Messaging Format Standard. The application protocol specified by older versions of MAP to do manufacturing messaging. This protocol has been replaced by MMS. (Obsolete term included for historical purposes).
MMS
Manufacturing Messaging Specification. MMS is one of the application protocols specified by MAP. (Obsolete term included for historical purposes).
Modem
Modulator - Demodulator. A device that provides both combining (modulation) and separation (demodulation) of data and carrier, and a physical medium interface. Device used to connect a node to a broadband network.
Modular Bill (of Material)
A type of planning bill which is arranged in product modules or options. Often used in companies where the product has many optional features, e.g., automobiles. (cf. Planning Bill, Common Parts Bill, Super Bill, Option).
Modular System
A system design methodology that recognizes that different levels of experience exist in organizations and, thereby, develops the system in such a way so as to provide for segments or modules to be installed at a rate compatible with the users' ability to implement the system.
Monitoring
Follow up of engineering work to ensure adherence to standards and correct interpretation of design basis.
Move Order
The authorization to move a particular item from one location to another. [APIC].
Move Ticket
A document used in dispatching to authorize and/or record the movement of a job from one work center to another. It may also be used to report other information, such as the active quantity or the material storage location. [APIC].
MRP
See Materials Resource Planning.
MRPII
See Manufacturing Resource Planning. A Method for effective planning of all the resources of a manufacturing company. Ideally, it addresses operational planning in units, financial planning in dollars and has a simulation capability to answer "what if" questions. It is made up of a variety of functions, each linked together: Business Planning, Production Planning, Master Production Scheduling, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Capacity Requirements Planning and the execution systems for capacity and priority. Outputs from these systems would be integrated with financial reports such as the business plan, purchase commitment report, shipping budget, inventory projections in dollars, MRPII is a direct outgrowth and extension of MRP.
Multiplexing
The time-shared scanning of a number of data lines into a single channel. Only one data line is enabled at any instant.
MVS (Multiple Virtual Storage)
IBM's flagship mainframe operating system. Essentially all device support, software functions, time-sharing aids and reliability improvements ever produced by IBM are available with MVS/XA.