Definition of  Manufacturing Chain Terms

Process - the name for the stage, assembly, subassembly, work center, work station, etc. each sales item is routed through.  

Product - the name for each component of the sales items at each process that it is routed through. 

Machine Type - the name of the type of machines, work station, person, etc. at each process the product components can be run on. 

Function - The name of the production-related variable at each process  for each standard (100% units/machine hour,  % efficiency, priority load factor) and each user-defined resource (such as variable margins, variable costs, direct labor, etc.) to be used in the analysis. 

Product Construction - The product and component links or chain for each sales item (BOR), starting with the end product (at the Sales process) and backing through to the first process (Purchasing). 

Standards - The values at each process  for the three standards (100% units/machine hour,  % efficiency, priority load factor) named as functions defined by Process, Product, Machine Type.  Other standards can be defined as resources. 

Resources - The values at each process for the resources (user defined such as variable margins, variable costs, direct labor, etc.) used in the analysis defined by Process, Product, Machine Type.