Production and Manufacturing Vocabulary and Quiz

If English-language learners plan to work in an industry, it's crucial for them to learn essential production and manufacturing vocabulary. Use these terms a starting point for general vocabulary study or students with specific learning needs. Teachers are often not equipped with the exact English terminology required in particular trade sectors. For this reason, core vocabulary sheets can help educators provide adequate materials for students who need to learn vocabulary related to production and manufacturing.

Help students familiarize themselves with the terms and then have them take the related quiz that follows. To ease grading, the answers to the quiz are provided at the end of the article.

Production and Manufacturing Terms

The production and manufacturing terms in the table are provided in alphabetical to make it easy for students and English-language learners to find just the term(s) they need. Where two terms or phrases can be used interchangeably, both words or phrases are offered, separated by a comma.

antislip
assemble-to-order product
assembly, assembly process
assembly line
automation
auxiliary materials
backlog
bar chart
barcode
batch
breaking load
bulk production
by-product
colleague
computer-designed
computer-integrated manufacturing
consumption per unit
continuous processing line
custom-made goods
defect
to design
designer
direct cost
direct product profitability
distribution expenses
to draw a plan
dynamometer, tensile-strength tester
electrostatic charge
endurance test
energy costs
equipment
equipment purchase
factory
factory overhead, industrial overhead
to pack, to wrap
pack
packaging room
packing, packaging
packing department
personnel management
personnel rotation
personnel turnover, personnel replacement
piecework
piece, item
pilot plant
plant manager
price tag
processing method
produce, manufacture
producer, manufacturer
product analysis
product design
product mix
product range
product specialization
production, output
production constraints
production cost
production cycle
production factors
production index
production management
production manager
production methods
production overhead
production planning
production potential
production prices
production process

faulty, flawed
feasibility
final inspection
finished goods inventory
finished product
fixed manufacturing costs
floor manager, department manager
flow production
flowchart
goods elevator
hanging tag
in process of completion
in progress
in stock
industrial area
industrial espionage
industrial plant
industrial processes
industrial production
industrial property
to innovate
innovation
innovative
input
invest in equipment
job order
know-how
to label
label
laboratory
laboratory test
labor cost per output unit
large-scale production
production progress
production standards
production statement
production time, manufacturing time
production volume ratio
production worker
productive
productive capacity
productivity
productivity indicators
program, schedule
progress control
project
project management
project manager
project planning
prototype
quality certificate
quality circle (QC)
quality control
quality criteria
quality of output ratio
randomized sample
raw material
research and development (R&D)
research laboratory
safety device
safety measures
safety stock, safety inventory
scatter chart
semifinished goods
semifinished product
sequencing
shortage of raw materials
spare part

learning curve
line worker
logistics
machine-hours
to machine
machine loading
machine tools
machinery and equipment
main product
maintenance
Maintenance and Repair Handling (MRH)
to make to order, to make on request
manometer, pressure gauge
manufacturer's brand
manufacturing
manufacturing cost
manufacturing expenses
manufacturing industry
manufacturing overhead
manufacturing plants
to mass-produce
mass production
nonflammable
off-the-shelf
one-off production
operations scheduling
optical scanner, reader
to order
order backlog
out of order
output
output of a plant
overcapacity
overhead costs
to overproduce
overproduction
specific-purpose equipment
sticker
stock, inventory
stock card, inventory listing
stock depletion
stock level
stock turnover, inventory turnover
storage costs
to store, to stock
store, warehouse
substandard
supplier
tag
technical consultant
technical sheet
technological gap
tensiometer
to test
tester
throughputs
timing, time scheduling
total output
toxic
twist counter
to unpack
unsold stock, leftover stock
warehouse, stockroom
warehouseman
to waste
waste goods
work-in-process products
work-order cost
working conditions
workstation
zero-defect purchase