Glossary

Abbreviation for Automated Guided Vehicle Transport Orders in Nexeed IAS. AGV Transport Orders in Nexeed IAS are instructions given to autonomous vehicles for the transportation of goods within a facility, which can be created and managed through the platform’s user interface.

Abbreviation for Andon Live. Andon Live in Nexeed IAS is a real-time monitoring and visualization tool that provides an overview of the status of production processes and equipment, allowing operators to quickly identify and resolve issues.

Abbreviation for Application Programming Interface.

Archiving Bridge in Nexeed IAS is a tool that allows data from legacy systems to be archived and integrated with modern systems for analysis and decision-making purposes.

Block Management in Nexeed IAS is a feature that allows users to define and manage logical groupings of machines or equipment, enabling more efficient monitoring and control of production processes.

An identity known as Customer Identity and Access Management. It was used as an account with which to register all of your Bosch products, to access various existing platforms and services from Robert Bosch GmbH with a single log in.

A cluster is a set of machines, either physical or virtual, that work together to provide scalable and highly-available platform for running containerized applications. A cluster typically contains one or more master machines, which are responsible for managing and coordinating the activities of the worker macjines, known as nodes.

Abbreviation for Certificate Authority. A certificate authority (CA) is a trusted entity that issues Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates. These digital certificates are data files used to cryptographically link an entity with a public key.

Abbreviation for Condition Monitoring. Condition Monitoring in Nexeed IAS is a feature that uses sensors and data analysis to monitor equipment and predict potential failures, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.

A container is a running instance of an Open Container Initiative (OCI) compatible image.

A configmap is a key-value pair collection containing information which can be mounted in pods. These should only be used for non-sensitive information such as external service URLs, feature switches, and environment information. For sensitive information, please use secrets.

Abbreviation for Collaborative Production Management. CPM in Nexeed IAS refers to the platform’s ability to connect and manage different production processes and systems in a collaborative way.

Abbreviation for Custom Resource Definition. Everything in Kubernetes is defined by a resource which tells Kubernetes what the desired target state is. Kubernetes has a bunch of predefined resources (pods, deployments, ingresses, persistent volumes etc.), however it also allows you to define your own resource types (Custom Resource Definitions or CRDs). This system is used by the BCI Helm Charts to define resources for required MACMA users, MSSQL users and RabbitMQ resources (including users). These are then used by a BCI operator (see below) to create the corresponding resources in the services running in the cluster and make sure the details are available for the modules to consume.

Abbreviation for Custom Resource. A custom resource can be understood as an instantiation of a CRD.

A daemonset is like a deployment in that it is the definition of the target state of one or more pods, the only difference being that a daemonset ensures that there is one instance running on each selected node in the Kubernetes cluster instead of ensuring there is a minimum number of instances running in the cluster as a whole. Daemonsets are often used for things like services which monitor the status of the node itself or services which bind directly to a TCP/UDP port on a node itself where it is important that no more than one pod runs on the same cluster. Most modules will not need this.

Data Publisher in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables data to be collected from various sources and published in a standardized format, making it easier to integrate with other systems and analyze.

Abbreviation for Direct Data Link, also formerly known as Connectivity-Hub. Direct Data Link in Nexeed IAS is a feature that allows real-time data to be shared between different systems and applications, enabling better coordination and decision-making in the production process.

A deployment is a definition of the target state of a pod that Kubernetes will attempt to fulfill. This includes things like how many replicas should be running at the same time. Internally, Kubernetes will use the deployment definition to attempt to maintain the requested number of pods and apply any new configurations by scaling down old pods and replacing them with pods containing the new configuration. This also means that any pods defined in a deployment will be restarted automatically when they crash or recreated when manually deleted.

Deviation Processor in Nexeed IAS is a tool that allows operators to identify and analyze deviations from standard production processes, enabling corrective action to be taken quickly to prevent quality issues and minimize downtime.

Device Portal in Nexeed IAS is a feature that provides a centralized interface for managing and configuring machines and other devices connected to the platform.

A platform that enables developers to package, deploy, and run applications using containers, which provide a lightweight and portable way to manage software dependencies and resources.

Abbreviation for Enterprise Resource Planning Connectivity. ERP Connectivity in Nexeed IAS refers to the platform’s ability to integrate with ERP systems, allowing for real-time data exchange and more efficient management of production processes.

Abbreviation for Global Production Overview. GPO in Nexeed IAS is a tool that provides a real-time, comprehensive view of all production processes and equipment across multiple sites, enabling centralized monitoring and control of global operations.

An open-source package manager for Kubernetes that makes it easier to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications in a cloud-native environment.

Helm charts are Kubernetes manifests that allow the replacement of values in the manifests at deployment time through templating. Here at BCI we have taken this a step further and prepared the Kubernetes manifest templates in such a way that you only need to fill out a single YAML file with the relevant requirements and parameters and this will then be expanded to fill all the templates you specify. The Helm charts consist of a Chart.yaml (which contains metadata about your chart such as name and version), a templates folder (which contains YAML files which themselves contain references to the common BCI templates), a values.yaml (which is where you define all the values and parameters your module needs), and a values.schema.json (which contains the schema defining what can be overriden in the values.yaml). See below for more details.

A Helm chart that is designed to be included as a dependency within another chart, enabling more modular and reusable deployment configurations for complex applications. In helm documentation the child chart is also called subchart.

An installed instance of a helm chart with all of the required parameters filled out. Any time a parameter which is passed to the helm charts is changed, a new Helm release is created with the new values and Kubernetes will attempt to change the installation to match the new target state.

A Helm chart that allows multiple charts to be grouped together and deployed as a single application, simplifying the management of complex, multi-tiered applications.

Abbreviation for Industrial Application System.

ID Builder in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables users to create unique identification numbers for machines, products, and other assets, facilitating better tracking and management of production processes.

The ingress controller is the thing in the cluster which actually receives traffic from the outside world and uses the ingress routes to route the traffic to the corresponding services.

An ingress route is a description of how external traffic should be routed to a service running inside the Kubernetes cluster. This includes stuff like which DNS address leads to which service, SSL termination, and header management.

Istio is an open-source service mesh for Kubernetes. Istio extends Kubernetes to establish a programmable, application-aware network. Working with both Kubernetes and traditional workloads, Istio brings standard, universal traffic management, telemetry, and security to complex deployments.

Abbreviation for Information Router. Information Router in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables data to be automatically routed and exchanged between different systems and applications, improving the efficiency and accuracy of information exchange in the production process.

Abbreviation for JavaScript Object Notation.

A lightweight, certified Kubernetes distribution that is designed to be easy to install and manage on resource-constrained environments such as edge devices and IoT devices.

K9s is a terminal based UI which allows easy interaction with the Kubernetes clusters.

Open Source Identity and Access Management. Keycloak provides user federation, strong authentication, user management, fine-grained authorization, and more.

Abbreviation for Key Performance Indicator Reporting. KPI Reporting in Nexeed IAS is a feature that allows users to generate customizable reports on KPIs such as production output, quality, and efficiency, providing insights into production processes and supporting data-driven decision-making.

An open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications across clusters of hosts.

Linkerd is an open-source service mesh for Kubernetes. It makes running services easier and safer by giving you runtime debugging, observability, reliability, and security—all without requiring any changes to your code.

Line Control in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables operators to monitor and control production processes and equipment at the line level, facilitating better coordination and more efficient production.

Abbreviation for Multitenant Access Control.

Maintenance Management in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the planning and scheduling of maintenance activities based on real-time data and machine learning algorithms, optimizing equipment availability and reducing downtime.

Abbreviation for Master Data Management, also formerly known as MMPD. Master Data Management in Nexeed IAS is a process that enables the consistent management and sharing of key data such as production recipes, equipment data, and product specifications across different systems and applications, improving data quality and enabling better decision-making.

Material Management in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the automated tracking and management of material flows and inventory levels in the production process, optimizing material usage and reducing waste.

Abbreviation for Manufactoring Execution System.

Mutual TLS authentication

Nginx ("engine x") is an HTTP web server, reverse proxy, content cache, load balancer, TCP/UDP proxy server, and mail proxy server. There is also an Ingress Controller implementation for NGINX and NGINX Plus that can load balance Websocket, gRPC, TCP and UDP applications. It supports standard Ingress features such as content-based routing and TLS/SSL termination.

A node is a worker machine in a cluster. It can be a virtual machine or a physical machine that runs the necessary services and components to support the running of pods. A node is managed by the Kubernetes control plane, which is responsible for scheduling pods, monitoring their status, and making decisions about how to handle failures.

Notification Service in Nexeed IAS is a tool that sends real-time alerts and notifications to operators and other stakeholders based on predefined triggers such as machine failures or quality deviations, enabling more rapid response and issue resolution.

An open-source project that provides a set of APIs, libraries, and agents for the collection and management of telemetry data such as metrics, traces, and logs from distributed systems and cloud-native applications.

Operational Routines in Nexeed IAS are predefined workflows and procedures that standardize production processes and enable more efficient and consistent operations, reducing errors and improving overall productivity.

Abbreviation for Operating System.

An operator is a service running in the cluster which reacts when a custom resource has been created and executes some action based on the contents. This includes things like creating a MACMA client for a module and then making the credentials available for that module, creating a RabbitMQ user and resources and then making the credentials for that user available for the module, or creating an MSSQL DB and passing the credentials for that DB to the module.

Order Management in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables the efficient and accurate management of production orders, from planning to execution, ensuring on-time delivery and optimal resource utilization.

Abbreviation for OpenTelemetry

The OpenTelemetry Protocol

Part Traceability in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the tracking and tracing of components and products throughout the production process, improving quality control and facilitating compliance with regulatory requirements.

A PersistentVolume is an abstract piece of storage that the cluster provides. A pod can then "claim" a piece of the storage from the PersistentVolume, using a PersistentVolumeClaim.

A pod is made up of one or more containers (however the vast majority of services at BCI currently only use one container) which operate as one unit and share the same resources (e.g., IP address and CPU/memory limit). These should be capable of scaling together.

Process Quality in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the real-time monitoring and analysis of production processes to identify and address quality issues before they impact product quality or cause downtime, improving overall production quality and efficiency.

Abbreviation for Product Setup Management. Product Setup Management in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the creation, management, and documentation of product recipes and specifications, facilitating faster and more consistent product setup and changeovers in the production process.

An open-source message-broker software that enables applications and systems to communicate and exchange data using messaging protocols such as AMQP and MQTT.

Abbreviation for Shift Book. Shift Book in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables the digital recording and management of shift-related data such as production quantities, quality control measurements, and maintenance activities, facilitating better shift handover and enabling more data-driven decision-making.

The same as a configmap but for sensitive information. In most Kubernetes clusters the information is base64 encoded before being stored, however many enterprise clusters encrypt their secrets with a hardware encryption module instead of base64 encoding.

A service is a Kubernetes internal way of making pods available through a more permanent internal IP address and DNS name. This is required because pods can be pulled up and torn down at any time so their IP addresses can also change frequently.

Setup Specs in Nexeed IAS are predefined configuration settings that enable faster and more consistent setup of production equipment, improving productivity and reducing errors.

A unique identification number that is assigned to individual products or components in the production process, enabling them to be tracked and traced throughout the manufacturing process for quality control and regulatory compliance purposes.

Abbreviation for Secure Sockets Layer.

A statefulset is like a deployment in that it is the definition of the target state of one or more pods. The difference is that each pod that the statefulset creates has a persistent identity, regardless of how often it is terminated and restarted. This also means that when pod is restarted on a different node, maybe because the node was restarted as part of a patching process, it will be reassociated with the same persistent storage as before. Once again, most modules will not need this, this is only relevant if the pod itself stores information on the disk and it will need to be that specific pod which always reads from that storage volume or if it is important that the internal DNS name of the pod is always the same for all of the pods across restarts.

Stock Management in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the real-time monitoring and management of inventory levels and stock movements, facilitating better demand planning and ensuring optimal stock levels to support production processes.

Ticket Management in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables the digital management and tracking of production-related issues, such as maintenance requests or quality control issues, ensuring they are promptly addressed and resolved to minimize production downtime and reduce costs.

The last segment of a domain name, such as .com, .org, or .net, which indicates the type of organization or entity associated with the domain.

Tool Management in Nexeed IAS is a feature that enables the digital management and tracking of production tools, such as molds or fixtures, ensuring they are available and in good condition when needed, reducing production downtime and improving quality control.

Transport Management in Nexeed IAS is a tool that enables the efficient planning and management of material transportation within the production facility, optimizing material flow and reducing lead times.

Abbreviation for Virtual Machine.

A specification for distributed tracing that provides a standardized way to propagate trace context information between services and systems, allowing for easier troubleshooting and monitoring of distributed applications.

Web Portal in Nexeed IAS, often called as Portal, is a user interface that provides access to various Nexeed IAS features and data, allowing for easy monitoring and management of production processes from any web-enabled device.