Engineering Management Glossary: The A-to-Z Guide for Engineers

A structured framework, also known as the responsibility matrix or RACI matrix, that defines and documents roles and responsibilities for tasks and decisions in engineering projects.

Used in project management and organizational design to clarify who is accountable, responsible, consulted, or informed (RACI) for each activity, which can reduce confusion and improve efficiency.

In a software engineering development project, a RACI matrix shows that the product owner is accountable for requirements, developers are responsible for coding, QA engineers are consulted on test plans, and executives are informed of milestone completions.

A flexible, iterative method of engineering project management that prioritizes adaptability and collaboration.

Commonly used in software engineering, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing engineering to ensure quick development cycles.

Engineering teams apply Scrum and Kanban frameworks for iterative development, which enable regular priority adjustments and re-evaluations.

A process for comparing an organization's performance metrics and practices with industry standards.

Used in quality management and operations management to improve efficiency and innovation.

Lockheed Martin benchmarks aerospace manufacturing techniques to optimize supply chain management performance and maintain a competitive advantage.¹

The fundamental redesign of core business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in productivity, cycle times, and quality.

Used in manufacturing systems engineering to rethink production workflows, often by using automation and digital technologies to eliminate waste and create more efficient processes.

Boeing's 777 aircraft development program used business process reengineering and digital manufacturing systems to redesign their production workflow, which resulted in significant reductions in design errors and assembly time while improving quality.²

The use of engineering management concepts in civil engineering projects, including infrastructure and urban development.

Involves project scheduling, resource allocation, and risk management for major public works projects.

Overseeing the construction of bridges, highways, and urban transit systems requires civil engineering and management skills like balancing technical specifications, budget constraints, and public interests.

A project management technique used to identify tasks that are critical to completing engineering projects on time.

Identifies which activities cannot be postponed without delaying the entire project, which can help managers allocate resources effectively and prioritize work.

During the construction of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, project managers used CPM to coordinate thousands of workers and activities, identifying that the concrete core construction was on the critical path, leading them to implement 24-hour continuous concrete pouring to keep the project on schedule.³

A structured approach for evaluating trade-offs, uncertainties, and possible outcomes to make well-informed decisions.

Used for project feasibility studies in business administration and engineering design.

Engineering managers use decision-making analysis to weigh options based on cost, performance metrics, and risk assessment when choosing among several technical solutions.

A regulatory body responsible for accrediting engineering management degree programs.

Guarantees academic engineering programs meet industry requirements.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is an engineering accreditation commission that provides certification for engineering programs by validating curriculum quality and relevance to professional practice.⁴

A systematic process for identifying and mitigating potential failure points in engineering projects.

Used to improve reliability in manufacturing systems engineering and mechanical engineering.

FMEA techniques are used by aerospace industries to anticipate possible system failures before they happen, increasing aircraft safety.

An analysis of how successfully a project can be completed, accounting for factors that affect it.

Used in manufacturing engineering to assess the viability of introducing new production technologies, optimizing manufacturing workflows, or expanding production capacity.

Tesla conducted a comprehensive feasibility study before implementing extensive automation in its manufacturing processes, particularly during the production ramp-up of the Model 3.⁵

A visual aid for scheduling and monitoring project progress in project management.

Essential for project managers overseeing engineering teams in various workstreams.

A Gantt chart aids in the planning of software development phases by displaying task relationships and resource allocation over time.

The study of creating products, procedures, and systems that maximize human interaction.

Used in biomedical engineering, civil engineering, and software engineering.

Human factors engineering is the reason for ergonomic control panels in industrial machinery that lower error rates and operator fatigue.

Increasing productivity and efficiency through the optimization of complex systems and processes.

Used in supply chain management and operations management.

Industrial engineering is applied to simplify assembly line processes in manufacturing facilities to cut waste and boost output.

A family of standards for quality management systems maintained by the International Organization for Standardization.

Companies implement ISO 9000 to standardize processes, reduce errors, and maintain consistent product quality in engineering projects.

Siemens AG integrated ISO 9001:2015 standards into its engineering management practices to uphold quality across its manufacturing and product development sectors.⁶

A multidisciplinary group of people who are collectively responsible for delivering a defined product or process.

Enhance collaboration among cross-functional teams, ensuring that all aspects of a project – design, manufacturing, quality assurance, and customer requirements – are considered from the start.

In large-scale industrial engineering projects, such as Lockheed Martin’s F-35, IPTs streamline cross-functional collaboration in design, production, and supply chain management, which ensures quality and efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.⁷

A supply chain management approach that produces goods only when needed, which can reduce waste.

Applied in manufacturing engineering to lower inventory costs.

Toyota's lean production strategy uses JIT techniques to reduce storage needs while preserving production flow.⁸

Measurable values that indicate the success of engineering projects and business goals, which aim to help engineering teams assess performance.

Used in engineering management to track efficiency, cost, and quality metrics while also evaluating the technical skills required for project success.

While manufacturing engineering teams may concentrate on defect rates to maintain quality control, software engineers may use code deployment frequency as a KPI.

A production process that aims to reduce waste while preserving output.

Used to maximize resource usage in manufacturing systems engineering.

Tesla optimizes its production lines through lean manufacturing methodologies to reduce costs while maintaining quality management standards. This strategy minimizes excess inventory and reduces storage fees.⁹

A technique to establish the total cost of the ownership and operation of a project or facility.

Used to evaluate the total economic worth of a project or asset by analyzing initial costs alongside future expenses, such as operation, maintenance, and disposal costs.

A case study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine highlights how state highway agencies incorporate LCCA to evaluate pavement and bridge projects.¹⁰

Key competencies for engineering managers, such as problem-solving, communication, and leadership.

Essential for striking a balance between technical and business goals in all engineering disciplines.

A successful engineering manager must manage cross-functional teams, communicate well with stakeholders, and settle disputes while keeping the project moving forward.

An organizational structure that facilitates the horizontal flow of skills and information.

Implemented to enhance flexibility and collaboration by allowing employees to report to multiple managers.

Google uses a matrix organizational structure to foster innovation and agility, with employees often reporting to both a functional manager and a project manager.¹¹

A conceptual technique used to understand the impact of risk and uncertainty in project management, cost, and time forecasting.

Assesses project risks, forecasts outcomes, and optimizes decision-making by simulating various scenarios and their probabilities. It allows engineering managers to enhance their management skills in risk assessment and strategic planning.

Lockheed Martin uses Monte Carlo Simulation to enhance the accuracy of project scheduling and cost estimation by simulating potential scenarios and predicting a range of possible outcomes and their associated probabilities.¹²

A technique for assessing task relationships in project management.

Used to locate possible bottlenecks and identify critical paths in large-scale engineering projects.

The U.S. Navy's Polaris missile project in the 1950s is an example of where PERT was used to manage the intricate schedule of this defense project.¹³

A hierarchical model that describes the organization of a project.

Clarifies roles and responsibilities, facilitates efficient resource allocation, enhances communication, and streamlines workflow processes, resulting in optimized operational efficiency.

A manufacturing company may map out its OBS so the company can clearly assign tasks, establish accountability, and monitor progress within each functional area.

Managing engineering procedures to maximize their efficiency.

Used in industrial and manufacturing engineering environments.

Rockwell Automation implemented workflow automation to enhance production capacity and resource use across its automobile facilities.¹⁴

The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to guide project activities and increase the chances of project success.

In engineering, project management ensures efficient workflow, cost control, and timely delivery.

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner development highlights how project management practices are essential in managing multifaceted projects.¹⁵

Optimizing engineering workflows to enhance productivity and quality.

Critical in chemical engineering and mechanical engineering systems.

Refinery processes can be optimized for energy efficiency while maintaining output quality and safety standards.

A way of preventing mistakes and defects in manufactured products and avoiding problems when delivering products or services to customers.

Used to Establish standardized procedures and guidelines at every production stage – from sourcing raw materials to final product inspection – to prevent defects and maintain consistency.

MachineMetrics Operator View tablets serve as annotation tools, allowing operators to document and categorize any issues or scrap parts in real time, facilitating continuous monitoring of production quality.¹⁶

A process through which a business seeks to ensure that product quality is maintained or improved.

QC involves the continuous monitoring and inspection of production processes to detect and rectify defects so the final products are free from flaws and meet customer expectations.

Control charts are used as statistical tools to monitor process variability and maintain control over production processes.

The process of ensuring engineering projects meet performance standards.

Used in manufacturing, civil engineering, and software engineering projects.

Six Sigma is a popular quality management methodology that emphasizes statistical process control to reduce defects.

The use of mathematical and statistical methods in engineering management.

Evaluates complex engineering problems, optimizes resource allocation, and enhances project performance.

Earned Value Management (EVM) is used in project monitoring, where project scope, time, and cost parameters are used to assess project performance and progress.¹⁷

The process of identifying and mitigating risks in engineering projects.

Essential in project management and systems engineering.

Structural risk assessments in civil engineering projects pinpoint potential failure modes and create contingency plans.

A discipline that designs complicated systems by combining several engineering professions.

Used in software engineering, biomedical engineering, and aerospace engineering.

NASA uses systems engineering for space mission planning, which requires coordinating multiple subsystems to function as a whole.¹⁸

Specialized technical skills required for engineering professionals in management roles.

Required in computer science, biomedical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Data analysis is a key technical skill for engineering managers who need to interpret performance metrics and make data-driven decisions.

A bachelor's degree with an emphasis on engineering and management fundamentals.

An academic program that equips students for leadership roles in business and engineering programs.

Undergraduate programs that blend technical education with management concepts offered by universities such as Stanford and MIT.

A lean manufacturing method for streamlining processes and identifying waste.

Used to visualize production processes in manufacturing engineering.

By recording every stage of the production cycle, value stream mapping assists companies in identifying inefficiencies in supply chain management.

A project management tool that breaks down complex projects into manageable tasks.

For workstream organization in construction engineering and management.

Lockheed Martin uses WBS for aerospace projects to guarantee resource allocation and task ownership.¹⁹

The ability to combine technical expertise with leadership vision to drive innovation.

Recognizing and nurturing the unique strengths and talents within a team or organization.

Seen in organizations that prioritize human factors engineering during the design and development of complex systems.

A benchmarking method in engineering management that identifies clear metrics for success.

Helps managers identify performance gaps, implement best practices, and drive continuous improvement within their teams.

An engineering firm that evaluates its project completion times and budgets against industry averages to identify areas where it lags and implement strategies to enhance efficiency and cost management.

A quality management principle in manufacturing engineering that aims for perfect production outcomes.

Used to implement stringent quality control measures, continuously improve processes, and grow a team culture where every member is responsible for quality.

Boeing has implemented stringent quality control methods, including multiple inspections during each production stage, to achieve zero-defect airplanes.²⁰