Industrial IoT Glossary

Key terms for factory monitoring

Definitions of the metrics, standards and technologies you'll encounter when monitoring industrial assets with FactoryKnowledge.

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OEE — Overall Equipment Effectiveness
A composite KPI that multiplies Availability × Performance × Quality to give a single score (0–100 %) measuring how effectively a machine is used compared to its theoretical maximum. A world-class score is ≥ 85 %. FK calculates OEE automatically from sensor pulses.
TRS — Taux de Rendement Synthétique (OEE in French)
The French equivalent of OEE. Same formula: Disponibilité × Performance × Qualité. Used interchangeably with OEE in French-speaking plants.
MTBF — Mean Time Between Failures
The average operating time between two consecutive unplanned stops on the same asset. A higher MTBF means the machine is more reliable. Formula: total run time ÷ number of failures. FK calculates MTBF automatically when a no-pulse timeout is configured.
MTTR — Mean Time To Repair
The average duration of an unplanned stop (from the moment the machine goes DOWN to when the first pulse is seen again). A lower MTTR means faster recovery. FK logs every stop event and calculates MTTR in real time.
PPM — Parts Per Minute
The number of parts (or cycles) produced per minute. FK computes PPM by measuring the interval between consecutive sensor pulses and presenting a rolling average, updated in real time.
Takt Time
The maximum allowable time to produce one unit to meet customer demand. Formula: available production time ÷ customer demand rate. Takt time is used to set PPM targets and trigger FK threshold alerts when cadence drops below the required rate.
M12 Connector
A circular, screw-locking industrial connector with a 12 mm thread. Rated IP67/IP68, it is the standard interface for industrial sensors (photoelectric, inductive, capacitive). FK plugs inline on the M12 cable without cutting any wire.
IEC 61131-2 Type 3
The international standard that defines electrical characteristics for PLC digital input signals. Type 3 specifies a 24 V DC interface with defined ON/OFF thresholds and guaranteed immunity to noise. FK inputs are galvanically isolated and certified to this standard.
Modbus RTU / TCP
A serial communication protocol widely used in industrial automation. RTU runs over RS-485; TCP runs over Ethernet. FK-2 acts as a Modbus master or slave over its isolated RS-485 port, letting it read data from PLCs, drives and other Modbus devices.
RS-485
A balanced, differential serial bus standard capable of multi-drop networking (up to 32 devices) over distances up to 1 200 m. FK-2's RS-485 port is galvanically isolated from the 24 V sensor inputs, preventing ground loops.
BLE — Bluetooth Low Energy
A short-range (< 10 m) wireless protocol used by FK for initial configuration and firmware updates via the mobile app. BLE uses very little power and does not interfere with WiFi or LTE.
LTE Cat-1 — 4G Cellular
A low-bandwidth LTE variant (5–10 Mbit/s downlink) optimised for IoT devices. FK Cellular models embed a Cat-1 modem with a multi-operator SIM, giving connectivity in 180+ countries without any WiFi or IT infrastructure.
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Learn exactly how these metrics are collected in the field.