Reference

Manufacturing web design glossary

The terms that come up when you build a website for a manufacturing or industrial business, defined in plain language.

RFQ (Request for Quote): A buyer request for pricing on a specific part or job, usually with a drawing, quantity, and target date. For most manufacturers, the RFQ is the main conversion on the website, not a checkout.
Capabilities page: A page that describes one process you offer (machining, fabrication, finishing) with the specifics buyers screen on: equipment, envelope, tolerances, and materials.
Spec sheet / datasheet: A document listing a product or material's technical details. On a website, the data should appear as on-page HTML so search engines can read it, with the PDF as an optional download.
Tolerance: The allowable deviation from a specified dimension, such as plus or minus 0.0005 inch. Stating the tolerances you hold lets buyers self-qualify before they call.
Distributor / dealer locator: An interactive map or search that helps buyers find an authorized seller near them. Common for industrial companies that sell through channels.
Product configurator: A tool that lets a buyer choose options (size, material, finish) and get a valid product or price. Powerful but custom to your product line, so it adds build cost.
Faceted search: Search that lets buyers filter a catalog by attributes like material, size, or rating. Essential once a catalog passes a few hundred items.
Industrial SEO: Search optimization aimed at the specific terms engineers and buyers use: processes, materials, certifications, and part numbers, rather than broad consumer terms.
Core Web Vitals: Google's measures of page experience: loading (LCP), responsiveness (INP), and visual stability (CLS). They affect both rankings and conversions.
Schema / structured data: Code that describes your content to search engines, such as Organization, Product, or FAQ markup. It helps machines understand and surface your pages.
301 redirect: A permanent redirect from an old URL to a new one. Used during a redesign to carry search rankings and links forward so traffic does not reset.
Canonical URL: A tag that tells search engines the preferred version of a page, preventing duplicate-content problems when similar URLs exist.
Lead capture: The forms and calls to action that turn a visitor into a contact, such as a quote request or a newsletter signup.
CMS (Content Management System): The software you use to edit your site's content. A good CMS lets your team update text, photos, and pages without a developer.
SSL certificate: The technology behind the padlock and https in your address bar. It encrypts traffic and is expected by buyers and required for good rankings. Included in every plan.
CAGE code: A unique identifier assigned to suppliers doing business with the US government. Defense and aerospace buyers often look for it when qualifying a vendor.
GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing): A standardized system of drawing symbols that defines a part's allowable form, orientation, and location. Stating that you work to GD&T signals you can handle engineered prints.
First article inspection (FAI): A documented inspection of the first part from a production run to prove it meets every drawing requirement. Aerospace buyers expect FAI reports to the AS9102 standard.
PPAP (Production Part Approval Process): A standardized evidence package that proves a supplier can consistently make a part to spec, common in automotive. Buyers ask whether you have PPAP experience.
DFM (Design for Manufacturability): Reviewing a design for how easily and economically it can be made, then suggesting changes before production. Offering DFM support is a selling point worth stating on the site.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest quantity a supplier will produce in a single order. Stating your MOQ, or that you take low-volume and prototype work, helps buyers self-qualify.
Lead time: The time from a confirmed order to delivery. Buyers weigh it heavily, so realistic lead times, and any quick-turn options, are worth showing on the site.
AS9100: The aerospace quality management standard, built on ISO 9001 with added requirements for aviation, space, and defense. It is a screening requirement for most aerospace work.
ISO 13485: The quality management standard for medical device manufacturing. Device makers and their suppliers are expected to hold it, so it belongs on a clear quality page.
ITAR: US regulations controlling the export of defense-related technical data. Shops handling controlled work note their ITAR registration and keep controlled data off public pages.
NADCAP: An industry accreditation for special processes such as heat treating, welding, and coating. Aerospace primes require NADCAP accreditation for those processes.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning): The software that runs scheduling, inventory, and job tracking in a shop. A website can integrate with ERP so quotes and orders flow without re-keying.
CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine): A precision machine that measures a part's geometry against its drawing. Listing CMM inspection is proof you can verify and document tight tolerances.