Gen Xers said “radical,” Millennials said “lit,” and Zoomers say “fire,” but what about converters? Unlike generational slang, converting terminology has remained consistent for decades. However, understanding these terms will take time and practice.
Like any professional field, converting uses many specialized words and abbreviations. As a converter, our goal is to help explain the process. We put together this list to help you understand converting terms and further your knowledge of custom manufacturing.
Common Converting Terminology
UNITS OF MEASURE
- SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) – A unique identifier for a specific product or part.
- Micron (µm) – A metric unit of length equal to 0.001 mm (0.000039 inches, about 1/25,400 inch). Commonly used to measure film thickness.
- Mil – A unit of thickness equal to 0.001 inch.
- MSI (Thousand Square Inches) – Standard unit of measure for pricing rolled goods.
- Price per MSI – Material cost calculated based on MSI usage.
- GSM (Grams per Square Meter) – Standard weight measure for paper, nonwovens, and liners.
- Caliper – Measured thickness of a material, often in mils or microns.
MATERIAL TERMINOLOGY
- PSA (Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive) – An adhesive that bonds with light pressure, no heat or solvent needed.
- Release Liner – A paper or film backing that protects the adhesive until use.
- Carrier – A reinforcement layer (e.g., PET, tissue, film, foam) in a double-coated construction.
- LSE (Low Surface Energy) – A type of surface that is difficult for adhesives to stick to (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene).
- PCK (Polycoated Kraft) – Paper liner with a poly coating for strength and stability.
- S1S (Single-Coated Liner) – Has a release layer on one side.
- S2S (Double-Coated Liner) – Has a release layer on both sides.
- Unsupported Adhesive – Adhesive without a carrier, coated directly onto a liner.
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) – Chemicals that can evaporate at room temperature; regulated for safety and environmental reasons.
- BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) – A strong, stable plastic film.
- LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) – Flexible, low-strength plastic film.
- PE (Polyethylene Film) – General-purpose film.
- PET (Polyester Film) – Strong, stable plastic used as a carrier or facestock.
- PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) – Nonstick, chemically resistant film (Teflon).
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) – Durable, rigid, or flexible plastic.
- PC (Polycarbonate) – Strong, clear engineering plastic.
- VHB (Very High Bond) – 3M’s family of foam tapes with strong bonding capabilities.
- Woven – Material made with interlaced fibers (like fabric).
- Nonwoven – Material made from pressed fibers, not woven (e.g., medical dressings, masks, filters).
- Laminate – Two or more materials bonded together into a single construction. This could be used as a verb, to refer to the process, or a noun, to refer to the output.
- Foam Tape – Adhesive-coated foam, often used for cushioning, bonding, gasketing, sound dampening, and vibration reduction.
- TDS (Technical Data Sheet) – Manufacturer-provided material performance specifications.
- SDS (Safety Data Sheet) – Document outlining chemical safety and handling requirements.
PROCESS TERMS
- Part Repeat – The distance a web travels before the next part is cut.
- Flashcut – Automated, tool-free digital cutting method.
- Slug/Chad – Waste piece punched out during die cutting.
- Splice – Joining two rolls of material together.
- Die cut – A product made by using a die to punch shapes out of a material.
- Metal-to-Metal – Die cuts through all layers into the anvil (through-cut).
- Male/Female Die – Two-part die set for complex parts.
- Kiss Cut – Cut through adhesive and facestock, but not the liner.
- Butt Cut – Parts cut with no gap between them.
- Rotary Die – Cylindrical tooling for high-speed cutting of high quantities.
- Flatbed Die – Flat tooling, typically for larger parts or shorter runs.
- Laser Die Cutting – Tool-free cutting using a laser.
- Matrix – Waste material left after parts are die cut.
- Matrix Removal – Process of stripping away matrix waste.
- Perforation – A series of small cuts that allow controlled tearing.
QUALITY CONTROL TERMS
- AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) – Maximum allowable defects in a batch.
- PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) – Documentation to prove parts meet specifications.
- QAR (Quality Assessment Report) – Summary of inspection or test results.
- SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) – Approved work instructions.
- COP (Conformity of Production) – Verification that production meets requirements.
- IQ/OQ/PQ (Installation, Operational, and Performance Qualification) – Validation stages for equipment and process.
- Installation Qualification – Verifies equipment location, installation, and credentials.
- Operational Qualification – Verifies equipment operation, durability, and maintenance.
- Performance Qualification – Verifies process performance, specificity, and consistency.
- FAI (First Article Inspection) – Initial inspection to confirm specs before production.
- COC (Certificate of Conformance) – Supplier’s declaration that the product meets requirements.
- CAR (Corrective Action Request) – Formal request to address nonconformance.
- CP (Process Capability) – Statistical measure of process margin.
- Cpk (Process Capability Index) – Statistical measure of process centering.
- Ppk (Process Performance Index) – Long-term capability measure.
- GR&R (Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility) – Study of measurement system accuracy.
- FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis) – Risk analysis for potential failures.
- MSA (Measurement System Analysis) – Evaluation of measurement accuracy and consistency.
QUOTING
- EAU (Estimated Annual Usage) – Annual volume estimate.
- MTO (Made to Order) – Product manufactured specifically for an order, including any custom-made parts.
- RFQ (Request for Quote) – Customer request for pricing.
- PPP (Price Per Part) – Cost of each individual part.
- MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) – Minimum lot size required for an order.
- PO (Purchase Order) – Customer’s formal order.
- “M” on a Quote – Means “per thousand” (10M = 10,000).
- NRE (Non-Recurring Engineering) – One-time engineering/tooling charge.
- Tooling Charge – Cost of creating new dies or fixtures.
- Lead Time – Time from order to delivery.
- LTA (Long-Term Agreement) – Contract for ongoing supply.
- Stock Order Program – An agreement to purchase multiple recurring orders upfront for a better deal.
MISCELLANEOUS TERMS
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) – A company that makes the end product.
- IFU (Instructions for Use) – Directions provided with medical or regulated products.
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) – Regulatory standard for quality.
- SCAF (Supplier Change Action Form) – Internal/external change notification.
- FOB (Free on Board) – Shipping term defining the responsibility transfer point.
- SOS (Source of Supply) – Identified supplier of material.
- DFM (Design for Manufacturing) – Designing products for efficient production.
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories) – Certification for safety compliance.
- ISO (International Standards Organization) – Standards body (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 13485).
Discussing Your Product with Strouse
Now that you’ve seen this dictionary, you won’t need to keep a tab open to look up converting jargon during video calls. Yet, as many great minds have said, “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” That is to say, are you truly ready to take the next step in your product development process?
If die cutting, slitting, or other converting services suit your needs, contact Strouse to Start Your Project today. The sooner you reach out, the faster we can get rapid prototypes in your hands for testing and validation.
And while you may have noticed us defining processes like die cutting and slitting, you will find additional processes that Strouse performs when you check out our Capabilities Page.
Lastly, our experts are here to help you navigate custom manufacturing, so please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about converting.