Glossary

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A

Actuators

Actuators refer to mechanical components that, for example, play a role in the actuation of brakes and gear shifting of automobiles.

Aftermarket

Aftermarket refers to maintenance and repair demand. In NSK, aftermarket mainly means the demand and business for repair and replacement.

B

Ball screw

A ball screw is a machinery part consisting of a screw shaft, nut and ball, etc. Ball screws convert rotation into linear motion and enable accurate positioning. In ball screws, a rolling element (ball) like the ones used in bearings is incorporated in the section where the groove of the screw and screw head contact each other and, similar to a bearing, the ball screw moves smoothly and features minute levels of friction resistance.

Brake Boosters

One of the components of an automobile’s brake is referred to as a brake booster. A system that helps reduce the amount of force needed from the driver to operate the brake. One type that makes use of the engine intake’s negative pressure for its operation was mainstream, but the shift toward electrification is accelerating.

C

CMS

CMS stands for Condition Monitoring System. One example of a CMS is a system for understanding/analyzing the operational status of bearings (e.g., vibration, noise, rotational torque) based on various data by bearings with sensors installed.

D

Design Quality/Manufacturing Quality

Design quality refers to “targeted quality” and is the quality realized by building it in at the design stage to achieve satisfying function and performance. Manufacturing quality is known as “performance quality.” It is the quality of products that have been manufactured and is realized through management at the manufacturing stage.

E

Environmentally Friendly Products

Environmentally friendly products are those products that, together with offering higher performance than conventional products, contribute to a greater reduction of negative environmental impact. 

At NSK, we emphasize the following for product manufacturing that contributes to the reduction of negative environmental impact:

1. Creating products that contribute to energy and resource conservation during use by customers;

2. Creating products that minimize energy and resource use during production;

3. Creating products that realize zero use of environmentally harmful substances; and

4. Creating products that contribute to people’s health and safety through low vibration, low noise, and low dust emissions.

F

Friction

Friction refers to friction resistance. Friction becomes an important factor when applying different types of movement in machinery and devices. In terms of bearings, friction affects the smoothness of movement when the inner ring and outer ring  turn, so reducing and controlling friction is essential.

H

Hub Unit Bearing

Hub unit bearing refers to a type of bearing that integrates the part attached to the vehicle body and the part called a hub, to which the wheel is mounted. Hub unit bearings support the vehicle body while smoothly rotating the wheels.

M

Megatorque Motor™

Megatorque Motor refers to the integration of the bearing, motor, and sensor to produce accurate rotational motion. The Megatorque Motor enables agile motion and smart control.

Monocarrier™

Monocarrier refers to a lightweight, compact single-axis actuator with an all-in-one design integrating ball screw, linear guide, and support bearings. NSK was the first in the world to develop on its own all-in-one linear motion products.

Mother Plant

We position plants with outstanding capacity such as excellent technical ability and signifi cant production capacity as mother plants. In NSK, mother plants have the role of transferring technology, etc., to child plants located overseas.

MRO

MRO stands for Maintenance, Repair or Replacement, Operation. It refers to the demand for maintenance and repair services of industrial machines and equipment. NSK is focusing on the MRO business as a way to strengthen the aftermarket business in Industrial Machinery Business.

N

Needle Bearings

Needle bearings refer to bearings with needle-type rolling elements. Low cross-sectional height and high load capacity helps realize space saving.

NPDS

NPDS stands for NSK Product Development System. NPDS, NSK’s proprietary quality management system, is geared toward promptly and reliably responding to new projects and to the mass production of products that satisfy customers. Being rolled out globally, at each stage of the process, from product planning to development and design, prototype manufacturing, and mass production, dedicated staff perform stringent checks to confi rm that any concerns are resolved and to build quality. Even after a product has entered mass production, we conduct  thorough management to stably maintain high quality.

NSK Linear Guides™

A linear guide is a machinery part that is used for the section to support the linear motion of machines. Linear guides are one of the linear motion products and are used for machine tools, transfer machines, and platform screen doors at stations, etc.

P

Powertrain

Powertrain refers to the main components that generate power and deliver to the drive wheel in automobiles.

Production innovation activities
(Advanced Production System (APS))

NSK has long been engaged in production innovation activities in a bid to enhance its competitiveness and develop employees. We are seeking to shorten lead times, reduce in-process inventory, improve productivity and quality, and increase  competitiveness through efficient production. By leveraging frontline workplace ideas and teamwork, putting forward improvement proposals, and sharing best practices within the Company, we are helping employees improve their skills and accumulating know-how.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

PLM stands for Product Lifecycle Management and refers to the management of the product life cycle. NSK is working to expand its PLM strategy to include  equipment maintenance and repair after product sales, with the aim of strengthening its service delivery system throughout the entire product life cycle.