5S
Seiri (sort), Seiton (set in order), Seiso (shine), Seiketsu (standardize), Shitsuke (sustain); application in manufacturing, in office.

Sample
one or more observations from a larger collection (population) - samples need to be random, independent and unbiased.

Sampling Plan
a scheme for determining sample sizes and actions for making decisions. 'The decision, based on counting the number of defectives in a sample, can be to accept the lot, reject the lot, or even, for multiple or sequential sampling schemes, to take another sample and then repeat the decision process'. >>

SCAMPER
stands for a checklist that helps the creative process - substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put (to other uses), eliminate, reverse

Scatter Diagram
charts which allow the study of correlation (relationship between two variables)

Scedasticity
the relationship between the value of input variables and the variation (rather than the mean) of the output. Where variation changes with the input variable (for example, variation increases over time) then the process demonstrates hetero-scedasticity. Where variation is constant the process demonstrates homo-scedasticity.

Seichi
(japanese for) delicate workmanship, attention to detail, fine craftsmanship

Seigisei-gaido-risuto
(japanese for) manufacturability guide list

Sekkei-tejun-sho
(japanese for) design-procedure document

SFMEA
System Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. FMEA form

Shainin System
a proprietary problem solving methodology developed by Dorian Shainin, Shainin System is widely used in the manufacturing sector. Shainin LLC (a consulting company founded by D Shainin) offers this system under "Red X"^® Strategy. The System was developed for and is best suited to problem solving on operating, medium to high volume processes where data is available and intervention into the process is difficult. The fundamental tenet of Shainin System is that, in any problem, there is a dominant cause (Red X) of variation in the process output that defines the problem. This presumption is based on an application of the Pareto principle to the causes of variation. Within the Shainin System, there is recognition that there maybe a second or third large cause (called the Pink X & Pale Pink X). For more elaborate review of the system, read "An Overview of the Shainin System for Quality Improvement, Stefan H. Steiner and R. Jock MacKay, University of Waterloo Waterloo, N2L 3G1 Canada, John S. Ramberg, Consultant, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147".

Shift
changes over time - data typically shifts 1.5 sigma levels (a key measure of process capability) between short-term and long-term.

Significant Characteristics
Product and process characteristics designated by the customer, including governmental regulatory and safety, and/or selected by the supplier through knowledge of the product and process.

Simulation
The practice of mimicking some or all of the behavior of one system with a different, dissimilar system.

Simultaneous Engineering
A way of simultaneously designing products, and the processes for manufacturing those products, through the use of cross functional teams to assure manufacturability and to reduce cycle time.

Six Sigma
a failure rate of 3.4 parts per million or 99.9997%...

Specifications
Specifications are engineering requirements for judging the acceptability of a part characteristic. For the production part approval process, every feature of the product as identified by engineering specifications must be measured. Actual measurement and test results are required. Specifications should not be confused with control limits which represent "the voice of the process".