'Poka-yoke' is a Japanese term that refers to anything that helps prevent mistakes. It is a combination of the words yokeru meaning 'avoid' and poka meaning 'mistakes'. It is pronounced 'poka yokay'. (IPA /poka joke/)
The term was invented the industrial engineer Shigeo Shingo for the Toyota Production System. It is most commonly used in manufacturing, but has spread to other areas of life.
The concept was originally named 'baka-yoke' ("idiot-proofing"), and sometimes still appears in this form.