CIP stands for the Clean-In-Place process, which refers to the cleaning of equipment and processing plants without dismantling them. Some synonyms include sanitization, sterilization, disinfection, and cleaning. Sanitization is the process of reducing the number of microorganisms or bacteria to safe levels. Sterilization, on the other hand, completely eliminates all microorganisms. Disinfection is the process of killing the majority of microorganisms on equipment or surfaces. Finally, cleaning refers to the removal of visible dirt and debris. Regardless of which synonym is used, the ultimate goal of CIP is to maintain optimal hygiene and prevent contamination in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and other processing industries.