Every industry has its jargon so we’ve put together this helpful guide to logistics terms.
An approach to the costing and monitoring of activities that involves tracing resource consumption and costing final outputs.
Application of Pareto’s Law of the 80/20 rule: ABC classifications are determined in ascending rank order of all products according to the product classification as a percentage of the total purchasing spend. Ranking can also be by volume, value, weight etc.
Electronic method of making routine payments, replacing traditional cheques.
The increase in realisable value of a product or service by changing it's form, location or availability, excluding the cost of the purchased materials and services. E.g. picking and packing
Payment made to a supplier before starting work. Often used as an incentive to reduce cost or enhance any discounts available, or to secure supply of products and services.
Air freight refers to the transportation of goods via aircraft. This method is often chosen for its speed and reliability, making it ideal for time-sensitive shipments.
The average valuation of stock.
The average stock level over a given period of time. Usually calculated as follows: average inventory = opening stock + closing stock, divided by 2.
An accounting methodology that calculates the average return each year as a percentage of the initial cost of investment.
An agreement between buyer and seller where certain goods will be bought over a period of time at prices worked out according to a formula. Used to reduce the amount of small-volume orders.
An order that commits to a volume of one product.
Products that are held until any outstanding duties are paid. Usually stored in a bonded store or warehouse.
Process of establishing, measuring and adjusting the levels of capacity in an organisation, within the context of manufacturing resource planning.
Commonly described and an Incoterm. This term is the same as "carriage paid to", but with the extra requirement that the seller has to get transport insurance against the risk of loss or damage to the goods during the carriage. The seller contracts with the insurer and pays the insurance premium.
Commonly described as an Incoterm. This term means the seller pays the freight for the goods to the final destination. The risk of loss or damage to the goods, and any cost increases, transfer from the seller to the buyer when the goods have been delivered to the final carrier, and not at the ship's rail.
Cash payment for purchases and their transportation. The payment is made when they’re delivered, and before the carrier releases them. A common precaution used by sellers shipping to organisations in bankruptcy or with a doubtful credit rating.
CIPS is an international organisation, based in the UK, serving the purchasing and supply profession.
Customs authorities are government agencies responsible for regulating the flow of goods into and out of a country. They play a critical role in international logistics by ensuring compliance with laws and regulations related to trade, ensuring that all imports and exports adhere to national security and economic policies. Customs authorities are tasked with assessing duties, tariffs, and taxes on goods, conducting inspections, and enforcing trade agreements.
To facilitate customs clearance, shippers must submit a customs declaration form, which provides details about the nature, quantity, and value of the goods being imported or
A customs broker is a professional or firm that helps importers and exporters comply with customs regulations in their respective countries.
Customs clearance is the process of obtaining permission from customs authorities for goods to enter or leave a country. This essential step ensures that all necessary duties, tariffs, and taxes are paid before the goods can be handed over to the importer or transported to the final destination.
Customs duties are tariffs or taxes imposed on goods when they are transported across international borders. These duties are critical for generating government revenue and protecting domestic industries from foreign competition. The amount charged typically depends on the type of goods being imported or exported, their value, and the country of origin.
Commonly described as an Incoterm. Under this term, the seller pays the costs necessary to bring the goods to the port of shipment. The risk of loss or damage to the goods, as well as any extra expenses, are transferred from the seller to the buyer when the goods pass the ship’s rail. Insurance is the buyer’s responsibility.
Commonly described as an Incoterm. This is CFR with the extra requirement that the seller has to get transport insurance against the risk of loss or damage to goods. The seller must contract with the insurer and pay the insurance premium. Insurance is important in international shipping because transport companies have restricted liability for loss or damage.
A charge for holding a shipment beyond the time agreed.
A system for determining demands for inventory at distribution centres, consolidating the demand information backwards, and acting as input to the production and materials system.
The five stages of the 6 Sigma quality improvement and assurance process.
Stock that doesn’t work when it’s delivered.
A kind of leasing agreement where one party operates an aircraft hired from another party.
Playing one seller off against another to get the lowest price.
The exchange of documents or information between computers using telephone lines.
A model that defines the best quantity to order, taking into account variables like cost of production, and demand. Also known as the Wilson EOQ Model.
Co-ordination of resource planning across a business and between supply-chain links.
The ability to purchase or sell through electronic trading over the Internet.
A contract or deed that becomes effective at a specified point in the future.
A unit of measurement equivalent to one standard container used in ocean freight, that is 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, and about 8 feet high.
Finished Goods Inventory refers to the completed products that are ready for sale and have left the production line.
A contractually agreed price that remains unchanged throughout the contract.
A price that’s fixed at time of placing the contract, but which could change during the contract.
Freight forwarders act as intermediaries between shippers and carriers. They are responsible for coordinating the movement of goods, whether by land, sea, or air, and they ensure that all aspects of shipping are handled effectively.
Freight charges refer to the fees associated with transporting goods from one location to another. These charges can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the mode of transportation, the distance traveled, the weight and dimensions of the shipment, and any special handling requirements.
Freight cost refers to the total expense associated with the transportation of goods from one location to another. It encompasses various components that determine the final amount a shipper or receiver must pay.
Usually applies to “soft” commodities, typically foodstuffs, where you enter into a contract to buy or sell next year’s crop. The aim is to insure against price fluctuations or commodity shortages.
A global trade treaty aimed at expanding and liberalising world trade, replaced by the World Trade Organisation in 1995.
Companies that tend to supply specific sectors, like the motor or aerospace industries. A consortium of companies will set up and run their own market place, customising existing technology to meet their own e-commerce needs.
International consignment delivery terms. Incoterms embrace many factors including insurance, type of transport mode and associated costs, product costs, package costs etc.
Technically, a list of items held in stock or on the asset register of an organisation. But often used to mean the stock itself.
The work done to meet a customer or production order and which, for production control and purchasing purposes, has a unique identification (adapted from The Official Dictionary of Purchasing and Supply by KH Compton and DA Jessop).
A relatively small number of specific types of products produced at the same time.
Goods arranged in separate portions for sale by auction.
Manufacturing customer’s orders by the job, usually carried out in small lots or batches and of different product types.
In contract terms, this means the responsibility for a liability is jointly taken by all parties involved in the contract.
Originally a concept imported from Japan, the idea that only sufficient quantities should be manufactured or made available to satisfy customers’ immediate needs. Relies for its success on an efficient supply chain.
A Japanese term, much favoured when Japan was the world leader in cutting-edge industrial practices. Translates into English as “continuous improvement”.
Another Japanese term, translates literally as “card”. It is the system of record cards that accompany components through the production process. In other words, a signal that triggers deliveries of specific quantities of supplies in a just-in-time system. So when the box of screws is almost empty, an automatic signal goes to the supplier to deliver some more and refill the box.
A Japanese phenomenon describing a group of companies linked by cross-shareholdings.
Used in many ways. Can mean, for example, the time between the decision to purchase an item and its arrival in stock. But it can also mean the time between the decision to purchase an item and its availability for despatch from the supplier concerned.
Usually used to describe an approach in which production only takes place in response to immediate demand.
The right to retain possession of another’s property until the owner pays a debt.
The winding up of the affairs of a business when it ceases trading and appoints a liquidator to set its affairs in order, realise its assets and pay its shareholders.
The process of managing both the movement and storage of goods, materials and people from their source to the point of ultimate consumption, and the associated information flows.
A Logistics Service Provider refers to a company that specializes in the management and execution of logistics operations on behalf of other businesses. LSPs can handle a variety of services, including transportation, warehousing, order fulfillment, and supply chain management.
Are information systems typically computer-based, that are used within an organisation.
A planning process to ensure available stock to satisfy demand within a given period.
A process to plan production and establish lead times based on availability of resources.
The term "modes of transportation" refers to the various means by which goods are moved from one location to another.
Market situation in which one or a small number of sellers dominate.
The reverse of a monopoly: many suppliers but only one purchaser.
Products that repair any sort of mechanical or electrical device OR products purchased that form part of a routine preventative maintenance plan.
A state of limited competition when the market, or a large part of it, is cornered by a small number of suppliers and manufacturers who are significant players in their particular sector and who do all they can to maintain their cosy lifestyle by excluding newcomers. Not a good situation for buyers to be in.
Systems that have been designed whereby procurement processes are electronically performed using tech.
Electronically offering goods or services to the highest bidder. Similar to ‘live’ auctions and another means of offering tenders for quotation to a selected market place.
Using open advertisement to invite suppliers to quote for a job (Closed Tender is inviting particular specialists to tender for the job)
The activities undertaken that ensures that all required resources within an organisation are managed effectively to produce products/services right through to the delivery of the product/service to the customer.
Core and non-core business activities with external specialists.
A unit Stowga use to quantify demand. Thge calculation is simply the number of pallet spaces required multiplied by the number of weeks required.
The process of fool-proofing a manufacturing process, tools or equipment. A Poka-Yoke device or mechanism makes an operation impossible to perform incorrectly.
Used interchangeably with Purchasing. Procurement is the totality of acquisition starting from the identification of a requirement to the disposal of that requirement at the end of its life. It therefore includes pre-contract activities.
Is an emerging technology enabler for tracking goods and assets around the world. It promises to enable new efficiencies within the supply chain by tracking good and services from point of manufacture through to retail point of sale (RPOS).
A Regulatory Agency is a government body responsible for overseeing specific industries and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. In the context of logistics and supply chain management, these agencies are responsible for maintaining standards that ensure safety, environmental protection, and fair market practices.
The opposite of the usual kind of auction. Suppliers bid the price for a contract down.
Customer wanting particular goods or services enters specification/requirements to system and requests bids from market place. The bid that best meets requirements wins. Also possible for an electronic search of supplier product base.
Planning the flow of surplus or unwanted material or equipment back through the supply chain after meeting customer demand.
Receipt, Handling and Dispatch. - The handling of goods coming into a warehouse, being put away, then getting ready for dispatch. Warehouse operators often quote an RH&D cost, e.g. £2 per pallet per week storage and £2 per pallet RH&D.
A situation where market forces work to the advantage of the seller, who can dictate price, delivery, quality and so on.
A document which defines the relationship between two parties: the provider and the recipient. If used properly it should:
Usually coupled with ‘goods’. Services are intangible items like maintenance, marketing or consultancy.
An identification code for a product or service, often portrayed as a machine-readable barcode that helps track the item for inventory. A stock keeping unit (SKU) does not need to be assigned to physical products in inventory.
A 6 Sigma technique that helps you understand the ‘as is’ state. SIPOC demonstrates process flows and makes interdependencies visible.
Supply chain performance refers to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain in meeting customer demands while minimizing costs and resource use.
Activities involving searching markets for goods and services. Strategic sourcing is making sure everything is being sourced as efficiently as possible.
A mnemonic used in project management at the project objective setting stage. A checklist for evaluating if objectives that are being set are appropriate for the particular project.
An agreed generic specification or a specification intended for frequent use.
The process of managing the interaction between two entities, one of which is supplying goods, works or services to the other entity. SRM is a two-way process that should improve the performance of the buying organisation as well as the supplying organisation.
The purchasing, expediting, inventory management, delivery and receipt of goods, and quality control.
The supply chain starts with the extraction of raw material (or origination of raw concepts for services) and extends through to the final sale and delivery to the final customer of a product or service. Each organisation within the supply chain adds value to the product or concept in some way as it passes from one organisation to the other.
The management of all activities aimed at satisfying the end consumer.
Time of Arrival refers to the estimated time a shipment or delivery is expected to reach its destination. This term is critical in logistics and supply chain management as it directly impacts customer satisfaction, inventory management, and overall operational efficiency.
Third Party Logistics (3PL) refers to the outsourcing of logistics and supply chain management functions to a specialized third-party organisation.
Half the size of a forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU).
Internet sites that allow direct trading between companies, reducing the need for intermediaries.
The overall supply chain expenses, encompassing all expenditures associated with themovement of goods from one location to another. These costs play a significant role in determining the efficiency and profitability of logistics operations.
They facilitate the movement of products from manufacturers to distribution centers and ultimately to retail outlets or end customers.
The increase in realisable value of a product or service by changing its form, location or availability - excluding the cost of the materials and services. For example: picking and packing.
A way of exchanging information electronically between subscribers and their trading partners. The users connect to the private network to transmit messages. The VAN acts as a mailbox and also provides a record for audit purposes.
A way of monitoring and measuring aspects of supplier’s contractual performance.
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