Term |
Acronym |
Definition |
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Advanced Shipment Notification |
ASN |
An electronic notification of pending deliveries like an electronic packing list, and usually sent through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The goal is to provide information to the receiving warehouse operation well in advance of physical delivery. By providing a list of all of the bar-coded ID numbers of the shipping units and the contents of each, the scanning of the pallet labels can facilitate a quick and efficient good receipt process. For more information visit GS1
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Backhaul |
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Generally a backhaul is any return load taken after the delivery has been made. An example of this would be the collection of supplier loads from a supplier's premises by a retailer for delivery into the retailer’s own RDC.
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CanBus |
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Controller area network. A high speed communications network designed to support control functions between electronic devices distributed throughout the vehicle.
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Computerised Vehicle Routing and Scheduling |
CVRS |
Integrated technology systems solutions for transport fleet management, often providing real-time data for improved supply chain visibility and fleet productivity.
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Cross Dock |
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A system where products for store orders are not put away into the warehouse racking to be picked later, but they are processed into store orders either by the supplier or on arrival at the RDC. This can entail breaking down the inward delivery into store ready consignments or if the consignments are pallet sized moving the pallets across the docking area for loading onto the store delivery vehicle. This movement of product across warehouse vehicle docking bays gives the process its name.
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Distribution Centre |
DC |
A warehouse that is the sole stocking point for the distribution system that it services.
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Double Decker |
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Double-deck trailers are semi-trailers with either a fixed, hinged or moveable (floating) second floor, which enables them to carry more palletised goods. In general, a double decker can carry 40 pallets as opposed to 26 pallets for a standard trailer.
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Drag |
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The retarding force exerted on a moving vehicle by the air around it. This is often referred to as air resistance.
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Drop deck trailer |
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A drop-deck trailer is a trailer on which the floor drops down a level once clear of the tractor unit. The most common types of drop-deck trailer are flatbeds and curtain sided.
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Efficient Consumer Response |
ECR |
An initiative within the food & grocery industry based around retailers and suppliers working together to fulfil consumer wishes, better, faster and at less cost.
Most European countries have an ECR initiative, as well as countries such as USA, Australia and South Africa.
ECR UK is managed by IGD and actively participates in ECR Europe. Visit ECR UK
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Electronic Data Interchange |
EDI |
The computer to computer transmission of information between two trading partners in the supply chain. The data is usually organised in specific standards and formats for ease of transmissions and validation.
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Electronic Proof of Delivery |
EPOD |
System that allows orders to be sent to drivers electronically and is made up of a fixed cab display screen.
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Enterprise resource Planning |
ERP |
An IT system architecture that works to integrate the information management of various business activities, such as sales & marketing, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, inventory, shipping, invoicing and accounting. ERP is a term originally derived from manufacturing resource planning (MRP II) that followed material requirements planning.
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Estimated Time of Arrival
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ETA |
The time at which a deliver is expected to arrive
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Fifth Party Logistics Company |
5PL |
A key function of the 5PL is to aggregate the demands of the 3PL into a bulky volume for negotiating more favourable rates with airlines and shipping companies regardless of which generation of logistics solution belongs to all.
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Fourth Party Logistics Company |
4PL |
Will directly provide many of the supply chain operations and be an asset owner. They may have some geographical limitations and thus employ 3PLs for some operations. There will be a key focus on extending the range of services offered covering all aspects of the supply chain including procurement, demand forecasting, inventory management etc.
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Fronthaul |
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A fronthaul is a store delivery made by a supplier on behalf of a retailer, following an inbound delivery of goods by the supplier into the retailer's warehouse.
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General packet radio system |
GPRS |
Standardised as part of the GSM phase 2 development, represents the first implementation of packet switching within GSM, which is essentially a circuit-switched technology. Rather than sending a continuous stream of data over a permanent connection.
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Geofence |
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Virtual perimeter encompassing an area in a vehicle tracking or transport management system. If a vehicle equipped with GPS either passes or leaves the geofence, the vehicle tracking or transport management system can record a timestamp or trigger a process such as an automated message or interface to another system.
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Global Positioning System |
GPS |
Satellite based radio positioning systems that provide 24 hour, 3 dimensional position, speed and time information to suitably equipped receivers in vehicles anywhere on or near the surface of the earth.
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Key Performance Indicator |
KPI |
Financial and non-financial indicators for the performance of a company.
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Lead Logistics Provider |
LLP |
Will manage a range of 3PLs. They will provide the over-arching systems infrastructure. They will have a global reach. They may or may not own any fixed assets. Concept of best in class. There will be a more advanced value added service offering. Emphasis will be more on strategic partnerships and the sharing of gains. There will be a consulting option. There will be neutrality issues.
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Lead time |
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The time between when new stock is ordered and when it is received and available for use. Lead time varies, depending on the system, speed of deliveries, availability and reliability of transport, and, sometimes, weather.
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Load Planning |
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The combination of orders / deliveries into a vehicle load.
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National Distribution Centre |
NDC |
This is a large single stockholding point serving both retailer RDCs and other customers either in the UK or in overseas markets.
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Pallet |
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A flat, open surface (usually constructed of wood) designed to hold and transport merchandise.
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Pallet (Euro pallet) |
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Dimensions 800x1200mm
A flat, open surface (usually constructed of wood) designed to hold and transport merchandise.
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Pallet (standard British) |
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Dimensions 1000x1200mm
A flat, open surface (usually constructed of wood) designed to hold and transport merchandise. Often referred to as Blue, Chep or GKN, but other variants are now common; red, brown etc)
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Personal Data Assistant |
PDA |
The many uses of a PDA include various features: calculating, use as a clock and calendar, accessing the internet, sending and receiving e-mails, use as a radio or stereo, video recording, recording notes, use as an address book, and use as a spreadsheet.
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Primary Consolidation Centre |
PCC |
A facility which allows different suppliers to combine their daily orders to individual retailers' RDCs.
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Proof Of Delivery |
POD |
Documentation that verifies that an order has been delivered.
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Radio Frequency Identification |
RFID |
Radio Frequency Technology for mobile communication via handsets and more recently trials in RFID or 'tagging' involving the placing of RF tags upon crates to track them through the supply chain. Also called Electronic Product Coding (EPC).
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Regional Distribution centre
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RDC |
A post-production warehouse for finished goods. |
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Rigid |
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A non-articulated goods vehicle. The vehicle is permanently attached to its load carrying capacity.
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Roll cage |
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The lightweight metal cages on wheels that are a commonly used way of picking and moving store orders through distribution centres to delivery at stores.
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Safe and fuel efficient driving |
SAFED |
High quality driver development training with proven, significant fuel saving benefits.
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Satellite Navigation |
Sat Nav |
Systems typically consist of a map display and control panel. Periodic updates will give you new information regarding new information regarding new roads or one way system changes.
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Scissor lift |
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A type of platform which can usually only move vertically, named due to the use of linked, folding supports in a criss-cross 'X' pattern. Scissor lifts are commonly used on the loading bays of distribution centres to align the loading dock with the back of a vehicle/trailer.
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Selective Catalytic Reduction |
SCR |
Linked to the development of the diesel engine to improve fuel efficiency and performance and reduce harmful emissions, the SCR system requires the addition of AdBlue fluid, which is injected into the exhaust stream. A system that contrasts with EGR technology.
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Serial Shipping Container Code |
SSCC |
An eighteen digit number generally encoded into an GS1-128 barcode (formally the UCC-128 or EAN-128), and used to identify logistics units. Particularly used in advanced shipment notifications (ASN's) in EDI transactions. For more information visit GS1
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Small and medium enterprises |
SME |
The E.U currently defines companies with fewer than 50 employees as small and those with fewer than 250 as medium.
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Tautliner |
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A generic (trade) name for curtain-sided trucks and trailers. See curtain-sider.
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Third Party Logistics Company |
3PL |
A distribution company that offers transport, warehousing, inventory and information systems management to companies in the supply chain.
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Tote box |
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Returnable purpose made crate which is used as a shipping outer.
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Trunking |
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The element of transport between distribution centres.
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Unit of Delivery |
UOD |
A transit unit used for the distribution of products, usually from a retail warehouse out to store, for example a pallet, cage, dolly or tray.
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Unit of measure |
UOM |
The standard unit of an item used in the stock account and to construct order quantities.
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Vehicle Fill |
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Percentage utilisation against the maximum capacity of the vehicle.
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Vehicle Routing and Scheduling |
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The construction of delivery routes and schedules with the aim to balance total cost with service for given delivery and capacity constraints. This can be done manually but the increasingly complex nature of retail distribution operations means that computerised routing and scheduling is more common.
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Vehicle Tracking System |
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A vehicle tracking system is usually made up of an on-board computer, a satellite global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a communications device, which are normally combined into a single device, which relays the information to a central computer.
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Warehouse Management System |
WMS |
An IT system solution used to optimise the management of product flows and storage within a warehouse environment and process the transactions, including receiving, putaway, picking and shipping.
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Yard Management System |
YMS |
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