Glossary

The use of 3D scanning software to measure volumetric load calculations, provide images, and generate electronic documentation.

A third party logistics provider (3PL) coordinates services such as transportation, warehousing, inventory and forwarding using its own and other companies' assets.

A fourth party logisitcs provider (4PL) provides a single interface to coordinate multiple (all) logistics services for a client, often using other 3PLs and its own assets.

See American Bus Association (ABA).

Classifying inventory based on a characteristic such as sales volume or revenue where "A" represents the highest volume or revenue and "C" the least amount.

Demand that falls outside expected projections. This can be due to one-time events or changes in the market.

Activity Based Planning (ABP) identifies and adjusts the resources needed to produce products or services to meet specific client needs.

An accounting method designed to capture all costs, including variable and fixed costs, and assign the associated costs to each unit of production.

Acceptable Quality Level (AQL), also known as Acceptable Quality Limit, sets the average allowed number of quality defects per batch to pass inspection.

A quality management plan that outlines the criteria for what will be sampled (the selection and size) and how to determine the results (pass/fail).

When doing acceptance sampling, the maximum number of defects allowed within a lot. If the acceptance number is exceeded, the lot is rejected.

Sampling a portion of a lot to determine whether the whole lot is acceptable or should be rejected. See also Acceptance Number.

The ability of a carrier to provide service between an origin and a destination.

Extra charges for services outside the standard cost of transportation. Fuel surcharges, detention, handling, and storage are examples of these types of charges.

Being responsible for work performance even if not personally performing the work.

Short-term liabilities (money) a company owes to its suppliers or creditors for services or products received but not yet paid for. Money it owes others.

The money a company is due to receive from others based on the services or products provided on credit. Money it is due from others.

Certification of meeting standards specified by a recognized body such as a governmental entity or trade organization. See ISO below as an example.

The organization responsible for producing the standard communication protocols used for electronic data interchange (EDI).

Area (physical location) to gather assembly components prior to them being assembled together.

Accuracy, in quality management, relates to how close what is being measured is to the standard; the closer, the more accurate.

ACD is the abbreviation for Automated Call Distribution (see below).

Communication, often electronic, from a vendor that an order was received. The acknowledgement implies acceptance of the order unless specified otherwise.

The book value, or acquisition cost = (Expenses related to the acquisition + cost of acquisition) - (taxes + depreciation + amortization + impairment costs).

The system used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to track, control, and process all commercial goods imported into the United States.