Glossary

P & D

Pickup and delivery.

P Yacht

Pleasure Yacht.

P&I

Protecting & Indemnity Club. Theoretically an organization settled by a group of Owners to insure, among other, liabilities not covered by the Hull and Machinery insurances. (Insiurance Clubs)

P&TP

Pushing and Towing Purposes.

P&I

Club Protection and Indemnity Club

P.L. 664

Mandates that 50 percent of government impelled cargoes be carried under U.S. flag. Known as the 50/50 shipping law.

P/T

Pusher/Tag.

P/TS

Passenger/Training ship.

P/V

Pressure Vacuum (Valve)

P/VF

Passenger/Vehicles Ferry.

P2P

See Path to Profitability.

PA

Port Aft

Package to Order

A production environment in which a good or service can be packaged after receipt of a customer order. The item is common across many different customers, packaging determines the end product.

Packaging

Materials used to protect a shipment when in transit or in storage at a warehouse facility. Protective packaging is often inside a carton or individual box.

Packing

Protecting individual items either by placing them in cardboard boxes or by securing them in bundles or packages with wrapping material.

Packing and Marking

The activities of packing for safe shipping and unitizing one or more items of an order, placing them into an appropriate container, and marking and labeling the container with customer shipping destination data, as well as other information that may be required.

Packing List

A document containing information about the location of each Product ID in each package. It allows the recipient to quickly find the item he or she is looking for without a broad search of all packages. It also confirms the actual shipment of goods on a line item basis.

Pad Wrap

‘A service provided by moving companies and specific carriers that eliminates packaging material by wrapping product in padded ”blankets”. This will protect the goods during transit, usually on ”air ride” vans. See Blanket Wrap. ‘

PAJ

Petroleum Association of Japan

PAK

Pakistan (Flag)

Pallet

The platform which cartons are stacked on and then used for shipment or movement as a group. Pallets may be made of wood or composite materials.

Pallet Ticket

A label to track pallet-sized quantities of end items produced to identify the specific sublot with specifications determined by periodic sampling and analysis during production.

Pallet Wrapping Machine

A machine that wraps a pallet's contents in stretch-wrap to ensure safe shipment.

PANAMAX

A tanker of the maximum size capable of transit of the Panama Canal (approx. 50,000-80,000 DWT) (breadth normally the limiting factor)

Parcel Shipment

Parcels include small packages like those typically handled by providers such as UPS and FedEx.

Pareto

A means of sorting data. For example, the number of quality faults by frequency of occurrence. An analysis that compares cumulative percentages of the rank ordering of costs, cost drivers, profits, or other attributes to determine whether a minority of elements have a disproportionate impact. Another example: identifying that 20% of a set of independent variables is responsible for 80% of the effect. Also see: 80/20 Rule.

PARS

Project Analysis and Reporting System.

Part Period Balancing

In forecasting, a dynamic lot-sizing technique that uses the same logic as the least total cost method, but adds a routine called look ahead/look back. When the look ahead/look back feature is used, a lot quantity is calculated, and before it is firmed up, the next or the previous period’s demands are evaluated to determine whether it would be economical to include them in the current lot. Also see: Discrete Order Quantity, Dynamic lot sizing.

Part Standardization

A program for planned elimination of superficial, accidental, and deliberate differences between similar parts in the interest of reducing part and supplier proliferation. A typical goal of part standardization is to reduce costs by reducing the number of parts that the company needs to manage.

Particular Average:

See Marine Cargo Insurance.

PARTIN

EDIFACT Party information message

Partlow Chart

A chart that indicates the temperature reading in a reefer container.

Partnership

An agreement between parties to operate a business with stipulations regarding the sharing of profits and losses.

Partnerships and Alliances

Shippers and providers who enter into agreements designed to benefit both parties.

PASREQ

PASRSP

PASS

Passenger

Passenger-Mile

A measure of output for passenger transportation that reflects the number of passengers transported and the distance traveled; a multiplication of passengers hauled and distance traveled.

Password

A private code required to gain access to a computer, an application program, or service.

Pat/WB

Patrol/Work Boat.

Patent

A right given to an inventor to manufacture and market an invention for a specified period of time. A government patent office grants such authorizations.

Path to Profitability

The step-by-step model to generate earnings.

Path to Profitability (P2P)

The step-by-step model to generate earnings.

PAXLST

EDIFACT Passenger list message

Pay on Use

Pay on use is a process where payment is initiated by product consumption, i.e., consignment stock based on withdrawal of product from inventory, This process is popular with many European companies.

Pay-on-Use

Pay-on-Use is a process where payment is initiated by product consumption, i.e., consignment stock based on withdrawal of product from inventory. This process is popular with many European companies.

PAYDUC

EDIFACT Payroll deductions advice message

PAYEXT

EDIFACT Extended payment order message

Payment

The transfer of money, or other agreed upon medium, for provision of goods or services.

Payment Collection

Obtaining money, or other agreed upon medium, for provision of goods or services.

PAYMUL

EDIFACT Multiple payment order message

PAYORD

EDIFACT Payment order message

Payroll

Total of all fully-burdened labor costs, including wages, fringe, benefits, overtime, bonus, and profit sharing.

PB

Pilot Boat.

PBIT

See Profit Before Interest and Tax.

PBOS

Planning Board for Ocean Shipping.

PBR

Port Billing Rate.

PC

Period of Charter

PC

personal computer

PCC

Pure Car Carrier

PCD

Pacific Coast District

PCGO

Part Cargo

PCGO

Part Cargo

PCR

Payroll Change Report.

PCS

Port Congestion Surcharge

PCT

Percent

PCT

Percent

PCTC

Pure Car Truck Carrier

PDA

see Personal Digital Assistant

PDCA

See Plan-Do-Check-Action.

PDDS

Personnel Data Decision System.

PDPR

Per Day Pro-rated

PDPR

Per Day Pro-Rated

PE

Peru (Flag)

Peak Demand

The time period during which customers demand the greatest quantity.

Peer to Peer

A computer networking environment which allows individual computers to share resources and data without passing through an intermediate network server.

Peer to Peer (P2P)

A computer-networking environment which allows individual computers to share resources and data without passing through an intermediate network server.

Pegged Requirement

An MRP component requirement that shows the next-level parent item (or customer order) as the source of the demand.

Pegging

A technique in which a DRP system traces demand for a product by date, quantity, and warehouse location.

Penalty

A charge against a contractor for non-compliance that if not paid within a certain period of time would result in default of contract. A clause stating this condition must be included in the contract if this action is exercised.

Per Diem

A payment rate one railroad makes to use another's cars.

Percent of Fill

Number of lines or quantity actually shipped as a percent of the original order. Synonym: Customer Service Ratio.

Perfect Order

The definition of a perfect order is one which meets all of the following criteria: * Delivered complete, with all items on the order in the quantity requested * Delivered on time to customer's request date, using the customer's definition of on-time delivery * Delivered with complete and accurate documentation supporting the order including packing slips, bills of lading and invoices * Delivered in perfect condition with the correct configuration, customer ready, without damage, and faultlessly installed (as applicable)

Performance and Event Management Systems

The systems that report on the key measurements in the supply chain - inventory days of supply, delivery performance, order cycle times, capacity use, etc. Using this information to identify causal relationships to suggest actions in line with the business goals.

Performance Bond

A guarantee submitted by a contractor, certifying that if the contractor is unable to fulfill the obligation the amount will be paid to the purchaser to compensate any loss.

Performance Measurement Program

A performance measurement program goes beyond just having performance metrics in place. Typical characteristics of a good performance measurement program include the following: * Metrics that are aligned to strategy, and linked to the shop floor or line-level workers. * A process and culture that drives performance and accountability to deliver performance against key performance indicators. * An incentive plan that is tied to performance goals, objectives, and metrics. * Tools/technology in place to support easy data collection and use.

Performance Measures

Indicators of the work performed and the results achieved in an activity, process, or organizational unit. Performance measures should be both non-financial and financial. Performance measures enable periodic comparison and benchmarking. Also see: Performance Measurement Program.

Performance Record

A documentation of the contractors ability to comply with the requirements of a contract during the term.

Performance Specifications

This type of specification places emphasis on describing a capability or result to be accomplished with a commodity or service. A testing or inspection may be included.

Period Order Quantity

A lot-sizing technique under which the lot size is equal to the net requirements for a given number of periods, e.g., weeks into the future. The number of periods to order is variable, each order size equalizing the holding costs and the ordering costs for the interval. Also see: Discrete Order Quantity, Dynamic Lot Sizing

Periodic Review System

See Fixed Reorder Cycle Inventory Model

Perishable Commodities

Commodities that have a short shelf-life and may be expect to spoil if not placed in direct use.

Permit

A grant of authority to operate as a contract carrier.

Perpetual Inventory

An inventory record keeping system where each transaction in and out is recorded and a new balance is computed.

Personal Computer (PC)

An individual unit an operator uses for creating and maintaining programs and files; can often access the mainframe simultaneously.

Personal Digital Assistant

A computer term for a handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, and networking features. PDA examples include the Palm and Pocket PC devices. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, and personal organizer. Unlike portable computers, most PDAs are pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This means that they also incorporate handwriting recognition features. Some PDAs can also react to voice input by using voice recognition technologies. Some PDAs and networking software allow companies to use PDAs in their warehouses to support wireless transaction processing and inquiries.

Personal Discrimination

Charging different rates to shippers with similar transportation characteristics, or, charging similar rates to shippers with differing transportation characteristics.

PET

Portable Electronic Thermometer

PF

Port Forward.

PFD

Personal Flotation Device

PFDMA

PFD Manufacturers Association

PFT

Per Freight Ton

PG

Persian Gulf (See AG)

PGE

Permanent Group of Experts (in agreement on subsidies and countervailing measures).

Phantom Bill of Material

A bill-of-material coding and structuring technique used primarily for transient (nonstocked) subassemblies. For the transient item, lead time is set to zero and the order quantity to lot-for-lot. A phantom bill of material represents an item that is physically built, but rarely stocked, before being used in the next step or level of manufacturing. This permits MRP logic to drive requirements straight through (blowthrough) the phantom item to its components, but the MRP system usually retains its ability to net against any occasional inventories of the item. This technique also facilitates the use of common bills of material for engineering and manufacturing. Synonym: Pseudo Bill of Material. Also see: blowthrough

PHL

Philippines (Flag)

PHPD

Per Hatch Per Day

Physical Distribution

All logistics activities from the production line to the final user, including traffic, packaging, materials handling, warehousing, order entry, customer service, inventory control etc.

Physical Distribution:

The movement and storage of finished goods from manufacturing plants to warehouses to customers; used synonymously with business logistics. See Distribution.

Physical Inventory

The process of actual counting all items on-hand at a given time in a facility.

Physical Supply

The movement and storage of raw materials from supply sources to the manufacturing facility.

Pick Line

An arrangement of SKUs in some orderly system to facilitate selecting or picking warehousing units to satisfy orders.

Pick List

A list of items to be picked from stock in order to fill an order; the pick list generation and the picking method can be quite sophisticated.

Pick on Receipt

Product is receipted and picked in one operation (movement), therefore the product never actually touches the ground within the warehouse. It is unloaded from one vehicle and re-loaded on an outbound vehicle. Related to Cross Docking.

Pick to Light

A laser identifies the bin for the next item in the rack; when the picker completes the pick, the bar code is scanned and the system then points the laser at the next bin.

Pick-and-Drop

Operation that normally consists of one over-the-road van operator alternating between two trailers. He transports and delivers one trailer while another is being loaded.

Pick-by-Light

A laser identifies the bin for the next item in the rack, when the picker completes the pick, the bar code is scanned and the system then points the laser at the next bin.

Pick-to-carton

Pick-to-carton logic uses item dimensions/weights to select the shipping carton prior to the order picking process. Items are then picked directly into the shipping carton.

Pick-to-clear

A method often used in warehouse management systems that directs picking to the locations with the smallest quantities on hand.

Pick-to-light

Pick-to light systems consist of lights and LED displays for each pick location. The system uses software to light the next pick and display the quantity to pick.

Pick-to-trailer

Order-picking method where the order picker transports the materials directly from the pick location to the trailer without any interim checking or staging steps.

Pick-Up Order

A document indicating the authority to pick up cargo or equipment from a specific location.

Pick/Pack

Picking and packing immediately into shipment containers.

Picking

The operations involved in pulling products from storage areas to complete a customer order.

Picking by Aisle

A method by which pickers pick all needed items in an aisle regardless of the items' ultimate destination; the items must be sorted later.

Picking by Source

A method in which pickers successively pick all items going to a particular destination regardless of the aisle in which each item is located.

Pier

A structure built away from land and extending some distance over water, often used for docking boats. Also known as a wharf.

Piggyback

Terminology used to describe a truck trailer being transported on a railroad flatcar.

Pilferage

Cargo stolen from the container, warehouse or terminal.

Pin lock

A hard piece of iron, formed to fit on a trailer’s pin, that locks in place with a key to prevent an unauthorized person from moving the trailer.

Place Utility

A value that logistics creates in a product by changing the product's location. Transportation creates place utility.

Plaintext

Data before it has been encrypted or after it has been decrypted, e.g., an ASCII text file.

Plan Deliver

The development and establishment of courses of action over specified time periods that represent a projected appropriation of supply resources to meet delivery requirements.

Plan Make

The development and establishment of courses of action over specified time periods that represent a projected appropriation of production resources to meet production requirements.

Plan Source

The development and establishment of courses of action over specified time periods that represent a projected appropriation of material resources to meet supply chain requirements.

Plan Stability

The difference between planned production and actual production, as a percentage of planned production. Calculation: [(Sum of Monthly Production Plans) + (Sum of the absolute value of the difference between planned and actual)]/[Sum of Monthly Production Plans] Note: Base Production Plan is the three month removed plan

Plan-Do-Check-Action

In quality management, a four-step process for quality improvement. In the first step , a plan to effect improvement is developed. In the second step , the plan is carried out, preferably on a small scale. In the third step , the effects of the plan are observed. In the last step , the results are studied to determine what was learned and what can be predicted. The plan-do-check-act cycle is sometimes referred to as the Shewhart cycle and as the Deming circle . Synonyms: Shewhart Cycle. Also see: Deming Circle

Plan-Do-Check-Action (PDCA)

In quality management, a four-step process for quality improvement. In the first step (plan) , a plan to affect improvement is developed. In the second step (do) , the plan is carried out, preferably on a small scale. In the third step (check) , the effects of the plan are observed. In the last step (action) , the results are studied to determine what was learned and what can be predicted. The plan-do-check-act cycle is sometimes referred to as the Shewhart cycle (Walter A. Shewhart discussed the concept in his book Statistical Method from the Viewpoint of Quality Control) and as the Deming circle (W. Edwards Deming introduced the concept in Japan; the Japanese subsequently called it the Deming circle) . Synonym: Shewhart Cycle. Also see: Deming Circle.

Planned Date

The date an operation such as a receipt, shipment, or delivery of an order is planned to occur.

Planned Order

In DRP and MRP systems, a future order the system plans in response to forecasted demand.

Planned Receipt

An anticipated receipt against an open purchase order or open production order.

Planning Bill

See Planning Bill of Material

Planning Bill of Material

An artificial grouping of items or events in bill-of-material format used to facilitate master scheduling and material planning. It may include the historical average of demand expressed as a percentage of total demand for all options within a feature or for a specific end item within a product family and is used as the quantity per in the planning bill of material. Synonym: Planning Bill. Also see: Hedge Inventory, Production Forecast, Pseudo Bill of Material

Planning Calendar

See Manufacturing Calendar

Planning Fence

See Planning Time Fence

Planning Horizon

The amount of time a plan extends into the future. For a master schedule, this is normally set to cover a minimum of cumulative lead time plus time for lot sizing low-level components and for capacity changes of primary work centers or of key suppliers. For longer term plans the planning horizon must be long enough to permit any needed additions to capacity. Also see: Cumulative Lead Time, Planning Time Fence

Planning Time Fence

A point in time denoted in the planning horizon of the master scheduling process that marks a boundary inside of which changes to the schedule may adversely affect component schedules, capacity plans, customer deliveries, and cost. Outside the planning time fence, customer orders may be booked and changes to the master schedule can be made within the constraints of the production plan. Changes inside the planning time fence must be made manually by the master scheduler. Synonym: Planning Fence. Also see: Cumulative Lead Time, Demand Time Fence, Firm Planned Order, Planned Order, Planning Horizon, Time Fence.

Planogram

The end result of analyzing the sales data of an item or group of items to determine the best arrangement of products on a store shelf. The process determines which shelf your top-selling product should be displayed on, the number of facings it gets, and what best to surround it with. It results in graphical picture or map of the allotted shelf space along with a specification of the facing and deep.

Planography

A scale drawing of a storage area showing the approved layout of the area, location of bulk bin, rack and box pallet areas, aisles, assembly areas, walls, doorways, directions of storage, office space, washrooms, and other support and operational areas.

Plant Finished Goods

Finished goods inventory held at the end manufacturing location.

Plimsoll Mark

Depth to which a vessel may safely load. Identified by a circle on the vessel’s side with a vertical line through and a number of small horizontal lines showing the max depth for summer and winter.

PM

Particulate matter

PO

See Purchase Order.

POD

See Proof of Delivery.

POD

Port of Discharge

Point Of Sale

The time and place at which a sale occurs, such as a cash register in a retail operation, or the order confirmation screen in an on-line session. Supply chain partners are interested in capturing data at the POS, because it is a true record of the sale rather than being derived from other information such as inventory movement. Also a national network of merchant terminals, at which customers can use client cards and personal security codes to make purchases. Transactions are directed against client deposit accounts. POS terminals are sophisticated cryptographic devices, with complex key management processes. POS standards draw on ABM network experiences and possess extremely stringent security requirements.

Point of Sale Information

Price and quantity data from retail locations as sales transactions occur.

Point of Sale Information (POS)

Price and quantity data from the retail location as sales transactions occur.

Point of Use Delivery

Delivery right to the production floor of an item.

Point-of-Purchase

A retail sales term referring to the area where a sale occurs, such as the checkout counter. POP is also used to refer to the displays and other sales promotion tools located at a checkout counter.

Point-of-use inventory

Material used in production processes that is physically stored where it is consumed.

Poka Yoke (mistake proof)

The application of simple techniques that prevent process quality failure. A mechanism that either prevents a mistake from being made or makes the mistake obvious at a glance.

Poka Yoke (mistake-proof)

The application of simple techniques that prevent process quality failure. A mechanism that either prevents a mistake from being made or makes the mistake obvious at a glance.

POL

Port of Loading

Police Powers

The United States' constitutionally granted right for the states to establish regulations to protect their citizens' health and welfare; truck weight; speed, length, and height laws are examples.

Political Subdivision

Cities, counties, towns or any division of government within a state which is below the state level, but with delegated authority to function as a local government.

Pooling

A shipping term for the practice of combining shipment from multiple shippers into a truckload in order to reduce shipping charges.

POP

Point of Presence

POP

see Point-of-Purchase

Port

A harbor where ships will anchor.

Port & Terminal Service Charge

South Europe Conference [SEAC] charge incurred when the shipper is not able to deliver cargo directly alongside the vessel. The carrier may assess its expenses in moving cargo from the shipper’s point of delivery to the vessel.

Port Authority

A state or local government that owns, operates, or otherwise provides wharf, dock, and other terminal investments at ports.

Port of Discharge

Port where vessel is off loaded.

Port of Entry

A port at which foreign goods are admitted into the receiving country.

Port of Loading

Port where cargo is loaded aboard the vessel.

Portal

A web site that serves as a starting point to other destinations or activities on the Internet. Initially thought of as a home base-type of web page, portals attempt to provide all Internet needs in one location. Portals commonly provide services such as e-mail, online chat forums, shopping, searching, content, and news feeds.

POS

Point of Shipment, or Point of Sale

Positioning

The moving of empty equipment from surplus areas to deficit areas.

Possession Utility

The value created by marketing's effort to increase the desire to possess a good or benefit from a service.

Post-Consumer Materials

Any goods that have been expended by the consumer and directed to a recycling process rather than to a landfill or solid waste depository.

Post-Deduct Inventory Transaction Processing

A method of inventory bookkeeping where the book (computer) inventory of components is reduced after issue. When compared to a real-time process, this approach has the disadvantage of a built-in differential between the book record and what is physically in stock. Consumption can be based on recorded actual use, or calculated using finished quantity received times the standard BOM quantity (backflush). Also see: Backflush

POSTNET

The POSTNET barcode is used on envelopes and postcards that are sent through the U.S. Postal Service. This barcode is placed in the lower right-hand corner of the envelope.

Postponement

The delay of final activities (i.e., assembly, production, packaging, etc.) until the latest possible time. A strategy used to eliminate excess inventory in the form of finished goods which may be packaged in a variety of configurations.

PPB

see Part Period Balancing

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol

PRATIQUE

License or permission to use a port

PRD

Pearl River Deta

Pre-Bid Conference

A meeting to clarify an invitation to bid that has been issued.

Pre-Deduct Inventory Transaction Processing

A method of inventory bookkeeping where the book (computer) inventory of components is reduced before issue, at the time a scheduled receipt for their parents or assemblies is created via a bill-of-material explosion. When compared to a real-time process, this approach has the disadvantage of a built-in differential between the book record and what is physically in stock.

Pre-Expediting

The function of following up on open orders before the scheduled delivery date to ensure the timely delivery of materials in the specified quantity.

Pre-Solicitation Conference

A meeting with prospective bidders to obtain information for bidding and invite recommendations.

Predictive maintenance

Practices that seek to prevent unscheduled machinery downtime by collecting and analyzing data on equipment conditions. The analysis is then used to predict time-to-failure, plan maintenance, and restore machinery to good operating condition. Predictive maintenance systems typically measure parameters on machine operations, such as vibration, heat, pressure, noise, and lubricant condition. In conjunction with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), predictive maintenance enables repair-work orders to be released automatically, repair-parts inventories checked, or routine maintenance scheduled.

Prepaid

A freight term which indicates that charges are to be paid by the shipper. Prepaid shipping charges may be added to the customer invoice, or the cost may be bundled into the pricing for the product.

Prepaid Freight

Freight paid by the shipper to the carrier when merchandise is tendered for shipment that is not refundable if the merchandise does not arrive at the intended destination.

Present Value

Today's value of future cash flows, discounted at an appropriate rate.

Preventative Maintenance

Regularly scheduled maintenance activities performed in order to reduce or eliminate unscheduled equipment failures and downtime.

PRICAT

EDIFACT Price/sales catalogue message

Price Agreement

A price decided upon between the purchaser and the vendor(s).

Price Competition

A contract that is awarded solely upon price consideration.

Price Erosion

What causes old-line executives to break out in a cold sweat? No question about it; traditional business models are threatened by the market efficiencies of B2B. When prices begin to plummet, the margin structures of older industries are also threatened.

Price Fixing

A collusion among vendors to market a commodity or certain goods at the same price, thereby restricting competition.

Price Maintenance

The regulation of a base price that may not be undersold by supplier or manufacturer.

Price Protection

An agreement between the buyer and the seller to furnish goods at a predetermined price without increase for the term of the contract. An agreed upon index of periodical increases may be included in such contracts.

Price Schedule

A negotiated or predetermined listing of commodities for a certain price.

PRIHIS

EDIFACT Pricing history message

Primage

A charge paid by shippers to ship agents for services provided by the agent in Turkish and Greek ports, generally for loading activities conducted by port stevedores. It is not an actual contractual term so the obligation to pay does not depend on its inclusion in the bill of lading. Turkey: 3% on Total Ocean Freight including all surcharges and intermodal charges. Greece: 3% Piraeus, 5% Salonika (except on cargo originating in Bulgaria).

Primary highways

Highways that connect lesser populated cities with major cities.

Primary Manufacturing Strategy

Your company's dominant manufacturing strategy. The primary manufacturing strategy generally accounts for 80-plus % of a company's product volume. According to a study by Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath (PRTM) , approximately 73% of all companies use a make-to-stock strategy.

Primary-Business Test

A test the ICC uses to determine if a trucking operation is bona fide private transportation; the private trucking operation must be incidental to and in the futherance of the firm's primary business.

PRIME QR

Product Replenishment and Inventory Management Edge for Quick Response.

Principal

One who designates another to action her or his behalf. The designee would be controlled by the principal.

Private Carrier

A carrier that provides transportation service to the firm that owns or leases the vehicles and does not charge a fee. Private motor carriers may haul at a fee for wholly owned subsidiaries.

Private Label

Products that are designed, produced, controlled by, and which carry the name of the store or a name owned by the store; also known as a store brand or dealer brand. An example would be Wal-Mart's 'Sam's Choice' products.

Private Trucking Fleets

Private fleets serve the needs of their owners, and do not ordinarily offer commercial trucking services to other customers. Private fleets typically perform distribution or service functions.

Private Warehouse

A company-owned warehouse.

Private Warehousing

The storage of goods in a warehouse owned by the company that has title to the goods.

Privatization

The redirection by a government of a program or government function to be carried on by a private organization.

Pro Forma Invoice

An invoice, forwarded by the seller of goods prior to shipment, that advises the buyer of the particulars and value of the goods. Usually required by the buyer in order to obtain an import permit or letter of credit.

Pro Number

Any progressive or serialized number applied for identification of freight bills, bills of lading, etc.

Pro-forma

A type of quotation or offer that may be used when first negotiating the sales of goods or services. If the pro-forma is accepted, then the terms and conditions of the pro-forma may become the request.

Proactive

The strategy of understanding issues before they become apparent and presenting the solution as a benefit to the customer, etc.

Process

A series of time-based activities linked to complete a specific output.

Process Benchmarking

Benchmarking a process (such as the pick, pack, and ship process) against organizations know to be the best in class in this process. Process benchmarking is usually conducted on firms outside of the organization's industry. Also see: Benchmarking, Best in Class, Competitive Benchmarking.

Process capability

Refers to the ability of the process to produce parts that conform to (engineering) specifications. Process capability relates to the inherent variability of a process that is in a state of statistical control. See also CP or CPK.

Process Improvement

A design or activity which improves quality or reduces costs, often through the elimination of waste on non-value-added tasks.

Process Manufacturing

Production that adds value by mixing, separating, forming, and/or performing chemical reactions. It may be done in a batch, continuous, or mixed batch/continuous mode.

Process technology

The technology used by a particular business or manufacturing process, using the Internet for communication purposes rather than mail, telephones, EDI, or faxes for example.

Process Yield

The resulting output from a process. An example would be a quantity of finished product output from manufacturing processes.

PROCST

EDIFACT Project cost reporting message

Procurement

The business functions of procurement planning, purchasing, inventory control, traffic, receiving, incoming inspection, and salvage operations. Synonym: Purchasing

Procurement Cycle

The entire cycle of purchasing functions and duties which occur during acquisition of commodities.

Procurement Officer

A person who is authorized to enact and administer contracts and issue determinations in that regard.

Procurement Services Provider

A services firm that integrates procurement technologies with product, sourcing, and supply management expertise, to provide outsourced procurement solutions. A PSP serves as an extension of an organization’s existing procurement infrastructure, managing the processes and spending categories and procurement processes that the organization feels it has opportunities for improvement but lacks the internal expertise to manage effectively.

PRODAT

EDIFACT Product data message

PRODEX

EDIFACT Product exchange reconciliation message

Product

Something that has been or is being produced

Product Characteristics

All of the elements that define a product's character, such as size, shape, weight, etc.

Product Configurator

A system, generally rule-based, to be used in design-to-order, engineer-to-order, or make-to-order environments where numerous product variations exist. Product configurators perform intelligent modeling of the part or product attributes and often create solid models, drawings, bills of material, and cost estimates that can be integrated into CAD/CAM and MRP II systems as well as sales order entry systems.

Product Description

The user's description of the product.

Product Family

A group of products with similar characteristics often used in production planning (or sales and operations planning) .

Product ID

A method of identifying a product without using a full description. These can be different for each document type and must, therefore, be captured and related to the document in which they were used. They must then be related to each other in context (also known as SKU, Item Code or Number, or other such name) .

Product line segmentation

Separating a product line into items having similar characteristics, purposes, or manufacturing requirements.

Product modularity

An approach used to design products that can be assembled from a family of modules. Using the modular approach, many configurations of a product can be assembled from one set of modules.

Product serviceability

The ease with which a product can be serviced for maintenance or repair purposes.

Product technology

The technology used in the development of a product, analogue technology versus digital technological in the case of telephones for example.

Production Calendar

See Manufacturing Calendar

Production Capacity

Measure of how much production volume may be experienced over a set period of time.

Production Forecast

A projected level of customer demand for a feature (option, accessory, etc.) of a make-to-order or an assemble-to-order product. Used in two-level master scheduling, it is calculated by netting customer backlog against an overall family or product line master production schedule and then factoring this product’s available-to-promise by the option percentage in a planning bill of material. Also see: Assemble-to-Order, Planning Bill of Material, Two-Level Master Schedule

Production Line

A series of pieces of equipment dedicated to the manufacture of a specific number of products or families.

Production Planning and Scheduling

The systems that enable creation of detailed, optimized plans and schedules, taking into account the resource, material, and dependency constraints to meet the deadlines.

Production-Related Material

Production-related material is an item classified as a material purchase and included in cost-of-goods sold as a raw material purchase.

Productivity

A measure of resource utilization efficiency defined as the sum of the outputs divided by the sum of the inputs.

Profit

(1) Gross profit - earning from an ongoing business after direct costs of goods sold have been deducted from sales revenue for a given period.(2) Operating profit - earnings or income after all expenses (selling, administrative, depreciation) have been deducted from gross profit.(3) Net profit - earnings or income after adjusting for miscellaneous income and expenses (patent royalties, interest, capital gains) and tax from operating profit. Synonym: Income.

Profit Before Interest and Tax

The financial profit generated prior to the deduction of taxes and interest due on loans. Also called operating profit.

Profit Before Interest and Tax (PBIT)

The financial profit generated prior to the deduction of taxes and interest due on loans. Also called operating profit.

Profit Ratio

The percentage of profit to sales--that is, profit divided by sales.

Profitability Analysis

The analysis of profit derived from cost objects with the view to improve or optimize profitability. Multiple views may be analyzed, such as market segment, customer, distribution channel, product families, products, technologies, platforms, regions, manufacturing capacity, etc.

Profitable to Promise

This is effectively a promise to deliver a certain order on agreed upon terms, including price and delivery. Profitable to Promise (PTP) is the logical evolution of Available to Promise (AtP) and Capable to Promise (CTP) . While the first two are necessary for profitability, they aren't sufficient. For enterprises to survive in a competitive environment, profit optimization is a vital technology.

Prohibited Items

Items the carrier will not handle, such as explosives, flammables and other hazardous materials.

PROINQ

EDIFACT Product inquiry message

Project

A specific scope of business that includes detailed locations and required pick-up and delivery instructions. Coordination with the services may require a pre-arranged outside installation crew.

Project Management

A disciplined process in which an individual or team of individuals provides all planning, management, design and coordination for a large customer project. See Supportive Project Management.

Promotion

The act of selling a product at a reduced price, or a buy one/get one free offer, for the purpose of increasing sales.

Proof of Delivery

Information supplied by the carrier containing the name of the person who signed for the shipment, the time and date of delivery, and other shipment delivery related information. POD is also sometimes used to refer to the process of printing materials just prior to shipment .

Proof of Delivery (POD)

Information supplied by the carrier containing the name of the person who signed for the shipment, the time and date of delivery and other shipment delivery-related information. POD is also sometimes used to refer to the process of printing materials just prior to shipment (Print on Demand) .

Proportional Rate

A rate lower than the regular rate for shipments that have prior or subsequent moves; used to overcome combination rates' competitive disadvantages.

Proposal Evaluating Criteria

Facts and information such as: Management capabilities, performance plans and technical proficiencies. These factors may be weighted or given a numerical value.

Proprietary Commodity

A commodity for which the manufacturer and/or supplier has been granted an exclusive right to market.

PROSRV

EDIFACT Product service message

PROTAP

EDIFACT Project tasks planning message

Protest

A registered complaint, made by a bidder or interested party, with regard to a bid decision made by the purchaser for which a remedy or resolution is expected.

Protocol

Communication standards that determine message content and format, enabling uniformity of transmissions.

PRPAID

EDIFACT Insurance premium payment message

Pseudo Bill of Materials

See Phantom Bill of Materials

PSP

see Procurement Services Provider

PSS

Peak Season Surcharge

PTI

Pre-Trip Inspection. (Typically the shipping line’s inspection of reefer containers prior to release to the shipper for stuffing/loading).

PTSC

see Port & Terminal Service Charge

Public Warehouse

The warehouse space that is rented or leased by an independent business providing a variety of services for a fee or on a contract basis.

Public Warehouse receipt

The basic document a public warehouse manager issues as a receipt for the goods a company gives to the warehouse manager. The receipt can be either negotiable or nonnegotiable.

Public Warehousing

The storage of goods by a firm that offers storage service for a fee to the public.

Publication Commodity

Public printing added to storeroom stock and not yet charged to a cost center.

Pull or Pull-Through Distribution

Supply chain action initiated by the customer. Traditionally, the supply chain was pushed; manufacturers produced goods and pushed them through the supply chain and the customer had no control. In a pull environment, a customer's purchase sends replenishment information back through the supply chain from retailer to distributor to manufacturer so goods are pulled through the supply chain.

Pull Ordering System

A system in which each warehouse controls its own shipping requirements by placing individual orders for inventory with the central distribution center. A replenishment system where inventory is 'pulled' into the supply chain (or 'demand chain' by POS systems, or ECR programs) . Associated with 'build to order' systems.

Pull Signal

A signal from a using operation that triggers the issue of raw material.

Punitive Action

An action taken against a contractor, according to contract stipulation, for non-compliance of commodities supplied or performance rendered.

Purchase Order

The purchaser’s authorization used to formalize a purchase transaction with a supplier. The physical form or electronic transaction a buyer uses when placing order for merchandise. 2. Common grouping of orders for goods/services. Several SKU categories may be listed on one purchase order. Most customers group their orders in a particular way to facilitate distribution at the other end. For example, one purchase order for an apparel importer might encompass 2 dozen green sweaters and 2 dozen red sweaters. If those P.O.s originated from the same store, it is simple for the store to put all items under that P.O. onto the right truck.

Purchase Order (PO)

The purchaser's authorization used to formalize a purchase transaction with a supplier. The physical form or electronic transaction a buyer uses when placing an order for merchandise.

Purchase Price Discount

A pricing structure in which the seller offers a lower price if the buyer purchases a larger quantity.

Purchasing

The functions associated with buying the goods and services the firm requires.

Pure Raw Material

A raw material that does not lose weight in processing.

Push back rack

Utilizing wheels in the rack structure, this rack system allows palletized goods and materials to be stored by being pushed up a gently graded ramp. Stored materials are allowed to flow down the ramp to the aisle. This rack configuration allows for deep storage on each rack level.

Push Distribution

The process of building product and pushing it into the distribution channel without receiving any information regarding requirements. Also see: Pull or Pull-Through Distribution.

Push Ordering System

A situation in which a firm makes inventory deployment decisions at the central distribution center and ships to its individual warehouses accordingly.

Push Technology

Web casting (push technology) is the prearranged updating of news, weather, or other selected information on a computer user's desktop interface through periodic and generally unobtrusive transmission over the World Wide Web (including the use of the web protocol on intranet) . Web casting uses so-called push technology in which the web server ostensibly pushes information to the user rather than waiting until the user specifically requests it.

Put Away

Removing the material from the dock (or other location of receipt) , transporting the material to a storage area, placing that material in a staging area, and then moving it to a specific location and recording the movement and identification of the location where the material has been place.

Put-to-light

A method that uses lights to direct the placement of materials. Most often used in batch picking to designate the tote to place picked item into.

PWWD

Per Weather Working day

PWWD

Per Weather Working Day