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Many
of the terms used in the world of third-party logistics do
not appear in a standard dictionary, nor is there a dictionary
of fulfillment or warehouse management definitions. We offer
this glossary to help you better understand our business.
If
you have a term you would like defined, or have a definition
that you would like to share with us, please send us an e-mail.
B
backorder
an order that is past its required shipping date because the
product is out-of-stock.
barcode (bar code)
a series of bars and spaces encoded to correspond to alpha-numeric
characters. Barcodes are designed to be read by scanners and
converted into data.
barcode printer (bar code printer)
a printer with internal software capable of converting data
into a barcode. A bar code printer can provide faster printing,
since it is usually dedicated to printing bar codes and does
not require the computer or separate computer software to
send an image of a bar code to the printer head.
barcode reader (bar code reader)
any device, portable or fixed, that can convert barcode images
into data.
batch picking
A method of order picking in which all orders are grouped
into small batches. All the orders in the batch are then picked
in one pass. [See zone picking and wave picking].
benchmark
a measurement, usually of efficiency, that is used for comparison
purposes.
benchmarking
the process of comparing a measurement to a benchmark. External
benchmarking compares internal measurement to that of an external
source, such as comparing how fast a competitor can process
a complex order compared to one’s own operation. Internal
benchmarking seeks to compare internal measurements to historic
internal measurements. Operational efficiency, picking accuracy,
and inventory accuracy, are a few 3PL or 3PF areas for commonly
used for benchmarking, to increase efficiency to improve quality
control.
bill of lading (BL, BOL, B/L)
description coming soon
bin
a physical storage container for to store mutiple units of
the same SKU. Bins can be of of corrugated cardbord, plastic,
or metal. Bin can also be the storage location or slot of
the product.
BOM (Bill of Material)
lists materials (components or ingredients) required to produce
an item. Multilevel BOMs also show subassemblies and their
components.
business to business (B2B or b2b)
activities directed from one business toward another business.
B2B third party logistics and fulfillment activities include
warehousing products and processing orders to other businesses
on behalf of a client. Some examples include order processing
and shipment of replacement parts to service departments,
manufactured products to distributors, consumer goods to retail
stores or distribution centers, and information or sample
packages to brokers, salesmen or to other representatives
of the clients’ business.
business to consumer (B2C or b2c)
activities directed from a business toward consumers. B2C
third party fulfillment activities include the warehousing
products and processing orders and handling customer service
for products shipped directly to consumers on behalf of a
business. Orders for such products are generated through such
mediums as websites, catalogs, direct mail, e-mail, print
advertisements, telemarketing, and television and radio advertising.
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