Logistics refers to the process of planning, coordinating, and executing the movement and storage of goods, products, and resources from one place to another. It involves managing the flow of goods, information, and resources to meet customer demand.
Supply chain management (SCM) refers to the coordination and management of activities involved in sourcing, producing, and delivering products or services to customers. SCM involves managing the flow of goods, services, and information from raw materials to end customers.
Key English terms for logistics and supply chain professionals
Logistics English Terms
1. Cargo: Goods or products being transported.
Example: “The cargo ship arrived at the port yesterday.”
2. Consignment: A shipment of goods or products.
Example: “The consignment of electronics arrived at the warehouse this morning.”
3. Freight: Goods or products being transported, especially by ship or truck.
Example: “The freight train arrived at the station on time.”
4. Inventory: A list of goods or products in stock.
Example: “We need to update our inventory system to track our stock levels more accurately.”
5. Shipment: A quantity of goods or products being transported.
Example: “The shipment of machinery arrived at the factory yesterday.”
6. Transportation: The movement of goods or products from one place to another.
Example: “The company uses a third-party transportation provider to deliver its products.”
7. Warehouse: A building or facility used for storing goods or products.
Example: “The company's warehouse is located near the airport.”
8. Supply Chain: A network of organizations, people, and activities involved in the production and delivery of a product or service.
Example: “The company's supply chain includes suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.”
By getting familiar with these logistics English terms, one can enhance logistics communication skills.
Supply Chain Vocabulary
1. Procurement: The process of purchasing goods or services.
Example: "The procurement team is responsible for sourcing materials from suppliers.”
2. Sourcing: The process of finding and selecting suppliers.
Example: “The company is looking for a new supplier to source its raw materials.”
3. Vendor: A supplier of goods or services.
Example: “The company has partnered with a new vendor to provide logistics services.”
4. Inventory Management: The process of managing and controlling inventory levels.
Example: “The company uses an inventory management system to track its stock levels.”
5. Order Fulfillment: The process of filling and shipping customer orders.
Example: “The company's order fulfillment process is designed to ensure fast and accurate shipping.”
6. Shipping: The process of transporting goods or products from one place to another.
Example: “The company uses a shipping company to deliver its products to customers.”
7. Receiving: The process of accepting and processing incoming shipments.
Example: “The company's receiving department is responsible for inspecting and processing incoming shipments.”
8. Returns: The process of handling and processing returned goods or products.
Example: “The company has a returns policy in place to handle customer returns.”
English terminology for warehouse and inventory management
Warehouse Management
1. Warehouse: A building or facility used for storing goods or products.
2. Storage capacity: The maximum amount of goods or products that can be stored in a warehouse.
3. Aisle: A passageway between rows of shelving or storage units in a warehouse.
4. Bay: A section of a warehouse used for storing goods or products.
5. Dock: A platform or area where goods or products are loaded or unloaded from a vehicle.
6. Receiving: The process of accepting and processing incoming shipments.
7. Shipping: The process of preparing and sending outgoing shipments.
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Warehouse Operations
1. Picking: The process of selecting and gathering items from storage to fulfill customer orders.
2. Packing: The process of preparing items for shipping by placing them in boxes or containers.
3. Labeling: The process of attaching labels to items or packages for identification and shipping purposes.
4. Barcode scanning: The process of using a barcode scanner to track and manage inventory levels.
5. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) : A technology used to track and manage inventory levels using radio frequency identification tags.
Inventory Management
1. Inventory: A list of goods or products in stock.
2. Stock level: The quantity of a particular item in stock.
3. Stockout: A situation where an item is out of stock.
4. Overstock: A situation where there is an excess of a particular item in stock.
5. Inventory turnover: The number of times inventory is sold and replaced within a given period.
6. Cycle count: A process of counting and verifying inventory levels on a regular basis.
7. Physical count: A process of counting and verifying inventory levels by physically counting the items.
Inventory Control
1. Inventory control: The process of managing and regulating inventory levels.
2. First-In-First-Out (FIFO) : A method of inventory control where the oldest items are sold or used first.
3. Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) : A method of inventory control where the newest items are sold or used first.
4. Just-In-Time (JIT) : A method of inventory control where items are received and used just in time to meet customer demand.
5. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) : A method of inventory control that determines the optimal quantity of an item to order based on demand and costs.
FAQ's
Warehouse management refers to the process of managing and controlling the movement and storage of goods, products, and resources within a warehouse.
Inventory management refers to the process of managing and regulating inventory levels to meet customer demand and minimize costs.
Warehouse management focuses on the physical movement and storage of goods, while inventory management focuses on managing and regulating inventory levels.
The purpose of inventory management is to ensure that the right products are available in the right quantities, at the right time, and at the right cost.
The different types of inventory include raw materials, work-in-progress, finished goods, and spare parts.
Essential English Vocabulary for Logistics and Supply Chain Management