A

Abbreviations
Shortened forms of a set of words, consisting of initial letters pronounced separately, for
example, invitation to tender (ITT)

ABC classification
A system of prioritising different types of inventory based on their value or importance to the
business

Acceptance criteria
Indicators or measures used to assess whether a product or service meets the standard
required

Acceptance sampling
A measure, using the number of defects detected, that determines whether a batch of
manufactured products meets the standard required

Accreditation
A process of external verification to provide evidence that a standard of quality has been
achieved, for example, competency, authority or credibility

Accruals
An adjustment made to the accounts of a company that has the effect of putting aside money
for future use. It can be an adjustment to sales or an adjustment to costs

Activity-based costing (ABC)

An accounting method in which indirect costs are assigned to activities used in the production
of a product or delivery of a service. These activities are then used to apportion those costs to
products and services in a way that gives a clearer understanding of the total cost of a product
or service

Ad-hoc purchase
An item bought for a single and non-recurring use or purpose

Adaptive
Having the ability or tendency to adapt to different situations

Aerosol
Solid particles that remain suspended in air as fog or smoke

Algorithm
The process or rule used by an IT system to perform calculations, data processing or
automated tasks

Allocated overhead
Overheads are the cost of things that are needed to manufacture an item or deliver a service
but are not associated with just one product. The total overhead cost is spread among all
products or services and this is the allocated overhead

An individual with capacity

A person who is legally able to enter into a contract because of their appropriate age and state
of mind

Approved supplier list

A list of suppliers whose basic credentials have been checked. This would normally cover
financial stability, compliance with any laws or licences needed to operate, adequate
insurance, health and safety policies and the like. There is no contract with the suppliers, but
there is some assurance as to their appropriateness for specified categories. This list may
restrict what types of order (by category, value or geographical location) can be placed with
each of them

Arm’s-length trading relationship

A relationship between two parties who trade with each other in which there is no
involvement other than the trade itself

AS
Australian Standards contracts

Assets
The value of everything an organisation owns

Audit
A systematic inspection of a process or procedure to assess compliance with requirements or
regulations

Audit trail
A record, history or series of documents that provide evidence of a sequence of processes that
led to an outcome

Back order
Customer orders which cannot be immediately fulfilled and are awaiting future stock
delivery/manufacture before fulfillment

Balanced scorecard
An approach to measuring performance that looks at multiple variables. The variables might
be equally important, or given different weightings to reflect degrees of importance

Bar code
An optical, machine-readable representation of data
Barrier to entry
Often high costs or high levels of competition, linked to supplying a new product or service
into a market.

Base price

The initial price of something without the added costs such as handling, transport and profit

Batch quantity
Amount of products produced at a time

Benchmarking
Comparing an element of one business, such as price, quality or service, against another

Bespoke
Made or provided especially for a specific end user

Best value
The best possible outcome from a procurement process that gets the right balance between
price and quality

Bid
Offer of a price

Bidder (or tenderer)

A potential supplier who makes an offer (a bid is an offer or tender)

Bilateral trade agreements

An exchange agreement between two nations or trading groups that gives each party favoured
trade status connected to certain goods obtained from the signatories. The agreement sets
purchase guarantees and removes tariffs and other trade

Barriers

Bill of lading
A carrier’s contract and receipt for goods it agrees to transport from one place to another and
to deliver to a designated recipient (consignee)

Bill of materials (BOM)

A comprehensive list of components, items, materials and parts to create a product,
essentially a recipe for the production of an item

Biodiversity
Biodiversity is short for biological diversity. It refers to a high level of the variety of plant
and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat – it is considered to be both important
and desirable.

Biomass
Biomass is organic matter or plant material converted for use as a fuel (biofuel)
Biophysical
A branch of science concerned with the application of physical principles and methods to
biological problems

Blanket order
An order that is placed with the supplier which allows the buyer to call off quantities as they
need them over an agreed time period. This works in accordance with a manufacturing
organisation’s production schedule

Blockchain technology
An encrypted network that stores records of a transaction and communicates this to all other
nodes points within the network

Board meeting
Regularly held meetings between all the directors of an organisation

Bottleneck
A specific stage in a process which slows down the flow of production and limits the overall
output rate

Bottom line
An accounting term meaning a company’s income after all expenses have been deducted
from revenues

Bounce back
An automated e-mail sent in response to an e-mail or contact form

Brand
The image of an organisation. The name, logo, slogan, colours, etc., that differentiate it from
the competition

Break even
The point at which a business recovers what it has spent and starts to make a profit

Budget
Financial plan for a set period of time on how much can be spent

Buffer stock
Amount of stock held in stores at any time in addition to actual requirements

Business-critical
A supply or service without which the business could not operate

Business-to-business (B2B)
A transaction between businesses (e.g., in the supply chain)

Business-to-customer (B2C)
A transaction between a business and the end user of its product or service (e.g., an individual
shopper)
Business case
A justification for a proposed project or undertaking on the basis of its expected benefits

Business cycle
The rise and fall over time of output in an economy as measured by gross domestic product
(GDP)

Buyer’s view
The buyer’s perspective on a supply market and the suppliers and products in it

Buying
The physical act of placing orders to make a purchase

Buy in
When people believe and support an idea

CA
The Chartered Accountant qualification

CAD
Computer aided design – drawings created using software

Call-off schedule
A schedule produced to state what amounts of products are to be delivered when

Capital
The amount of money or assets available to be leveraged by a person or organisation, e.g.,
when starting a company, or buying an asset such as machinery

Capital costs
Large, fixed, one-off expenses incurred in getting a business or process operational

Capital purchase
The purchase of an item that is a long-term asset such as a building or equipment

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

An organisation working with companies and cities to disclose the environmental impact of
major corporations in the interest of fighting climate change

Cartel
A group of companies claiming to act independently, but actually acting together to control
prices by price-fixing, limiting supply or other restrictive practices
Cashable savings
Savings that has no impact on the product or service quality but which result in a sustainable
reduction in the budget for purchases of that item

Cash flow statement

An accounting document that summarises the incomings and outgoings of cash in an
organisation

Cash flow
The amount of money moving in and out of a business in a particular period

Catalogue
A list of items for sale that often contains descriptions, pictures, prices and availability

Category
A group of goods or services that have shared characteristics

Category aware
Understanding the market and risks associated with a particular commodity or service

Certificate of origin (COO)

A document required by customs officials, identifying the country of origin of imported
goods, and certified by the supplier’s country’s designated authority, to authenticate the
source of the goods

Channel
The way products and services get to the customer

Chemical process
A process in which chemicals or chemical compounds are changed with the help of chemical
reactions

Chief executive officer (CEO)

The most senior person in an organisation, with overall responsibility for its success

Chief procurement officer (CPO)

Chief procurement officer or procurement and supply director – the person with overall
responsibility for procurement and supply within an organisation

Climate proofing
Identifying risks to an asset, as a consequence of climate variability and change, and ensuring
that those risks are reduced to acceptable levels by making changes

Closed system
A system or process that, once started, does not allow new entrants. A framework agreement
might have multiple buyers and multiple suppliers, but once set up no additional buyers or
suppliers can be added to it
CO2
The chemical formula for carbon dioxide which is a colourless, odourless gas found in our
atmosphere

Co-operative
A people-centred enterprise owned and run by and for their members, which either reinvests
any profits or returns it to their members

Cohesiveness
Working together effectively

Collaborative
Working together for mutual benefit

Collusion
Where two or more potential suppliers (or the purchaser and one or more suppliers) secretly
co-operate to undermine the competitiveness of a tender process

Combustion
The process of burning a fuel so it reacts with oxygen to release energy

Commercial
To do with business, intended to make a profit

Competitive advantage
Putting an organisation in a strong position against their competition

Conflict
A disagreement, or difference of opinions or principles

Conflict of interest (COI)

Where an individual is unable to remain impartial due to a personal, professional or public

interest

Conformance
The meeting of a required specification or standard

Conglomerate
Two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one
corporate group

Consignment
A specific quantity of goods being carried

Consignment note
A document describing the contents of a shipment, prepared by a consignor (supplier) and
countersigned by the carrier as a proof that the carrier has received the goods for delivery
Consignment stock
Inventory owned by the supplier but held at the buyer’s premises

Consolidated deliveries
The practice of grouping deliveries with similar products or products which have similar
transportation requirements in one journey to reduce the unit cost instead of making many
single deliveries of the same item

Consumer
An individual or organisation who pays an amount to consume goods or services

Consumerism
A theory that encourages the increasing purchase of goods and services

Continuing professional development (CPD)

Undertaking training or attending courses to develop knowledge

Continuous improvement
An ongoing effort to improve products, processes and services

Contract
A legally enforceable written or oral agreement between two or more competent parties that
defines a job or service to be performed

Contract clause
A single, usually numbered, paragraph in a contract setting out the detail of a single condition
(or ‘term’) of the contract

Contract compliance
Where items purchased conform to the agreed contract

Contract management
Dealing with contracts with suppliers to make sure the terms of the contract are met

Contract period/contract term

In this context the contract term is the same as the contract period (i.e. the length of time
during which the contract operates). It begins with the START DATE and ends with the
EXPIRY DATE. The start date is not necessarily the date on which the contract is signed, but
the date on which it comes into effect. The expiry date may be expressed as an actual
calendar date (preferred) or as a given number of months (e.g., 36 months) from the start date

Control chart
A chart that can be used to analyse how a process changes over time

Control measure
An action to reduce the potential likelihood that a risk will occur or the impact that it will
have

Copyright
A legal right created by the law that gives exclusive rights to the generator of the work
Core competencies
Processes which are critical to an organization achieving success and competitive advantage

Corporate governance
The mechanisms, procedures and processes that are used to control and direct an organisation

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

A business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering social,
environmental and economic benefits for all stakeholders. The CSR policy may cover
fundraising for charity, ethical behaviour, social and environmental policies, etc.

Cost centre
Area of the business or budget to which the purchase needs charging

Cost driver
Anything that means the cost of a good or service will change

Cost of goods sold (COGS)

The direct costs for producing goods, i.e. the cost of the materials used, as well as the cost of
the labour to produce them and any other allocated overheads. It excludes and distribution or
sales costs

Costs
The amount of money that has gone out of the business

Counter-offer
A response to an offer that is different from the original

Credit limit
The amount of money an organisation can borrow from a creditor

Credit note
A document issued to correct mistakes on an invoice – a credit note reduces the amount owed
on the invoice document

Credit rating
A score given to an organisation which is based on the amount of risk they propose to the
debtor

Cross docking
A logistics procedure where incoming products are loaded directly onto an outgoing carrier
with minimal handling and storage time

Cross-functional teams
Teams that involve individuals from different departments that work together towards a
common goal

Culture
The shared values, practices and beliefs within an organisation that determine how its
procedures are carried out and how it is run overall
Customer
The person who purchases and pays for (but doesn’t necessarily use) a product or service

Customer relationship management (CRM) system

A database to keep track of customers, contacts and a record of transactions

Customs
The area of government that controls and administers policies and procedures for the import
and export of goods

Decarbonisation
The reduction or removal of carbon dioxide from energy sources

Decommission
The activities performed to take a product or service out of use and make it unavailable to
customers

Degrowth
A downscaling of production and consumption

Demand
How much or many of a product or service customers are prepared to buy at different prices

Demand curve
A graphical representation of how price changes with changes in the demand for an item

Demographics
The type, age, culture, interests and financial position of people

Dependent demand stock

Raw materials or component parts whose demand (ordering levels) is influenced by demand
for the finished product

Depreciation
The reduction over time in the value of an asset held by a company, often due to wear and
tear. An amount for this is treated as a cost in a company’s annual accounts

Depreciation charge
The amount of money by which annual accounts are adjusted to reflect the cost of a reduction
in the value of assets. This money is put aside to purchase a replacement for the asset at a
future date
Depreciation of assets
An accounting method of spreading the cost of an asset over a defined period, usually several
financial years

Design specification
A detailed document that sets out the precise way that a product must be built or a service
delivered; includes technical drawings, standards that must be met and dimensions

Devolve
Delegate or transfer power

Direct call off

The act of placing an order under a framework agreement without having further competition

Direct cost
Cost that is directly associated with the production of a good or service

Direct labour cost

The salary cost for employees who work in the manufacturing process of an item or delivery
of a service

Direct material cost

The cost of materials and components used in the production of an item or delivery of a
service

Direct supplies
Raw materials and goods for use in production

Disclosure of gifts
Declaring gifts or hospitality received from a supplier to ensure transparency of dealings

Discretionary spending
Spending by consumers on things they want to buy rather than on things they have to buy
such as food and housing

Diseconomy of scale
Where unit costs rise with rising output

Dissolved
Ceased trading

Distribution
The process of moving materials or products from one supply chain participant to another

Distribution channel
The network used to get a product or service from the manufacturer or creator to the end user
or consumer. It can include wholesalers, agents and retailers

Dividend
Money paid from the company’s earnings to the shareholder
Domestic
Private, not business

Downstream environmental factors

Impacts on the environment caused as a result of the use of the goods you are producing

Downtime
Time when production or services cannot be carried out

Dual-sourcing
Using two or more suppliers for a product, splitting demand between them, to keep pricing
competitive and ensure continuity of supply

Due diligence
Undertaking a thorough appraisal or conducting an evaluation to establish all the facts prior
to entering into an agreement

E-sourcing
The electronic procurement of products or services using Internet-enabled applications and
decision support tools. These tools facilitate interactions between buyers and suppliers
through the use of online negotiations, online auctions, reverse auctions, etc.

Early adopters
A group of consumers who are the first after the innovators to buy or use a new product or
technology

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

Designed by the European Commission to be used to monitor and improve the environmental
performance of organisations

E-commerce (or electronic commerce)

Buying and selling goods and services, or transmitting funds or data, over an electronic
network, primarily the Internet

Economic growth
The increase over time in the value of goods and services produced by a country, often
defined as a value per head of population

Economic operator
A contractor, supplier or service provider that operates in a particular market
Economic order quantity (EOQ)
The most economically viable quantity in which to buy stock which considers not only the
material costs, but also associated costs such as storage, transport and administration costs

Economy
The state of money flow, manufacturing, distribution, availability and consumption, or
scarcity, of goods and services, energy, labour, or other resources at country level

Economy of scale
The trend of cost per unit being reduced as output increases due to factors such as increased
bargaining power and the cost of tooling being shared amongst larger numbers of units

Electronic data interchange (EDI)

The exchange of data between companies in computerised format

Embedded carbon
The range of greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon emissions associated with the production process

Embezzlement
The act of someone stealing assets for which they are responsible

Emerging market
A country that is progressing toward becoming more advanced, usually by means of rapid
growth, investment and industrialisation

Enforceable by law
A court can compel those involved in the contract to fulfil their contractual obligations

Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

A computer system that analyses the current inventory, forecast demand and expected
delivery of new supplies to calculate demand and identify requirements from suppliers

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

A USA governmental regulatory agency

Equilibrium point
The optimum price at which there is equal supply and demand of an item

Equity
The value of the assets minus the value of the liabilities

Epoxy floor paint

A hard-wearing, matt floor coating designed to resist chemicals and disguise minor floor
imperfections

Ergonomics
Adapting the workplace environment to the user, e.g., ensuring chairs and desks are at a
comfortable working height, lighting is adequate for tasks, etc.
Escalation process
A set of procedures put in place to deal with potential problems

Escrow agreement
In the context of computer software, an escrow agreement involves the supplier placing a
copy of the software source (original and updated) code (i.e. the raw form of the software
design) with a third party. If the software supplier ceases trading, the purchaser will then be
provided with the source code, which will enable them to continue to use and, where
necessary, adapt and update the software (provided that they can appoint appropriately skilled
personnel to do so)

Ethics
Principles that govern a person’s or an organisation’s behaviour

Evaluation criteria
The standards that a potential supplier needs to meet

Exchange rate
The value of one currency compared with another, which can vary from day to day

Executing contracts
This expression has two meanings: a. to draw up formal contracts and sign/seal them, and b.
to carry out your obligations under the contract

Expedite
To make special requests and make additional effort to ensure goods are delivered in less
than the normal lead time

Expediting
Monitoring the progress of an order to ensure stock is received as quickly as possible

Expeditor
The person in the buying organisation who carries out the expediting function in
procurement, which means following the issue of a purchase order or contract from receipt of
order by supplier, through to delivery, dealing with delivery problems as they arise

Expenditure
Money spent on goods or services

Expenses
Costs incurred from travelling, staying in hotels, eating out, etc., whilst carrying out your job

Exposure
The number/value of contracts a purchaser has with a single supplier; it is a rough guide to
how much any difficulties faced by the supplier will affect the purchaser

Express terms
Contractual terms that are agreed between two parties and written into a contract
External stakeholders
People, groups or organisations who don’t belong to an organisation but are nevertheless
impacted by it, or have an impact upon it

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)

An organisation that makes products that sell quickly and at a low cost

Feedback
Information about the customer’s views on a product or service

Fill rate
The percentage of orders fulfilled from available stock within a set time

Financial regulations
Internal documents setting out how money is managed within the organisation, including how
budgets are set, who can authorise expenditure and, often, rules around what procurement
processes must be used

Financial return
The amount of money that is either made or lost from an investment

Financial year
A twelve-month period of trading. Businesses’ financial years can start at any time as long as
they run for a complete year

Finished goods
Items that have been through the manufacturing process, are complete and are suitable for
sale

First article inspection

The process of checking a product manufactured for the first time to determine that it meets
design and specification requirements

First in-first out (FIFO)

Items purchased first are sold first, e.g., an electrical component sold out of inventory would
be issued at the oldest or first price

First-party audit
An inspection of an organisation by an auditor employed by the organisation (also known as
an internal audit)

Fit for purpose

The product or service is capable of doing what it was designed to do
Fixed asset
Something owned by an organisation that is used to generate income – fixed assets can be
property, machinery or land

Fixed cost
A cost that remains constant in the short term irrespective of production volumes

Flat structure
A structure with few or no levels of management

Force majeure
Circumstances that cannot be foreseen which prevent a contract from being fulfilled

Forecasting
The process of using existing data to predict future demand for products or services

Franchise
A joint venture between a person who wants to start a business and a person who already had
a business idea registered. The franchisee buys the right to use the business idea from the
franchisor. McDonald’s is a well-known franchise

Fraud
Deception intended to result in personal gain

Free-trade area
A group of countries who have abolished tariffs, quotas and other barriers to trade within the
group

Friction
The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another

Fugitive dust
Visible emissions released from sources other than stacks, e.g., dust blown from storage piles,
road dust, emissions leaking from the sides of buildings or open areas in buildings

Full container load (FCL)

A single delivery of goods that completely fills a container

Full truckload (FTL)

The amount of freight required to fill a truck by cubic metres / feet or mass

Fully operational
Complete and working to full capacity, i.e. a factory would be built and producing goods

G
Game theory
The study of mathematical models that explain how people co-operate or compete. It is used
in economics and market analysis to understand collaboration and conflict in negotiating
situations

Gantt chart
A type of chart that shows the schedule of a project. It can be tailored to work for
procurement milestones

Gated process
A project management technique in which a project or process is divided into meaningful
phases with checks and evaluations at the end of each phase. The project cannot continue
unless a gate is passed

GHG emissions inventory

A report estimating the volume of greenhouse gases produced

Go live
The date on which the contract starts

Goods-in
An area in an organisation that receives and books in deliveries

Gross amount
Total amount payable including taxes

Gross domestic product (GDP)

The total value of the output of businesses and people in a country in a year

Gross national product (GNP)

The total value of the output of businesses and people of a country in a year no matter where
in the world they are located

Habitat
An ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant
or other type of organism

Hard skills
Specific skills that have to be taught, such as learning to use a new computer system, or
gaining a professional qualification

Hardware
The physical parts of a computer
Hedge
A means of limiting the negative impact of an event

Hierarchy
A system where members of an organisation are ranked according to their status or power

High-bay racking
Pallet racking that extends to ceiling level. This will require specially extended masts on
forklift trucks

High-bay warehousing
A system of warehousing which looks to maximize utilisation of space using a system of
pallets and shelves stacked vertically and the use of machinery such as forklift trucks to
retrieve items

Home page
The first page you see when you open a website

Horizon scanning
A formal gathering of data and information from various sources (and often of unrelated
subject matter) and combining it to predict approaching risks or opportunities in order to
support decision making

Hurricane intensity
The measurement of the strength and destructive capacity of a hurricane

Implied terms
Contractual terms that exist even if they are not stated in the contract, i.e. the law of the land

Impartial
Open-minded, without pre-determined ideas, and taking all views into account

Imperfect competition
A market structure where many companies are competing but each is selling a slightly
different product

In-house
Something conducted within an organisation by its own workforce

Inclusive price
Price for the whole amount, including taxes
Incorporated company
A company that is treated in law as being distinct from its owner

INCO terms
International commercial terms of sale that assign costs and responsibilities between the
buyer and seller when delivering products

Independent demand stock

Finished products whose demand (ordering levels) is not dependent on other items of stock

Index
A collection of data that can be used for comparison, e.g., The Dow Jones Index

Indirect cost/indirect spend

Costs that are not directly incurred in the manufacture of a product or delivery of a service,
e.g., insurance

Indirect supplies
Services, tools and equipment that do not form part of the finished product but are required to
maintain the business and production process, e.g., repairs, stationery, consultancy

Inducement
Something offered to persuade or influence an individual to conduct themselves or business
in a certain way

Induction
A person’s formal introduction to an organization and its procedures

Inflated
Higher than necessary

Input
Resources used in the production of a product or creation of a service that lead to the desired
‘output’ (e.g., people, raw materials, information)

Insolvent
Unable to pay the money owed

Institute of Chartered Accounts of Scotland (ICAS)

The world’s first professional body of chartered accountants

Intangible
Something you cannot physically see or touch

Intangible cost
A cost to an organisation that is known but cannot be quantified

Integrated report
A short document about an organisation’s features and how this creates value in the short,
medium and long term
Intense precipitation
Heavy rain or snow

Interest rate
The percentage of money that is required to be paid back in addition to money borrowed, or
the percentage of money that is gained in addition to money saved

Intermodal
Shipments that utilise different modes of transport, e.g., a shipping container carried by lorry
to a dock where it is loaded aboard a ship

Internal rate of return

The means by which an investment or project is evaluated financially. It is the interest rate at
which the net present value of cash flows is equal to zero

Internal stakeholders
People, groups or organisations with an inside interest in an organisation, including
shareholders and employees who own or work for the business

International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC)

A global coalition that promotes reporting about value creation

Interpersonal skills
Skills used when communicating and dealing with people

In the public domain

Generally known either by the public at large, or a certain section of it; readily obtainable
outside of the organisation

Inventory
The stock of goods, materials or products

Inventory management
The process of ensuring the safe and efficient storage and control of stock, including
managing demand and movement

Invitation to tender (or Invitation to treat) (ITT)

Document inviting potential suppliers to quote for business

Invoices
Statements of what has been supplied and a request for payment

ISO
International Organization for Standardization (www.iso.org)

ISO 9000
A set of international quality management and quality assurance standards that help
companies effectively document and maintain an efficient quality system. They are not
specific to any one industry and can be applied to organisations of any size
ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is a document describing the requirements an organisation must fulfill to meet the
ISO 9000 standards

ISO 14001
This sets out the international standards for an environmental management system

ISO 26000
This is the international standard developed to help organisations in selecting and addressing
their social responsibilities

IT network
A computer network that allows computers or systems to share data

Johari window
A technique that can be used to help an organisation (or person) improve their understanding
of their relationship with themselves and others

Joint contracts tribunal (JCT)

A family of standard contracts used in construction in the UK

Just in time (JIT)

A system that works alongside Lean manufacturing. In order to reduce waste in the supply
chain, JIT makes sure that stock is not held unnecessarily in inventory

Kaizen
An approach involving continuous improvement. A long-term approach, that seeks to make
small changes in processes to improve quality and efficiency

Kanban
A production method where instructions are sent from one operation to the next on a card,
including specific items and quantities. (Translated from the Japanese, it literally means
‘signboard’ or ‘billboard’). The aim is to reduce waste through over-production

Key customer segments

A method of splitting a company’s clients into groups so that marketing efforts can be more
focused. It is often based on demographics such as age or geographic location or on buying
behaviour

Key performance indicator (KPI)

Values that can be measured or monitored to assess levels of achievement

Kyoto Protocol
International treaty which commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Laggards
The last group of consumers who buy or use a new product or technology

Landed cost

Cost of a product plus the relevant logistics costs, such as transportation, warehousing,
handling, etc.

Landfill
Landfill is a system of garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth
which has the effect of building up low-lying land

Last in-first out (LIFO)

Items purchased last are sold first. As these items are likely to be higher in value, the
remaining inventory has a lower value

Law of demand
The quantity of an item purchased varies inversely with its price, other factors remaining
constant

Law of supply
As the price of an item increases the supply of the item will also increase, other factors
remaining constant

Lead time

The lapse of time between placing an order with a supplier and receipt of the goods

Lean
A business methodology that aims to create more value with fewer resources

Lean manufacturing
Processes that improve efficiency by reducing wasted time, materials and money
Learning curve
A graphical representation of how when greater numbers of an item are produced, unit costs
reduce

Ledger
A book or computer file used to balance accounting figures such as deposits and receipts

Less than container load (LCL)

A single delivery of goods that does not completely fill a container. This may incur additional
charges

Less than truckload (LTL)

A shipment containing fewer items than are required for the shipment to be eligible for full
truckload rates

Letter of credit (LC)

A document used between a buyer’s and seller’s bank to facilitate a transfer of funds upon
performance of the contract and presentation of specified documents, e.g., signed delivery
note

Liabilities
The amount a business owes, e.g., loans, debts, accounts payable

Liable
Legally responsible for any actions taken that may have a negative consequence

Life-cycle assessment (LCA)

A technique to assess the environmental impact of each step in a product’s life from raw
material extraction through to the use, repair and maintenance of the product (also called a
life-cycle analysis or a cradle-to-grave analysis)

Life-cycle cost
The total cost involved in items of inventory, including purchasing price, inward delivery,
receipt and handling, storage, packing and preparation, dispatch costs, insurance and
overheads

Life-cycle plan
A plan addressing the impacts on the various stages of staff, products and environment life
cycles

Lifetime cost
The total cost of ownership over the life of an asset

Linear pricing
The unit price doesn’t change according to the quantity purchased

Liquidated damages
A set sum agreed by the organisation and the supplier (the parties) and is included in the
contract, which will be paid if one of the parties breaches a term of the contract
Liquidation
A form of insolvency when an organisation is brought to an end

Logistics
The control of the flow of goods or services between two points

Long tail spend

The part of an organisation’s spend profile that isn’t managed directly by the procurement
department

Loss leader
A product or service delivered at a price that makes a loss for the supplier in the hope of
future gains; usually used to break into a new market or to increase market share

Low-cost country (LCC),

Low-cost-country sourcing (LCCS). A procurement strategy to source from low-cost
countries (LCC) either because of reduced production price, or improved capacity, quality, or
logistics

Macro environment
External factors beyond an organisation’s control that will influence its success, such as
government policy, technology, and social and cultural factors

Make-to-stock
Where an item is produced specifically to go into stock, for later sale

Make or buy
A decision about what products or services an organisation will manufacture or provide
themselves in-house, and which will be purchased from outside sources

Manual handling
The transport or support of any load by one or more employees, including lifting, putting
down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving a load

Manufacturing resource planning (MRPII)

A computer-based inventory management system that combines all available strategic and
planning data to support inventory forecasting

Market
Where buyers meet sellers to trade products and services. This can relate to a specific
location or to the general economic environment
Market analysis
This helps procurement professionals to understand how the supply market works, the
direction that the market is going in, the level of competition and the key suppliers in the
market

Market factors
Elements that influence the demand for, or the price of, a good or service

Market knowledge
A detailed understanding of the influences, activities and trends in the market for a particular
product or service (also known as category knowledge)

Market price
The amount that customers are charged, depending on supply and demand for the products or
services

Market saturation
This usually means that there is more than enough supplier capacity to meet customer
demand

Market segment
A group of consumers with common characteristics that are grouped together for the purpose
of marketing a product or service

Master production schedule (MPS)

A plan that a company has produced for the purposes of scheduling machinery, staffing,
resourcing, etc., that is used to ensure smooth, continuous productions

Material assets
Tangible items that are required to carry out an organisation’s activities, such as tools,
machinery, staff and buildings

Material requirements planning (MRP)

An electronic system used to plan production which includes scheduling orders, monitoring
inventory and managing the production process

Materials management
The part of the procurement process that makes sure organisations have the materials they
need to operate

Maverick spend/off-contract spend

Where local staff ignore existing contractual arrangements and purchase from other suppliers.
This may be for fraudulent reasons, but most often it is simply because they believe they can
get a better deal and do not understand the overall impact on the business

Mean
Another name for the average. The mean is calculated by adding all of the values together,
then dividing by the number of values
Method statement
A plan or procedure that details how a process or task will be carried out

Micro environment
Factors that directly influence an organisation’s success, such as competitors, suppliers,
employees and customers

Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

The expansion of SME to include microbusinesses, which are usually defined as having
fewer than ten employees

Middle majority
A group of consumers who buy or use a new product or technology after seeing it used
successfully by innovators and early adopters

Milestones
Important stages or events within a process

Mini-competition
A limited tender exercise, usually only on price, under the rules set out in a framework
agreement; only suppliers appointed to the framework are able to take part

Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

The smallest amount of a product a buyer can order from the supplier

Minutes
A written record of a meeting, stating when it took place, who was present, what was
discussed and what actions have been agreed

Mission statement
Short statement setting out an organisation’s purpose

Mitigation/mitigating action
An action that reduces the severity of an outcome

Mixed loads
This is where a vehicle contains more than one type of product

Mobilisation
When a contract shifts from one supplier to another

Modern-day slavery
The act of forcing people to work in poor conditions for little or no money

Monopoly
A situation in a market where one organization controls the supply of goods or services and
new entrants find it difficult to enter the market

Monopsony
A market with only one buyer
Moonlighting
Paid work from a second job that is done without a main employer’s consent

Movements
A shift in demand or supply, or price

Multilateral trade agreements

An exchange agreement between more than two nations or trading groups that gives each
group favoured trade status connected to certain goods obtained from the signatories

Multilingual
In or using several different languages

Multi-nationals
Organisations that have facilities and assets in more than one country

Net amount
Total amount payable excluding taxes

New Engineering Contract (NEC)

A family of standard contracts used in construction in the UK

Non-cashable savings
One-time savings that do not reduce the ongoing future budget

Non-governmental organisation (NGO)

A non profit organisation that operates independently of any government

Non-linear pricing
The unit price does change as the quantity ordered changes

Non-verbal communications
Using pictures, facial expressions or body language to convey information

O
Objective
In the context of data, something is objective if it is pure fact, with no opinion or
interpretation attached to it

Obligations
In terms of a contract, the actions that each party must carry out

Obsolescence
The state of becoming discontinued, outdated or no longer useful

Obsolescent stock
Stock that is outdated and no longer useful

Occupational Health & Safety Agency (OHSA)

A USA governmental regulatory agency

Off-the-shelf
Goods or services that are readily available and not made to order

Offer
An invitation communicated by one party to another to enter into a legal contract

Officers
Positions appointed by the Board of Directors. Examples of officers are CEO (chief operating
officer) and FO (financial officer)

OJEU
Official Journal of the European Union

Oligopoly
A market structure where a small number of competitors dominate the market

Open-book contract
A contract in which both the purchaser and supplier share all financial information relating to
the contract, including figures that would normally be considered commercially confidential

Open account
This is an arrangement where the items are delivered before payment is due, for example, on
credit terms such as 30 days

Opening stock
The amount, type and value of goods available for sale at the beginning of a set period

Operating costs
Day-to-day expenses of running an organisation, e.g., rent, salaries, transport costs, power
and insurance

Operating environment
Everything external to the business that has an impact on how it operates. This will include
regulations, social expectations, the economy, its relative position in the market, the
competitiveness of the market, etc.

Opportunity cost
A benefit that could have accrued if a person had taken a different action

Ordering system
A method used to determine the size and timing of an organisation’s orders

Organisation
A body that buys goods or services from a supplier

Organisational culture
The shared values and beliefs that influence how people in an organisation behave

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)

A manufacturer that produces goods for another company to sell under their own branding,
particularly computer and IT equipment

Oscillating
An object that oscillates moves repeatedly from one position to another

Outcome-focused specification
Type of performance specification that describes the functions or performance that a product
must fulfil

Output
The amount of goods or services an organisation is producing or supplying

Outsource
Contract another company to undertake a task or job

Over-spec’d (over-specified)
Having a specification that is better than is required to be fit for purpose

Over-supply
Where more goods or services are available than there are buyers for them. This most often
occurs in agriculture where the harvest may vary from year to year, depending on the
weather, and the produce cannot be kept for a long time

Overdraft
A short-term agreement with a bank to lend money

P
Packaging
The process of covering an item in a specified material to protect the item and in some cases
make it more appealing to the customer

Packing list
An itemised list of a package’s contents which is prepared by the shipper

Packing
The process of preparing goods for storage or distribution by protecting the contents from
outside elements

Pallet
A platform used for storing and moving stock

Palletisation
Performing material handling tasks, such as storing and shipping products, using pallets

Participative
To be involved and contribute to the task or project

Partnership
A legal form of a business that is owned by two or more individuals

Patented
The inventor has been legally granted exclusive rights to make or sell their idea or invention

Patent
Legally grants the inventor sole rights to make or sell their idea or invention

Payment terms
The time in which a buyer has to pay the supplier for goods or services received

Perfect competition
A market structure where many companies are competing, each selling the same product.

Performance
A term used in contract law to describe what should be done

Performance management
Any activity that is carried out to make sure goals are achieved

Performance management framework

A series of standards and targets that are to be achieved by the supplier, definitions of how
performance against those standards will be measured and actions expected to be taken on the
basis of the measurement results

Performance specification
Outlines what the product or service is to do or achieve – this covers its output requirements,
tolerances and functions it may have to perform
Peri-urban
An area that surrounds a metropolitan area or city

Personal improvement plan (PIP)

A type of action plan geared towards personal improvement

Petty cash
Money readily available for use by employees on small items

Photovoltaic
Energy generated using solar cells

Picking
The process of selecting items from stock or assembling the items required to fill an order

Piece part price

Price per individual item

Pitch
A business case delivered to an organisation to try to sell a product or service

Plagiarism
Passing off another person’s work as your own

Positive-sum game
Gains by one person or party do not equal the loss to the other

Poverty line
The minimum level of income required by a family to cover the basic needs of food, clothing
and shelter

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Equipment such as a hard hat, work boots or a high-visibility jacket

Pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ)

A document sent to potential suppliers asking for information necessary to support their
qualification as an approved supplier

Pre-qualify
Match a certain set of criteria to qualify immediately for invitation to tender or request for
information (RFQ)

Preferred supplier list

A pre-approved list of suppliers whose financial stability and technical capability have
already been checked

Price-penetration strategy
A pricing strategy that aims to attract customers away from competitors by offering a lower
price
Price-skimming strategy
A pricing strategy that markets products in the early stages of their life cycle at a higher price
than at a later stage

Price elasticity
A measure of the change in demand for a product or service in relation to changes in its price

Price on application (POA)

Meaning you can find out the price when you contact the organisation

Price volatility
Prices that rise and fall repeatedly and unpredictably over short periods of time

Pricing model
How the price for goods or services will be presented in a request for information (RFI)

Pricing schedule appendix

Additional pages, containing more details about the pricing schedule, at the end of the
contract

Primary packaging
The packaging that is in immediate contact with the product (e.g., small box, bottle, bag, etc.)

Primary sector
The first stage of the production and manufacturing process (e.g., farming and the extraction
of raw materials)

Private limited company (Plc)

A legal form of company in which ownership is apportioned through the number of shares
held. Liability of the holders of these shares is limited to the share value and the shares
cannot be traded

Private sector
Organisations run with the aim of making a profit

Proactive
Anticipating needs and acting accordingly

Probity
Honesty or integrity

Process mapping
A way to provide a visual representation of a process

Procure to pay (P2P)

The process of requisitioning, purchasing, receiving, paying for, and accounting for goods
and services

Procurement
The act of obtaining something, whether tangible or intangible, such as a product or service
Procurement platform
The activities that determine the specification and quantities of a product or service prior to
contracting for its supply. It is based on a balance of financial and non-financial requirements

Procurement specification
A document that presents prospective suppliers with a clear, accurate and full description of
the organisation’s needs and enables them to propose a solution to meet those needs

Product label
Part of the packaging of a product. The product label is the written information on the outer
packaging that gives important information that needs to be communicated to the customer

Product life cycle

The stages a product goes through, from initial concept through to decline and removal from
the market

Profitability
The ability of the organisation to make a profit

Profit
The amount by which the revenues of a company exceed its costs

Proforma invoice
A document which confirms the sale which is sent to the buyer in advance of items being
shipped and provides details such as description of items, shipment weight, transport charges,
etc.

Promotional mix
The aspects of product, place, price and promotion that are used in the marketing of a product
or service

Propulsion system
A machine that produces thrust to push an object forward

Prospective suppliers
Suppliers that may wish to work with a buyer or who a buyer may wish to work with

Prototype
A sample or model of an idea or concept

Public limited company

A legal form of company in which ownership is apportioned through the number of shares
held. Liability of the holders of these shares is limited to the share value and the shares can be
traded through an exchange

Public procurement
Purchasing carried out by government departments, local authorities and some other
designated types of organisation, particularly those funded or supported through taxation
Public sector organisations
Service organisations run by the government and usually funded by taxes

Purchase order (PO)

Legally binding documents that set out the details of the transaction that the supplier and
buyer have agreed

Purchasing
The processes concerned with acquiring goods and services, including payment of invoices –
it is part of the wider procurement process

Qualified bid
A bid where the potential supplier has ‘exempted themselves’ from one or more of the
requirements of the tender (i.e. the bid specifically states that it does not comply with one or
more aspects of the specification or contract terms)

Qualitative
Measured in terms of quality

Qualitative research
Research designed to gain insights into reasons why something happens

Quality assurance
Processes put in place the ensure that quality requirements will be met

Quality control
Checking a product against a set of criteria to ensure it meets quality standards

Quality management system (QMS)

A formal system that includes documented processes and procedures that outline the
responsibilities for achieving quality within an organisation

Quantitative
Measured in terms of numbers or quantity

Quantitative research
Research that uses statistics and mathematics as a means of analysing data

Quota
A limit on the quantity or value of a particular type of import or export
R

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag

Data chips that are attached to products and contain a signal for tracking and identification

Rationalisation
The process of reviewing products and consolidating variety to reduce inventory costs

Re-engineering
Redesigning existing products and services

Reactive
Responding to needs when they present themselves

Read receipt
A response from an e-mail recipient that indicates the message was opened

Rebate
An amount paid back on top of any discounts that have previously been agreed

Reciprocal
Something that is the same on both sides

Recruitment
The act of finding a person or persons to do a role within an organisation

Redundant stock
Excess stock that is not required

Regression analysis
Statistical methods used for predicting what will happen in one variable as a result of a
change in another – e.g., will quality improve by X amount if the price is increased by Y
amount? Quality is not a direct function of price, so it may do so, or it may not. Regression
analysis looks at probabilities

Regulatory framework
A model that policy makers and others can use to reform and apply regulations in an effective
and logical way

Remedies
Contractual remedies are the provisions in a contract that enable the injured party to take
action when the other party does not comply with the contract terms

Remittance advice
A document confirming that payment has been made
Reprocurement
To procure again – put in place a new contract when a previous one expires or is terminated

Request for information (RFI)

A document used to gather information about suppliers and their capabilities prior to a formal
procurement process

Request for proposal (RFP)

A document used to canvass potential solutions from suppliers when the specification is still
unclear

Request for quotation (RFQ)

An invitation to suppliers to bid on specific products or services

Request for tender (RFT)

Document inviting potential suppliers to quote for business

Requisition
Paper or electronic document stating a need for procurement to supply a product or service

Residual waste
Waste that is not able to be recycled or re-used and which ends up in garbage dumps called
landfills

Return on investment (ROI)

A measure of profitability that indicates whether a gain or loss has been generated compared
with the initial cost

Revenue
The amount of income that has come into a business

Risk assessment
An assessment that considers the severity of a hazard and its potential outcome in conjunction
with other factors including the level of exposure, the number of individuals exposed and the
risk of the hazard being realised

Risk register
A document that sets out identified risks, the likelihood and impact of them materialising and
who is responsible for dealing with them

Road safety impact assessment (RSIA)

A formal, independent assessment of the impact of new or altered layouts and entry points on
the safety of a road

Roll-over contract
Contract that automatically renews on expiry unless notice is given that it is not to do so

Roller-stacker shelf mechanism

A set of rotating decks or shelves within a secure container that eliminates wasted space
between racks and improves security
S

Safety stock
Extra stock that is held in case it is needed in unexpected situations, such as demand rising or
suppliers being unable to deliver

Sales and operations planning (S&OP)

A multi-department planning process based on factors including expected levels of demand
and supply

Sales tax
A tax collected by the retailer at the final stage of the supply chain

Samples
Examples of the product that is required

Scalability
An organisation’s ability to increase its production profitability

Scanner
A device that optically scans images

Schedule of rates
An itemised list of component parts within a lump-sum contract, or a list of individual
products, giving a price for each unit

Schematic
A diagram showing the main form and features of something to help people to understand it

Scorecards
Reports used to track the achievement of, or progress towards, targets or goals that can
include quantitative and qualitative data

Search engine
A software system or program that is designed to search for information on the Internet

Secondary sector
The second stage of the production and manufacturing process, e.g., manufacturing industries

Second-party audit
An inspection of a supplier by an organisation/ company contracted by the organisation
(otherwise known as an external or supplier audit)

Self-assessment tool
An evaluation method that an organisation will use to assess performance
Sensitive receptors
People or living things that are more readily affected by exposure to contaminants or toxic
materials, e.g., people in schools, day-care centres, hospitals and nursing homes

Service credits
A deduction against fees payable as compensation for poor service, usually a pre-determined
percentage derived from a contractual performance management framework

Service level agreement (SLA)

An agreement between a supplier and a buyer based on quality, delivery, availability and
other measurable criteria

Service sector
The third of three sectors recognised by economists. The first sector covers farming and raw
materials, the second is manufacturing and the third covers the production and delivery of
services

Shares
The means by which a business is apportioned among its owners

Shift
A change in either the quantity supplied, or the quantity demanded while the price remains
the same

Shipping address
The address to which deliveries are to be sent

Shop floor
Within manufacturing, the area where the goods are made

Signed off
A process of approving a sample so that orders can be placed or produced

Silo thinking
When people within a department do not share their knowledge or ideas with others outside
the department

Single administrative document (SAD)

A standardised customs form used to control goods being moved in and out of the EU,
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Macedonia and Serbia

Slotting (or profiling)

The process of identifying the most efficient placement for each item in a warehouse

Small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

A small- or medium-sized enterprise that is independent of other companies and is defined in
terms of the number of employees it has

SMART
SMART objectives are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time bound
Social sustainability
The impact a business can have on people and communities and actions to make this a
positive impact

Soft skills
Skills that may be taught but are more likely to develop with time and practice, for example,
team working and good communication

Software
Programmed code that makes computers (hardware) operate

Sole trader
Someone who has exclusive ownership of a business and can keep any surplus profits but is
responsible for any losses

Specification
A detailed description of what is required

Spend analytics
Gathering, cleansing, classifying and assessing spend data, with the aim of making
efficiencies and reducing costs

Spot buying
One-off purchases or immediate requirements, common in domestic buying

Staged pricing
Payment split into instalments across the period of the contract

Staggered delivery
This is where a full order is broken down into smaller loads and delivered against a schedule,
e.g., 40% delivered in Month 1, 60% delivered in Month 2

Stakeholder
Anyone with an interest, or stake, in the organisation or project

Standard deviation
A statistical measure that captures the difference between the average and the outliers in a set
of data

Standing orders
Document setting out the internal rules of an organisation

Statutory
An action that is required by and controlled by law

Stewardship
Care and responsibility for minimizing a product’s environmental impact throughout all
stages of the product life cycle, including end of life management
Stock
Goods, products or materials held for future use or supply, often called inventory

Stockholder
American term for shareholder

Stock keeping unit (SKU)

An identification code for an item of inventory, usually displayed as a bar code linked to a
database

Stockout
When an inventory item is unavailable

Stocktake
The process of physically counting products in a warehouse to match them to the
computerized inventory

Strategic business decisions

Long-term decisions often made by senior management which affect the future and direction
of an organisation

Strategic core
A category of a buyer’s portfolio in which items have major consequences for the company if
they are not available when needed

Strategic plan
A document that includes details of the organisation’s goals and the actions to be taken to
achieve them

Strategic procurement
The practice of focusing on building long-term relationships with suppliers that could lead to
a source of competitive advantage

Strategic
High-level planning, usually related to long-term goals

Subjective
In the context of data, something is subjective if it is a matter of opinion, which may differ
from one person to another

Substitutes
Goods which, as a result of changed conditions, may replace each other in the market

Subtract or outsource
To employ another organisation to fulfil a contract or part of a contract

Supplier inspection
A way of testing a supplier’s product or service to confirm compliance with the standard set
by the organisation
Supplier ranking
A priority order of suppliers that can be used for sourcing

Supplier relationship management (SRM)

Process for identifying all interactions with key suppliers and then managing them in a way
that increases the value from the relationship for both parties

Supplier relationship manager (SRM)

The role responsible for developing and maintaining supplier relationships

Supply
How much or how many of a product or service an organisation has to sell, or, the act of
physically getting something from the supplier to the buyer

Supply chain
A network of individuals, organisations, technology, activities and resources working
together to make sure goods or services reach the end user

Supply organisation
A supplier

Sustainability
Supporting future ecological balance by not harming the environment or depleting natural
resources

Sustainability development goals (SDG)

17 goals introduced by the United Nations General Assembly to achieve a better and more
sustainable future for all

Sustainably
In a way that avoids the destruction of nature and helps to keep a good ecological balance

Synchronisation
The process of precisely co-ordinating or matching two or more activities, devices or
processes in time

System-generated reference number

A reference number automatically assigned to a record in a computer system

Systemic
An attribute that applies to a whole system rather than one particular part of it

T
Tall structure
Also known as a hierarchical structure and based on a pyramid – every staff member has
somebody to report to

Tangible
Something you can physically see or touch

Target audience
People or organisations at which products such as a film, advertisement or website is aimed

Tariff
A tax paid on a particular type of import or export

Technical (or conformance) specification

The set of standards that a requirement must meet or exceed

Technology chasm
The gap between the early adopters and larger market segments such as early majority in a
product life cycle

Telematics
Information technology dealing with the long-distance transmission of computerised
information

Tender
A request from a buying organisation to invite suppliers to formally quote on a large value
project

Term contracts
Contracts written to last a period of time and include agreed terms

Tertiary sector
The third stage of the production and manufacturing process, where a service is delivered in
industries, e.g., banking, communications and marketing

Testimonial
A formal statement from a customer giving feedback about the product, service or company
and often used for promotional purposes

The Carbon Trust

An independent, expert partner of leading organisations around the world, helping them
contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource
efficiency strategies and commercialising low carbon technologies

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) Corporate Standard

The most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to
understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions

Third-party audit
An inspection of an organisation by an independent company or body
Third-party logistics (3PL)
The use of third-party businesses to outsource part or all of an organisation’s fulfilment,
logistics, transport, warehousing or distribution

Third-sector organisations (TSOs)

Not-for-profit, non-governmental organisations run with the aim of achieving social goals,
such as charities or community groups

Threshold
In the procurement context, an upper limit to the amount a contract may cost without certain
legal requirements coming into force

Tooling
Cutting tools, moulds, fixtures of accessories needed on a machine to manufacture a product

Total cost approach

An approach that considers all the costs associated with procuring an item

Total cost of ownership (TCO)

A structured approach to calculating the full costs associated with buying and using an asset
or acquisition over its entire life cycle

Total costs
The total amount of costs spent, including fixed, variable, direct and indirect costs

Total quality management (TQM)

Efforts of all departments within an organisation to improve processes, products and services

Trade body
An organisation that represents and works for a particular group of individuals or companies,
with a specific industry focus, is usually funded by them

Traffic
Visits or clicks on a website

Transcendental
Pre-supposed and beyond practically gained experience

Transformational step change

An organisational change that is significant and carried out over a period of time

Transparency
Operating in such a way that everyone can see the actions performed

Turnover
The amount of money taken by a business in a particular period
U

Unambiguous
Clear and not open to interpretation

Unincorporated company
A company in which there is no legal distinction between the company and its owner

Union
A group of workers joined together in a specific type of organisation for the purpose of
improving working conditions

Unit load
A standard unit that combines individual items to ensure easy and efficient handling

Up-skill
Increase the ability of an individual through training and personal development

Upstream environmental factors

Impacts on the environment caused by the extraction of raw materials or the manufacture of
goods being purchased

Value added tax (VAT)

An indirect tax collected by sellers at every stage in the supply chain, based on the value
added at each stage of a product’s or service’s production or distribution

Value propositions
The attributes of a product or service that makes it attractive to customers

Variable costs
Costs that change with the output of the organisation

Variant bid
A tender offer that does not quite match the specification of contract terms, but has been
authorised as a secondary offer from a supplier. It is used to see if the proposed specification
and contract terms can be improved upon via competitive offers and must be authorised by
the purchaser as part of the invitation to tender
Vendor-managed inventory
An agreement between an organisation and a supplier where the supplier is given control of
ordering (replenishment) decisions

Venture capitalists
Specialist companies that invest in businesses (particularly start-ups)

Verbal communications
Using the spoken or written word to convey information, for example face-to-face or on the
phone, reports, e-mails or posters

Vertical integration
When one organisation in a supply chain moves into a different stage of that supply chain,
either by starting its own business or by acquiring an existing one

Violation
Breaching an agreement, policy or code of conduct

Vision statement
A statement describing the future desired state of the organisation

Waiting time charge

Charge applied by a supplier if their specified waiting time to be offloaded is exceeded

Warehouse slotting
The process of assigning identity codes to picking locations based on various criteria such as
unit sales, size or weight

Warranty
A promise made by the supplier to the buyer, in return for a monetary sum, to repair or
replace a product or service without further charge in an agreed period of time

Water purification
The process of removing chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gases
from contaminated water

Waybill (or airway bill)

A bill of lading issued by an airline certifying that items carried comply with standards set by
the International Air Transport Authority (IATA)

Wearing parts
Parts with a limited lifespan that need replacing periodically
Whistle-blower
A person who discloses activity or information which they believe to be illegal, unethical or
not in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures

Wire transfer
A method of transferring funds electronically from one person or entity to another using bank
accounts

Word-of-mouth
The informal sharing of information between people

Working capital
Capital of a business that is used in its day-to-day trading operations, calculated as the current
assets minus the current liabilities

Work in progress inventory

Assets that are being used in the production process, which may include raw materials, labour
and overheads

XYZ

Zero-sum game
A ‘zero-sum game’ is an interaction where every gain by one person is an equal loss to the
other, so the net gain (the total of the benefits to both parties) is zero