S Terms in the Supply Chain Glossary

A monthly process aligning sales, marketing, and supply chain plans to provide a unified strategy that balances supply, demand, and resource allocation over a strategic horizon.

A tool summarizing key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate and monitor organizational or supplier performance against standards.

An integrated methodology combining SCOR, Lean principles, and Six Sigma tools to address specific supply chain challenges.

Predefined metrics within SCOR used to evaluate supply chain performance. Level 1 metrics assess overall health, Level 2 metrics diagnose specific issues, and Level 3 metrics provide detailed diagnostics.

Categories of metrics within SCOR—reliability, responsiveness, agility, cost, and asset management efficiency—used to guide strategic goals.

Standardized descriptions of management practices and their relationships as outlined in the SCOR framework.

Recurring patterns of demand fluctuations within a calendar year, such as seasonal spikes or declines.

An 18-character identifier for boxes or pallets in a shipment, used in automated shipping systems.

An efficient picking method where workers collect items from both sides of an aisle in a continuous flow, reducing travel time.

A formal document outlining performance expectations between a service provider and customer, detailing service terms, targets, and responsibilities.

A document prepared by exporters detailing shipment specifics like value, weight, and destination, required by government authorities.

The process of preparing goods for transport, including tasks like packaging, labeling, weighing, and loading.

The paperwork required for domestic or international transportation of goods.

A strategic procurement method where a company partners with a single supplier to foster quality, reliability, and cooperative relationships.

An acronym for Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer—a tool for mapping processes and identifying key elements.

Self-executing contracts stored on blockchain technology, ensuring compliance with terms through automated processes and secure validation.

A label embedded with RFID technology for enhanced tracking and data retrieval.

A subscription-based software delivery model where applications are hosted online and accessed via web browsers, reducing the need for on-premises infrastructure.

A process of reviewing organizational spending patterns to identify cost-saving opportunities or quality improvements.

The practice of overseeing and optimizing company expenditures on goods and services, incorporating processes like outsourcing, procurement, and supply chain management.

Any individual or group affected by or interested in an organization’s activities, including employees, customers, suppliers, governments, and investors.

A project document outlining objectives, deliverables, success criteria, and contingency plans, serving as a foundation for planning and validation.

An individual inventory item, such as a specific product variant.

The process of creating long-term goals and strategies to achieve organizational objectives.

A strategic approach to managing interactions with suppliers to streamline procurement processes, enhance supplier performance, and foster collaboration.

Enterprise software designed to manage and optimize supplier relationships and procurement processes.

A network of suppliers and partners collaborating to deliver products from raw materials to end customers, encompassing the flow of goods, information, and finances.

A centralized system offering end-to-end supply chain visibility, enabling stakeholders to track inventory, identify supply-demand mismatches, and proactively manage disruptions or excess inventory.

The strategic planning of supply chain structure, including partner selection, facility locations, transportation modes, product distribution, and supporting information systems.

Software solutions focused on efficiently managing procurement, manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation processes within a supply chain.

Technology-driven processes that connect buyers, suppliers, and financial institutions.

Long-term assets associated with the supply chain.

The collaboration of supply chain partners across processes and systems.

Technology enabling the tracking and monitoring of inventory across the supply chain in real-time.

The coordinated management of supply chain activities to create value, build a competitive infrastructure, synchronize supply with demand, and monitor performance on a global scale.

An organization’s ability to achieve superior results through exceptional supply chain management practices, including collaboration, risk management, data analytics, and technology utilization.

The interconnected entities within a supply chain that manage the flow of materials, information, and finances from raw materials to end consumers.

Tools and systems designed to align supply chain members’ goals and processes, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.

A framework providing standardized processes, metrics, and best practices to optimize supply chain operations.

A standardized framework by the Supply Chain Council and ASCM for analyzing and improving supply chain performance, covering processes like planning, sourcing, making, delivering, returning, and enabling.

The use of simulations and data analysis to identify the most effective supply chain configurations.

The development of strategies and policies governing marketing, inventory, replenishment, production, and overall supply chain operations to meet business objectives.

The capability to anticipate, mitigate, and recover from disruptions to ensure consistent supply chain performance.

A process to identify, evaluate, and prioritize risks within the supply chain.

The systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to minimize disruptions and safeguard supply chain performance.

The continuous observation of risk conditions to identify changes in the likelihood or impact of potential disruptions.

The transparent sharing of information among supply chain partners to improve decision-making and responsiveness to changes.

The optimization of supply networks to meet service level goals at the lowest total cost.

A procurement approach that balances organizational needs with societal, economic, and environmental considerations.

A strategic framework for evaluating an organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to inform planning and decision-making.