MSSC CLA Exam Terms

Stock

1) Items in inventory. 2) Stored products or service parts ready for sale, as distinguished from stores, which are usually components or raw materials.

Supply

1) The quantity of goods available for sale. 2) The actual or planned replenishment of a product or component. The replenishment quantities are created in response to a demand for the product or component or in anticipation of such a demand.

Recycle

1) The reintroduction of partially processed product or carrier solvents from one operation or task into a previous operation. 2) A re-circulation process.

Customer relationship management (CRM)

A marketing philosophy based on putting the customer first. The collection and analysis of information designed for sales and marketing decision support (as contrasted to enterprise resources planning information) to understand and support existing and potential customer needs.

Six Sigma

A methodology that furnishes tools for the improvement of business processes. The intent is to decrease process variation and improve product quality.

Lean production

A philosophy of production that emphasizes that minimization of the amount of all the resources (including time) used in the various activities of the enterprise. It involves identifying and eliminating non-value-adding activities in design, production, supply chain management, and dealing with customers.

Container Security Initiative (CSI)

A program of the U.S. government which seeks to ensure that containers entering the country's ports are scanned and deemed safe before departing their country of origin.

Near miss

A safety incident in which an accident does not occur, but came close to occurring.

Bar code

A series of alternating bars and spaces printed or stamped on parts, containers, labels, or other media, representing encoded information that can be read by electronic readers.

Cross-functional team

A set of individuals from various departments assigned to a specific task such as implementing new computer software.

Warehouse management system (WMS)

A system that manages all processes that a warehouse carries out. These processes include receiving, picking, and shipping.

Radio frequency identification (RFID)

A system using electronic tags to store data about items. Accessing these data is accomplished through a specific radio frequency and does not require close proximity or line-of-sight access for data retrieval.

Quality audit

A systematic, independent examination and review to determine whether quality activities and related results comply with planned arrangements and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve the objectives.

Job hazard analysis

A technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment.

Total Quality Management (TQM)

A termed coined to describe Japanese-style management approaches to quality improvement. It is based on the participation of all members of an organization in improving processes, goods, services, and the culture in which they work.

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) System

A transportation network that automatically routes one or more material handling devices, such as carts or pallet trucks, and positions them at predetermined destinations without operator intervention.

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)

A voluntary system established by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection with the primary goal of creating and environment of close cooperation between U.S. importers, carriers and international exporters to the United States.

Distribution centers

A warehouse with finished goods and/or service items.

Free and Secure Trade (FAST)

An agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico which aims to speed transport of goods between countries while ensuring safety and security of the general population.

External audit

An audit conducted by a third party (another company or department).

Internal audit

An audit conducted by someone from within the company or department.

Project team

An inclusive term incorporating the workers assigned to the project, the project managers, and sometimes the project sponsor.

Audit

An objective comparison of actions to policies and plans.

Safety incident

An unplanned, undesired event that hinders completion of a task and may cause injury or other damage.

Hazardous material (hazmat)

Any substance or material capable of posing and unreasonable treat to the health and/or safety of the general population.

Ergonomics

Approach to job design that focuses on the interactions between human operator and such traditional environmental elements as atmospheric contaminants, heat light, sound, and all tools and equipment.

Grounding

Connecting electrical equipment and wiring systems to the earth with a wire or other conductor to reduce the risk of serious electrical shock

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Equipment worn by workers to protect them from harm, including steel toed boots, gloves, goggles, ear plugs, etc.

Packaging

Materials surrounding an item to protect it from damage during transportation. The type of packaging influences the danger of such damage.

Cross-training

Providing training or experience in several different areas (e.g. training an employee on several machines).

SOP

Standard operating procedure.

Work teams

Teams of employees formed to shepherd a particular work area or function.

Preventive maintenance:

The activities, including adjustments, replacements, and basic cleanliness, that forestall machine breakdowns. The purpose is to ensure that production quality is maintained and that delivery schedules are met. In addition, a machine that is well cared for will last longer and cause fewer problems.

Order processing

The activity required to administratively process a customer's order and make it ready for shipment or production.

Receiving

The function encompassing the physical receipt of material, the inspection of the shipment for conformance with the purchase order (quantity and damage), the identification and delivery to destination, and the preparation of receiving reports.

Supply chain

The global network used to deliver products and services from raw materials to end customers through an engineered flow of information, physical distribution, and cash.

Corrective maintenance

The maintenance required to restore an item to a satisfactory condition.

Material handling

The movement of items from one point to another inside a facility or between facilities.

Quality control

The process of measuring quality conformance by comparing the actual with a standard for the characteristic and acting on the difference.

Cross-docking

The process of moving items directly from an incoming trailer or container to an outgoing trailer or container with little or no storage time in between.

Counterbalance

When the weight of a lift truck offsets the weight of the load it carries.

Transportation management system (TMS)

A computerized system to manage the operation of transportation systems including deciding on modes of transportation, planning imports and exports, planning and controlling fleet service activities, and load planning and optimization.

Dock board

A board or plate used to bridge the gap between a dock and trailer opening that allows people or equipment.