Glossary

Block storage – a system for storing goods, in which there is no direct access to each of the elements because the goods “on top” block the next ones.

Container warehouse – a place designated by a carrier for storage, collection or delivery of containers to operators or dispatchers.

Contract logistics – provision of comprehensive warehousing and logistics services. This is based on long-term collaboration between a logistics company and its partners. Contract logistics is the most comprehensive service, which includes such tasks as delivering a shipment to the warehouse, storing goods, receiving instructions from the client to complete an order, as well as delivering the shipment to the customer.

Deconsolidation – compiling large batches of goods and dividing them into smaller ones, sent out to customers.

Distribution – all the activities which guarantee a customer accessibility of goods in the necessary quality, amount, place and time.

Europallet – in Europe, the most popular type of wooden structure of dimensions 800×1200, used for transporting goods.

Excess load – a large load whose dimensions or weight exceed the permissible size stipulated in the road traffic regulations.

External carrier – a company/entity hired in order to provide services to improve the transportation of goods including vehicle transport, rail transport, air transport, water transport.

External receipt – a document confirming acceptance of goods by a warehouse. The document contains important information, in particular the name of the goods, their warehouse ref. no., amount and warehouse value (expressed for example in standard prices).

Fulfilment – this is delegating logistic services for an online e-commerce shop to an external logistics operator. This is typical outsourcing of specific operational tasks which are vital for the functioning of an online shop.

Full-truck load – a load filling the entire surface of a vehicle.

HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System. A system implemented by companies in order to ensure safety (exclusion of infection and impurities) during storage and distribution of food products.

High storage warehouse – a facility intended for storing goods, equipped with certified high storage shelving. The shelving simultaneously forms part of the supporting structure for the body of the building, i.e. the walls and roof.

Inserting – a packaging service involving adding extra elements to a main product to supplement the offer. This consists in practice of attaching a promotional element (e.g. leaflet, brochure or freebie) to the main product.

Inventory issue document – a document confirming that goods have been issued externally from a warehouse, e.g. to a partner.

ISO 9001 – a company’s quality management system. This system constitutes a structure which enables actions in a given field to be monitored and made more efficient, in line with the requirements of customers/clients and the applicable legislation.

Labelling – marking individual products and bulk packages, e.g. affixing codes, descriptive stickers or indexes to products.

Loading pallet – a rigid, wooden structure for transporting goods.

Loading site – a point (place) where goods are placed/loaded onto a vehicle by employees. Solid waste – all solid objects or substances which maintain a compact, stable structure at 0°C.

Logistics – the complex process of planning, realising and controlling the effective flow of specified goods/materials and information in time and space. Logistics in an important element in the supply chain, and includes many actions such as storage, stock checking and transport.

Optional load – a load which may alternatively serve as the subject of a load, or be delivered in exchange.

Outsourcing – using the services of external suppliers/companies. The main reasons for adopting such an operating model may be: – lack of access to an appropriate site for storing goods, – a strategy adopted by the company which involves such an operating model. – cost reduction, – acquiring resources which the company does not have at its disposal.

Packaging – compiling goods in sets, bulk or individual packaging, shipments, parcels, promotional sets.

Post pallet – a special type of pallet for storing and transporting goods. These pallets are fitted with posts enabling palletted loading units to be stacked without straining the load stored on the pallet.

Repackaging – transferring goods from batch to individual packaging or combining individual products. This service also involves replacing damaged packaging, and replacing packaging due to improper labelling.

Storage site – a designated area on a warehouse surface serving to store goods for a specific time.

Storage – activities connected with ensuring the appropriate conditions for goods placed in a warehouse.

Unloading site – a point (place) where goods are unloaded.

Warehouse – the area of a building serving to store goods.

Warehouse building – an enclosed structure of solid construction used for storing goods.

Warehouse Management System (WMS) – an IT system which assists in the realisation, monitoring and control of the flow of goods on the warehouse surface. This system enables the creation and generation of product-related documentation. This provides clients with instant online access to current inventory information, production and validity dates of products.

Warehouse route – part of the basic warehouse surface used for vehicle transport. Warehouse routes are transport routes and taxiways.

Warehouse surface management – the functional positioning of individual areas/zones of a warehouse relative to one another. A warehouse surface can be divided into four zones – reception, storage, completion and issue.