Supply Chain Logistics Glossary
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EAN-13 OR CONSUMER ARTICLE NUMBER
Bar code symbol identifying the product destined for the end user or consumer. EAN-13 is the product code (unit or Logistics) visible on display shelves.
EAN-128 OR COMMERCIAL (OR LOGISTIC) ARTICLE NUMBER
Bar code symbol identifying articles ordered, delivered and billed between commercial partners. EAN-128 is the code used in inventory management and storage. A commercial or logistics article identified by and EAN-128 (for example a parcel) includes several consumer articles identified by an EAN-13.
EAN-UCC SYSTEM
Set of automatic identification tools (in particular bar code systems) that facilitate producer-distributor exchanges, distributed in different countries through domestic associations.
ECONOMIC ORDER QUANTITY
Method of calculating the size of a batch to be produced, or ordered from a supplier, based on the demand forecast for a given period. The factors used to calculate the Economic Order Quantity include carrying costs, ordering costs, the cost of stock-outs and the various conditions contained in the procurement contract such as volume discounts, The objective of this method is to minimize the overall supply cost.
EFFICIENT CONSUMER RESPONSE (ECR)
Cooperative approach between manufacturing companies and distributors with the objective of increasing customer satisfaction while improving the economic performance of the participating companies. ECR aims to optimize restocking of sales outlets and to improve the performance of promotional activities using specific techniques or tools:
- Communication modes (EDI),
- Management system (CMI, Category Management, Cross-Docking),
- Activity Based Costing.
ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)
Exchange of formatted data between the different applications of the partners' computer systems (computer to computer). This exchange is based on use of common languages (the EDIFACT standard, for example) and use of telecommunications channels.
ELECTRONIC FORMS INTERCHANGE (EFI)
Electronic solution designed to make EDI technology more accessible. The EFI “station” sends and receives EDI messages via the Internet and converts this coded data into forms (for example a shipping document) using a form reader program.
ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE
Electronic communication platform enabling companies to communicate with their partners (suppliers and distributors) to facilitate business transactions and optimize economic performance. Electronic marketplaces are generally divided into three categories:
- The “vertical” marketplaces bringing together all actors of a channel (for example, agri-food producers, distributors and intermediaries, textile, chemicals, etc.);
- The “horizontal” marketplaces bringing together companies located at the same stage of the value creation chain and belonging to the same business sector (for example, all distributors);
- The “transverse” or “public” marketplaces to which any type of company can belong whatever their business sector (for example, a marketplace bringing together companies specialized in MRO products).
ENTERPRISE APPLICATION INTEGRATION (EAI)
Tools and methods to enable exchanges between applications not initially designed to communicate with each other. Based on modeling of application interaction, EAI translates data into a form usable by the receiving application and routes it to the right destination through the use of Middleware. EAI was initially developed to facilitate internal interoperation between the applications of a company's information system. Today it also designates BtoB software developed for IS applications of different partners to enable them to communicate through the Internet and XML-based languages.
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING (ERP)
Computer application integrating all information flows to do with management of the different corporate functions (accounting, production, sales, logistics, etc.)
E-PROCUREMENT
Use of Internet technologies to manage purchasing and procurement. This approach was initially developed by a single company (“proprietary solution”) but can evolve towards a shared model as represented by Marketplaces.
