Glossary of Terms

for Third Party Logistics, Supply Chain Management & Fulfillment Operations

Many of the terms used in the world of third-party logistics do not appear in a standard dictionary, nor is there a dictionary of fulfillment or warehouse management definitions. We offer this glossary to help you better understand our business. If you have a term you would like defined, or have a definition that you would like to share with us, please send us an e-mail.

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Jump to terms:

- zip code
- zip +4 barcode
- zip +4 code
- zone picking
- zone

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X-Y-Z

ZIP Code
the United States Postal Service (USPS) system of five-digit codes identifying the individual post offices or metropolitan area delivery stations corresponding with the address. [See Zip+4 code and Zip+4 barcode].

ZIP+4 barcode
a barcode corresponding to the ZIP+4 zip code, with a barcode consisting of 52 vertical bars representing the nine digits.

ZIP+4 code
includes a 4-digit extension to the traditional 5-digit zip code, helping identifies addresses more accurately geographically. Coast to Coast uses zip+4 to effectively help the Post Office sort mail faster and with fewer errors, allowing us to receive lower postage costs that we pass on to the client. (the nine digit numeric code is composed of two parts: (1) the initial Zip code: the first five digits that identify the post office or metropolitan delivery station corresponding to the address, followed by a hyphen; and (2) the four-digit expanded code: the first two additional digits designate the geographic sector and the last two digits designate the segment, such as specific building or floor of a building. [see Zip+4 barcode].)

zone picking
(also known as "pick and pass") Order picking method wherein a warehouse is divided into several pick zones. This is often the most efficient method for orders consisting of many products of different sizes or requiring different types of storage. Pickers are assigned to a specific zone, as orders are moved from one zone to the next as they move toward completion. (See wave picking and batch picking).

zone
specified location in warehouse representing a storage area. A slot is a specific area within a zone for a specific item or SKU.