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Dictionary G

TermExplanation
G-7Seven industrial countries , the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Canada , whose leaders have met at annual economic summits since 1976 to coordinate economic policies
GainIn finance, gain is a profit or an increase in value of an investment such as a stock or bond. Gain is calculated by fair market value or the proceeds from the sale of the investment minus the sum of the purchase price and all costs associated with it.
Gain sharingA method of incentive compensation where supply chain partners share collectively in savings from productivity improvements. The concept provides an incentive to both the buying and supplier organisations to focus on continually re-evaluating, re-energising, and enhancing their business relationship. All aspects of value delivery are scrutinised, including specification design, order processing, inbound transportation, inventory management, obsolescence programs, material yield, forecasting and inventory planning, product performance and reverse logistics. The focus is on driving out limited value cost while protecting profit margins.
Galeno 2000Established in 1992 to promote cooperation between customs officials to combat illegal trade, especially in armaments, pornography and strategic goods
Gantry craneA crane similar to an overhead crane except that the bridge for carrying the trolley or trolleys (with lifting device) is rigidly supported on two or more legs running on fixed rails or other runway.
Gantt chartA time-phased bar chart display that lists tasks or activities along the left side and a corresponding bar for each task. The length of the bar represents the duration of the activity, and may include both scheduled and actual duration information.
GAOGeneral Accounting Office.
GatewayThe connection that permits messages to flow freely between two networks.
Gateway work centreThe work centre that performs the initial operation or process in a routing
Gathering linesOil pipelines that bring oil from the oil well to storage areas.
GATSThe General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is a treaty of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that entered into force in January 1995 as a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations. The treaty was created to extend the multilateral trading system to service sector, in the same way the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) provides such a system for merchandise trade
GATTThe General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (typically abbreviated GATT) was negotiated during the UN Conference on Trade and Employment and was the outcome of the failure of negotiating governments to create the International Trade Organisation (ITO). GATT was formed in 1947 and lasted until 1993, when it was replaced by the World Trade Organisation in 1995. The original GATT text (GATT 1947) is still in effect under the WTO framework, subject to the modifications of GATT 1994
GaugeA standard measure for sheet steel thickness or wire diameter
Gauge R&RA quality technique that analyses variations in test results as a possible result of the gauge or measurement device used, or operator interpretation or use.
GaylordA gaylord, bulk bin, or corrugated pallet box is a pallet size box usually made of double or triple wall corrugated fibreboard These are used for bulk packaging
GBLGovernment Bill of Lading.
GCBSGeneral Council of British Shipping
GCRGeneral Cargo Rate. The basic tariff category which was introduced to cover most air cargo now covers only a minority, the remainder being under SCR or class rates
GDPOne of the measures of national income and output for a given country’s economy. It is the total value of all final goods and services produced in a particular economy; the dollar value of all goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a given year.
Gear motorA commonly used term that designates a hoist that derives its lifting and lowering power from a mechanical setup involving a gear set and pneumatic or electric motor
Gear ratioNumber, usually expressed as a decimal fraction, representing how many turns of the input shaft cause exactly one revolution of the output shaft. Applies to transmissions, power take-offs, power dividers and rear axles. Example: If 2.5 revolutions of an input shaft cause one revolution of the output.
GeneralConcerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category
General agreement on tariffs and tradeSee GATT
General averageWhen damage to cargo on board a vessel exceeds carrier’s insurance, carrier will release cargo only with an acceptance agreement to claim only a general percentage of all the damage sustained.
General cargoCargo which is susceptible for loading in general, non-specialised stowage areas; e.g., boxes, barrels, bales, crates, packages, bundles, and pallets.
General commodities carrierA common motor carrier that has operating authority to transport general commodities, or all commodities not listed as special commodities.
General export licenseAny of various export licenses covering commodities for which validated export licenses are not required. No formal application or written authorisation is needed to ship exports under a general export license.
General ledgerThe set of financial accounts used to accumulate the results of transaction processing, create budgets, generate financial statements and provide source financial data for reporting purposes.
General licenseA license which grants permission to export non-strategic goods to specified countries, without having to obtain a validated license.
General license limited valueAuthorisation to export a limited value amount of goods without specific documentary authorisation.
General merchandiseMerchandise not considered a part of the regular grocery line, such as books, housewares, records, and clothing. This excludes soap, paper towels, light bulbs, shoe polish, and other products known as nonfoods.
General merchandise warehouseA warehouse that is used to store goods that are readily handled, are packaged, and do not require a controlled environment.
General orderA customs term referring to a warehouse where merchandise not entered within five working days after the carrier’s arrival is stored at the risk and expense of the importer.
General purpose palletA pallet that is designed and constructed for general use and is returnable. This pallet is generally double-decked in its construction
General suppliesOrdnance general supplies include all ordnance supplies, with the exception of ammunition, required for the maintenance of an organisation. Quartermaster general supplies include quartermaster materials and equipment required for housing, feeding, and maintaining a command, but excluding fixed installations in buildings, subsistence, fuel, clothing, and individual equipment. Transportation general supplies include shelf items and items not ordinarily subject to special controls.
General supportThat support which is given to the supported force as a whole and not to any particular subdivision thereof. See also close support; direct support; mutual support; support.
GenericRelating to or descriptive of an entire group or class; general.
Generalised system of preferencesA widely known preferential trade agreement that provides free or reduced rates of duty to beneficiary developing countries in an effort to assist their economic growth.
Generally accepted accounting principlesGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a term used to refer to the standard framework of guidelines for financial accounting used in any given jurisdiction which are generally known as Accounting Standards. GAAP includes the standards, conventions, and rules accountants follow in recording and summarising transactions, and in the preparation of financial statements.
Gen-setMotor generator set as power source for e.g. thermal containers
GENSTStandard Goods Nomenclature for Transport Statistics, merged in 1988 into Combined Nomenclature(CN).
Geo-codingIdentifying narrow locations by the use of three-, four- or five-digit ZIP Codes or other identifiers (depending on country) to allow mapping, planning and execution of deliveries
Geographic factorGeographic factors often have an important influence on the history, economy, and culture of regions and nations.
Germanischer LloydThe Germanischer Lloyd SE (ex-AG) is a classification society based in the city of Hamburg, Germany. As a technical supervisory organisation Germanischer Lloyd conducts safety surveys on more than 7,000 ships with over 79 Mio GT[1]. Its technical and engineering services also include the mitigation of risks and assurance of technical compliance for oil, gas and industrial installations as well as wind energy parks.
GlobalGlobal is a synonym of worldwide and means of, or relating to, or involving the entire world, in the general sense or as the planet Earth.
Global command and control systemAlso called GCCS. See also command and control; command and control system
Global positioning systemThe Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides reliable location and time information in all weather and at all times and anywhere on or near the Earth when and where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. It is maintained by the United States government and is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver.
Global strategyA strategy that focuses on improving worldwide performance through the sales and marketing of common goods and services with minimum product variation by country. Its competitive advantage grows through selecting the best locations for operations in other countries.
Global trade item numberGlobal Trade Item Number (GTIN) is an identifier for trade items developed by GS1 (comprising the former EAN International and Uniform Code Council). Such identifiers are used to look up product information in a database (often by inputting the number through a bar code scanner pointed at an actual product) which may belong to a retailer, manufacturer, collector, researcher, or other entity. The uniqueness and universality of the identifier is useful in establishing which product in one database corresponds to which product in another database, especially across organisational boundaries.
Global transportation networkThe automated support necessary to enable USTRANSCOM and its components to provide global transportation management. The global transportation network provides the integrated transportation data and systems necessary to accomplish global transportation planning, command and control, and in-transit visibility across the range of military operations. Also called GTN. See also command and control; global transportation management; in-transit visibility; United States Transportation Command
GlobalisationThe process of making something worldwide in scope or application
GlocalisationCompound word of Globalisation & Localisation, means a product goes global but is modified to meet the market’s preference.
GMA palletAlso known as a Grocery Pallet, a GMA pallet is made to the specifications of the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association. It is basically a 4-way pallet that is 40 inches wide, by 48 inches deep, by 5 inches in height and has the deck boards and bottom boards mounted flush with the outside stringers (more detailed specs are available from the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association). The ISO also recognises the GMA pallet footprint as one of its six standard sizes. Also see Pallet.
GMDSSThe Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) is an internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment, and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.
GNPGross National Product: GDP plus the net income accruing from foreign sources
GodownThe name given to storehouses and warehouses in India and the Far East.
GOHAbbreviation of Garments On Hangers, versus garment flat pack
Going concern valueThe value that a firm has as an entity, as opposed to the sum of the values of each of its parts taken separately; particularly important in determining a reasonable railroad rate.
GondolaA rail car with a flat platform and sides three to five feet high; used for top loading of items that are long and heavy.
Gondola shelvingA floor mounted shelving system utilising cantilevered shelves extending from one or both sides of a rigid vertical back. This form of shelving is common in retail establishments due to its ease of movement and reconfiguration
Good manufacturing practices“Good manufacturing practice” or “GMP” is part of a quality system covering the manufacture and testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, diagnostics, foods, pharmaceutical products, and medical devices. MPs are guidelines that outline the aspects of production and testing that can impact the quality of a product.
GoodsItems of merchandise, finished products, supplies, or raw materials. Sometimes the term is extended to cover all inventorial items or assets such as cash, supplies, and fixed assets.
Goods control certificateDocument issued by a competent body evidencing the quality of goods described therein, in accordance with national or international standards, or conforming to legislation in the importing country, or as specified in the contract.
Goods flowThe direction and path of the movement of goods and sequence of placement of those goods in a supply chain.
Goods in transitGoods that have departed from the dispatch, loading, or shipping point but have not yet arrived at the receipt, offloading, or delivery point. Also called in transit inventory or stock in transit.
Goods receiptDocument issued by a port, warehouse, shed, or terminal operator acknowledging receipt of goods specified therein on conditions stated or referred to in the document
Goods received noteDocumentation raised by the recipient of materials or products
GooseneckGooseneck shaped front end of a trailer or chassis. Recess front bottom of a container to reduce the total height of the chassis plus container
GopherA search tool that presents information in a hierarchical menu system somewhat like a table of contents.
Government impelledCargo owned by or subsidised by the US Federal Government
Government bill of ladingA limited liability contract document-covering transportation of property from one place to another. It is a receipt to identify the consignee.
Government furnished materielMateriel in the possession of or acquired by the Government and later delivered or otherwise made available to a contractor. GFM is property that may be incorporated into or attached to a deliverable end item or that may be consumed or expended in performing a contract. GFM includes assemblies, components, parts, raw and processed materials, and small tools and supplies that may be consumed in normal use in performing a contract.
Grab a block palletA pallet used in distribution operations wherein the centre stringer or block is grabbed by a centre clamp to steady the pallet enabling goods to be stacked on it at an elevated height. These types of pallets may be made of wood or plastic
GradeSteepness of a grade, expressed as a percentage. Example: A vehicle climbing a 5% grade rises 5 feet for every 100 feet of forward travel
Grade abilityVehicle’s ability to climb a grade at a given speed. Example: A truck with a grade ability of 5% at 60 mph can maintain 60 mph on a grade with a rise of 5%.
Gravity conveyorTypes of conveyor that uses gravity to move materials. Skate wheel conveyor and roller conveyor are the most common types of gravity conveyor used, however, even a simple steel chute is essentially a gravity conveyor
Gravity roller conveyorA conveyor which supports the load on a series of rollers with internal ball bearing rings mounted on axles at fixed intervals in a frame. Roller conveyors come in straight sections, curved sections and in various spur and merge sections.
Gravity wheel conveyorIdeal for light duty handling requirements where the load is flat and smooth, gravity wheel conveyors support the load on a series of skate wheels mounted on a shaft in a frame. The conveyor sections can be either rigid (straight or curved) or flexible. In the latter case, the frame is actually an accordion frame capable of being expanded or curved, making it ideal for temporary applications such as the loading and unloading of over-the-road trucks.
Green beltA green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas.
Green labellingEnvironmentally friendly labels (eco-labels) on products which have passed certain specified tests.
Grid numberAn indication of the position of a container in a bay plan by means of a combination of page number, column and line. The page number often represents the bay number
GrossIn economics, gross means before deductions. The antonym is net, meaning after deductions.
Gross axle weight ratingMaximum weight an axle is rated to carry by the manufacturer. Includes both the weight of the axle and the portion of a vehicle’s weight carried by the axle
Gross combination weightTotal weight of a loaded combination vehicle, such as a tractor-semi trailer or truck and full trailer(s).
Gross freightFreight money collected or to be collected without calculating the expenses relating to the running cost of the ship for the voyage undertaken.
Gross inventoryValue of inventory at standard cost before any reserves for excess and obsolete items are taken.
Gross labouratory horsepowerTested horsepower of a “bare” engine without fan, water pump, alternator, exhaust system or any other accessories
Gross marginThe difference between total revenue and the cost of goods sold. Synonym: gross profit margin.
Gross margin return on inventory investment (GMROII)Ratio measuring inventory profitability as it relates to the gross profit margin earn on sales
Gross national productA measure of a nation’s output; the total value of all final goods and services produced during a period of time.
Gross registered tonsA common measurement of the internal volume of a ship with certain spaces excluded. One ton equals 100 cubic feet; the total of all the enclosed spaces within a ship expressed in tons each of which is equivalent to 100 cubic feet.
Gross requirementDemand for an item before netting against on-hand inventory and scheduled receipts.
Gross tonnageThe total carrying capacity of a vessel in units of 100 cubic feet
Gross weightThe total weight of the vehicle and the payload of freight or passengers. Weight of a vehicle, fully equipped and serviced for operation, including the weight of the fuel, lubricants, coolant, vehicle tools and spares, crew, personal equipment, and load. Weight of a container or pallet including freight and binding. See also net weight.
GroundingDeliberate contact by a ship with the bottom while she is moored or anchored as a result of the water level dropping
Group codeA field or code that classifies an item, vendor, customer or other entity as part of a group that has common characteristics. Many reports, files and processing functions provide for the use of group codes instead of requiring individual entries
Group technologyThe classification of items based on similar production processes and resources required. Used in facility design evaluation and in some scheduling systems
GroupageA container with cargoes from/for different shippers/receivers, i.e. containing more than one shipper’s cargo. Otherwise known as LCL (Less than a container load)
Groupage Agent, groupeurOne who consolidates LCL consignments to offer to a carrier as an FCL
Groupage centreA location where groupage takes place (road cargo)
GroupwareSoftware and systems that allow a distributed group of people to work on common activities, and include functions such as group calendars, real- time network meetings, common database access and others.
GRTGross Registered Tonnage
GTINSee Global Trade Item Number
GTMGlobal Trade Management.
GuarantorA surety or guarantee, in finance, is a promise by one party (the guarantor) to assume responsibility for the debt obligation of a borrower if that borrower defaults. The person or company that provides this promise, is also known as a surety or guarantor.
Guidance systemsGuidance systems are used to guide automated guided vehicles through plants, guide lift trucks in very-narrow-aisle storage areas. Wire-guided and Rail-guided tend to be the most common guidance systems, but others including laser, optical systems, and magnetic tape are also available. See also Wire-guided, Rail-guided, Laser-guided, Optical-guided.
Guaranteed pickup and delivery serviceAn additional level of service whereby dates of service are guaranteed, with the mover providing reimbursement for delays.
GuarantyA contract to see performed what another has undertaken
GussetAn element added for additional stiffness

Sales forecasting
and inventory optimization

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