capable-to-promise (CTP): The process of committing orders against available capacity as well as inventory. This process may involve multiple manufacturing or distribution sites. Capable-to-promise is used to determine when a new or unscheduled customer order can be delivered. Capable-to-promise employs a finite-scheduling model of the manufacturing system to determine when an item can be delivered. It includes any constraints that might restrict the production, such as availability of resources, lead times for raw materials or purchased parts, and requirements for lower-level components or subassemblies. The resulting delivery date takes into consideration production capacity, the current manufacturing environment, and future order commitments. The objective is to reduce the time spent by production planners in expediting orders and adjusting plans because of inaccurate delivery-date promises.
capacity requirements planning (CRP): The function of establishing, measuring, and adjusting limits or levels of capacity. The term CRP in this context refers to the process of determining in detail the amount of labor and machine resources required to accomplish the tasks of production.
client/server system: A distributed computing system in which work is assigned to the computer best able to perform it from among a network of computers.
client: In information systems, a software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a server program on another computer. Each client program is designed to work with one or more specific kinds of server programs, and each server requires a specific kind of client. A Web browser is one type of client.
computer-assisted software engineering (CASE): The use of computerized tools to assist in the process of designing, developing, and maintaining software products and systems.
computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS): Automated software systems for handling maintenance work orders, as well as associated inventory, purchasing, accounting, and human resources functions. In some industries—particularly process production, in which manufacturers look to optimize use of capital-intensive equipment—maintenance management systems play a leading role as the enterprise system. Maintenance management systems have similar basic functionality, including:
1) use of work orders for preventive and predictive maintenance,
2) equipment recording and tracking,
3) inventory control,
4) scheduling labor and resources, and
5) purchasing.
conference room pilot (CRP)- A key project implementation strategy that tests normal business case scenarios in a proposed new system to uncover people, process and system issues, generate resolutions, and define action steps needed to complete the implementation. The pilot is normally done after initial vendor or in-house education using a test database of representative data.
contact management- Systems that track interaction between a sales force and customers or prospects, supply chain partners, or other relationships. Functions usually include call date tracking, notes files, followup reminders, birthday or anniversary date reminders, and other methods to provide systematic ways to initiate and track interaction over time.
corporate performance management (CPM): An overarching term that describes the methodologies, metrics, processes and systems used to monitor and manage the business performance of an enterprise. Applications that enable CPM translate strategically focused information to operational plans and send aggregated results.
cost of goods sold (COGS): An accounting classification useful for determining the amount of direct materials, direct labor, and allocated overhead associated with the products sold during a given period of time.
customer relationship management (CRM): Software systems that range from simple, off-the-shelf contact management solutions to high-end interactive selling suites that combine sales, marketing, and executive information tools. These include product configuration, quote and proposal management, and marketing encyclopedias. Some systems extend functions to include complex pricing, promotions, commission plans, team selling, and campaign management. Enterprise-level solutions installed at large companies with hundreds or even thousands of users have capabilities for call center and help desks; field service; forecasting; and analysis.