wage rate- The actual or standard pay rate for a labor hour.
Wagner- Whitin algorithm- A dynamic programming lot sizing model that evaluates multiple alternatives that consider period demand and production, holding, and setup costs to produce an optimal lot size that varies for each period as required.
wait time- syn: idle time
wall-to-wall inventory- A physical inventory of all items within a given warehouse or facility.
wand- A handheld movable device passed over an item to read its bar code.
warehouse management system (WMS)- An integrated set of system functions designed to manage the locating, putaway, movement, picking and cycle count/inventory verification activities of a warehouse or distribution center. It normally receives purchase, sales and interplant order data from a base ERP system that serve as the authorization to initiate activities. Warehouse locations are described in terms of their weight and volume capacities to enable proper direction when moving or stocking material. Inventory and order status data, collected in real time often through the use of data collection devices, is normally uploaded to the base ERP system on a batch basis.
warehouse zone- A physically or logically segregated area within a warehouse defined by the type of material it contains (bulk or rack storage, hazardous material, etc.) or the division of equipment and personnel used to putaway, move and pick.
warranty return- An item returned by a customer for credit or repair under the terms specified at time of sale. Warranty tracking requires the use of individual order and/or serial numbers to properly recreate the conditions that existed when the item was originally shipped.
waste- Any activity or process that does not add value to the goods or services required by the customer. Examples of waste include move time, counting inventory, inspection, the production of defective material, rework, etc. Waste is considered to cause increased cost, lead time and quality problems while not adding value, and may be created by vendors, personnel, equipment, incorrect process parameters and many other factors.
wave picking- A warehouse order picking scheme in which all zones are picked at the same time as required to fill multiple item requirements for a given order or destination.
wedge reader- A data collection device where a magnetic card is swiped, or pulled, through a slot in the middle.
weighted moving average- A moving average that assigns different weights to values or periods within the total population, as opposed to an equal weighting as with a simple moving average. More weight is often given to the most recent period or periods.
what-if analysis- The simulation of the outcome of various scenarios and alternatives when changes to the inputs and parameters is done.
where-used- A list of the all upper-level items that use a given component or material on their bill of material. Often used in tracing requirements and evaluating the impact of standards changes and material substitutions.
Winters 3 parameter- A forecast method that incorporates exponential smoothing, seasonality and trend analysis.
workaround- A response that solves a project or system issue by the use of alternate methods or a change in procedures in place of a program modification.
work breakdown structure- A hierarchical definition of the tasks and activities of a project that normally begins with the highest-level activities and works downward into the individual tasks and components.
work center- A physical or logical production area used as a unit for scheduling and routing operations. It is usually defined as being either labor or machine constrained, and while it may contain multiple machines or personnel they are considered identical in terms of the capability to process products assigned to that center. A work center may perform multiple operations, but capacity requirements are usually tracked only at the total work center level. Work center definitions can be flexible based on the process and reporting capabilities and requirements of the organization.
work center where-used- A list of all products routed through a given work center. Useful in evaluating the impact of rate, cost or process changes.
workflow- The path and systems used in the linked flow of activities with a specific start and finish that describe a process. The flow defines where inputs are initiated, the location of decision points and the alternatives in output paths, and is used in systems that perform automatic routing.
workgroup- Personnel that collaborate on a specific project or function, make use of a common database, schedule and method of communication, and update tasks and activities specifically related to that project or function.
working capital- Current assets minus current liabilities. The portion of current assets available for other uses after satisfying current obligations.
work in process (WIP)- Material that has been partially processed but not yet transformed into its final state and not normally usable as is. The status of WIP material is usually described by its current routing operation location.
work instructions: syn: manufacturing instructions.