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- Make to Order (MTO)A production approach where manufacturing starts only after a confirmed customer order, so finished goods are not stocked. The order triggers entry, scheduling, and procurement based on the bill of materials and routings. The model allows item configuration at order placement and focuses planning on capacity and raw materials, with customer lead time including manufacturing and assembly.
- Make To StockA production and inventory approach in which items are manufactured in advance and held as finished goods based on demand forecasts. Customer orders are filled from existing stock rather than triggering new production. Planning focuses on forecast driven schedules, safety stock levels, reorder points, and target service levels. Common measures include fill rate, backorder rate, and inventory turnover.
- ManifestA transport document that itemizes the cargo on a vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or container. It lists shipment identifiers, consignor and consignee, origin and destination, package counts, descriptions, weights, dimensions, and any hazardous or special handling notes. Carriers, terminals, and customs use it to verify loads, allocate space, reconcile handoffs, and satisfy reporting requirements.
- Marine InsuranceInsurance that covers cargo, vessels, and related interests against physical loss or damage during ocean transit, and any connecting storage or inland transport stated in the policy. Cover can include salvage charges, general average contributions, and specified third party liabilities. Policies are commonly voyage, time, or open, with terms set by named perils or all risk clauses such as the Institute Cargo Clauses. Evidence of cover is a policy or certificate of insurance.
- Marine TerminalA port facility where ships berth and cargo is handled. It includes cranes, berths, container or bulk yards, warehouses, gates, and often rail connections. The terminal receives, stores, and stages freight, loads and discharges vessels, and transfers cargo to or from trucks and trains. Operations are run by a terminal operator and follow port tariffs, security rules, and customs controls.
- Marking LabelingThe information printed, affixed, or stamped on packaging and shipping units to identify goods and direct handling. It covers shipper and consignee details, reference numbers, item identifiers such as SKU or GTIN, quantities, weights, dimensions, and routing or handling instructions. Regulatory marks may be required, including country of origin, compliance symbols, hazmat labels, and pallet or carton barcodes such as SSCC. Accurate marking and labeling support carrier acceptance, customs processing, traceability, and inventory control.
- Material Handling Equipment (MHE)The machines, devices, and storage systems used to move, store, stage, and control materials within warehouses, plants, and distribution centers from receiving through shipping. Typical MHE includes lift trucks, pallet jacks, conveyors, sorters, cranes, hoists, racks and shelving, bins and totes, and autonomous mobile or guided vehicles. It covers tasks such as putaway, order picking, packing, and loading and can be manual, powered, or automated.
- MerchantThe seller of record that owns the goods offered for sale and is responsible for pricing, product information, customer billing, and applicable tax collection. In e commerce and marketplace settings, the merchant may fulfill orders directly or through third parties and manages the buyer relationship, including returns and customer service. In ocean and air shipping documents, merchant can also mean any party bound by the contract of carriage such as the shipper, consignee, or holder of the bill of lading.
- Micro Fulfillment Center (MFC)A compact warehouse located in or near population centers that processes online orders for a local area. It handles receiving, storage, picking, packing, and staging, often using high density storage and goods to person or robotic systems. It operates with a smaller footprint and shorter pick paths than a regional distribution center.
- Middle Mile LogisticsThe transport and handling stage that moves goods from ports, plants, or primary distribution centers to regional or local fulfillment nodes before last mile delivery. It covers planning and execution of line haul moves, cross docking, intermodal transfers, and shuttles to position inventory between network facilities. It sits between first mile sourcing and last mile delivery.
- Milk RunA planned loop route in which one vehicle makes sequential pickups or deliveries at multiple locations on a set sequence and schedule. It consolidates small loads into one trip and is used for inbound supplier collections or timed part replenishment within a facility.
- Milk Run LogisticsA transportation method in which one vehicle follows a fixed loop of pickups or deliveries across multiple stops on a set route and timetable. It consolidates small loads into a single trip and is used for inbound supplier collections to a plant or distribution center and for recurring parts replenishment within facilities.
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)The smallest purchase amount a supplier will accept for a specific item or order. It may be set by units, weight, or total value and can vary by SKU, production run, or vendor. MOQ establishes the threshold buyers must meet when placing purchase orders and affects pricing, lead time, and inventory commitments.
- Mis-Shipment A mis-shipment (or mis-ship) occurs when an order is delivered incorrectly, such as sending the wrong item, the wrong quantity, using the wrong shipping service, shipping to the wrong address, or delivering after the promised date. While common in fulfillment operations, mis-shipments can significantly increase costs through additional picking and packing, shipping and return fees, customer service time, replacement orders, and lost customer trust. Businesses can reduce mis-shipments by maintaining accurate inventory, using barcode scanning and warehouse management systems, implementing quality control checks, and establishing efficient returns processes.
- MispickAn order fulfillment error where the wrong SKU, variant, lot, location, or quantity is picked compared to the pick instruction. Mispicks lead to shipment inaccuracies and inventory record discrepancies. Many operations track a mispick rate calculated as mispicked order lines divided by total order lines picked.
- Multi Channel DistributionThe practice of selling and fulfilling products through multiple channels such as a brand website, online marketplaces, retail stores, and wholesale partners. It involves synchronizing listings, pricing, inventory allocation, order routing, and returns management across channels, with performance tracked by channel using measures like sales mix, fill rate, and stock availability.
- Multi Modal TransportMovement of goods using two or more transport modes under a single contract managed by one multimodal transport operator. A single through document covers the entire route, while cargo transfers between modes such as ocean, rail, and truck at terminals without being unpacked.
- Multi Node FulfillmentAn order fulfillment model that stores inventory across multiple facilities and ships from the node that fits each order’s requirements. Assignment typically reflects stock availability, proximity to the delivery address, carrier options, service commitments, and handling needs, with replenishment and returns coordinated across the network.
- Multi Stop TruckloadA full truckload shipment that includes multiple pickup locations, delivery locations, or both on one continuous trip. Stops are sequenced on the bill of lading or load tender, and pricing commonly combines a base line haul with per stop charges. Additional stops introduce appointment windows, dwell time, and routing constraints that can affect total transit time.
- Multi Tier InventoryStock positioned and managed across multiple levels of a supply network such as suppliers, plants, central warehouses, regional distribution centers, and retail or fulfillment locations. Planning considers dependencies between tiers including lead times, demand variability, service targets, and order quantities so buffers work together. It sets where inventory sits, how much is held as safety stock at each level, and how replenishment flows between tiers.
- Multi WarehousingOperating multiple warehouses as one network with shared inventory and order rules. Stock is distributed across locations, recorded in a common system, and moved through interfacility transfers when needed. Orders are assigned to a warehouse using defined criteria such as item availability, proximity to destination, carrier options, and capacity. Policies cover replenishment between sites, returns handling, and performance tracking by facility.