Glossary
Purpose
This glossary consolidates the key terms, abbreviations, message types, and system terms from the public legacy Automotive documentation and from the real working pages in the code. It helps you read and implement automotive processes, EDI messages, loading-unit logic, and partner roles with consistent terminology.
Business value
- Standardizes language across sales, purchasing, logistics, EDI, and key users.
- Makes coordination easier with customers, vendors, shippers, and external service providers.
- Reduces misunderstandings around call-offs, progress counters, credit memos, and shipping documents.
- Also explains the field names and page names that users actually see in the system and mention in training or support questions.
Core terms and abbreviations
| Term | Description | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| BE-Automotive | Earlier or alternative name for the same solution that is documented here as Automotive. | Legacy documents, project communication |
| AMES-T | Standardized logistics process of the Volkswagen Group; today succeeded by TSB. | OEM processes, VW context |
| DESADV | Despatch advice message in EDIFACT. | Shipping notification, dispatch |
| DELFOR | Delivery forecast in EDIFACT. | Call-offs, quantity planning |
| DELINS | Delivery call-off in the Odette standard. | Call-offs, automotive purchasing or sales |
| DELJIT | Delivery just-in-time message in EDIFACT. | Fine planning, just-in-time processes |
| DFU | Remote data transmission. | Message exchange, interfaces |
| D-U-N-S no. | Unique company identification number. | Partner data, EDI |
| EDI | Electronic data interchange. | Interfaces, converters |
| EDIFACT | Standard family for structured business and logistics messages. | Message formats |
| EDL | External service provider that receives, manages, and partially forwards goods on behalf of another party. | Consignment, external warehouse logic |
| EFZ | Goods-receipt progress counter used by the recipient to reconcile received quantities. | Delivery reconciliation |
| ERP | Enterprise resource planning. | System context |
| FAB | Fine-schedule call-off. | Automotive planning |
| FF | Production release. | Manufacturing, control |
| GSA | Credit-note advice where the customer triggers payment based on goods receipts. | Settlement, credit-note process |
| INVOIC | Invoice message in EDIFACT. | Invoicing |
| INVRPT | Inventory report in EDIFACT. | Stock reporting |
| KANBAN | Pull-based supply and production control method. | Synchronized replenishment |
| KONSI | Consignment; in business use, closely linked to EDL scenarios. | External warehouse processes |
| LAB | Delivery call-off. | Call-offs, operational control |
| LFZ | Supplier delivery progress counter as the cumulative quantity delivered. | Call-off and delivery reconciliation |
| LT | Loading unit. | Packaging means, empty returns, logistics |
| LUM | Loading Unit Management or loading-unit/package management. | Packaging and logistics processes |
| MF | Material release. | Purchasing, production |
| ODETTE | European data-exchange standard in the automotive industry. | Message formats |
| ORDCHG | Purchase order change message in EDIFACT. | Purchasing |
| ORDERS | Purchase order message in EDIFACT. | Purchasing |
| ORDRSP | Purchase order response message in EDIFACT. | Purchasing, supplier communication |
| PAB | Production-synchronous call-off. | Just-in-sequence and production control |
| PKM | Pearl-chain monitor, especially used in Audi sequence scenarios. | Sequence control |
| PUS | Pick-up sheet. | Shipping and collection processes |
| RECADV | Receipt advice message in EDIFACT. | Purchasing, goods receipt |
| REMADV | Remittance advice message in EDIFACT. | Payment processing |
| REQOTE | Request for quotation message in EDIFACT. | Inquiry processes |
| SCAC code | Globally used identification code for carriers. | Shippers, transport |
| SLB | Shipment load reference number. | Shipping and transport tracking |
| Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 | Classification of supplier position in the supply chain. | Automotive value chain |
| TSB | Transport and shipment document; successor to the AMES-T process in the VW context. | VW logistics |
| VDA | German Association of the Automotive Industry. | Standards, messages, codes |
| XML | Markup language for structured data-exchange formats. | Import, export, integrations |
Important system terms in Automotive
| Term | Description | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Sales Order | Extended sales order for automotive processing with call-off, reference, plant, and shipping logic. | Sales, delivery call-offs, JIT/JIS |
| Automotive Purchase Order | Extended purchase order for supplier call-offs, framework quantities, delivery intervals, and inbound reference handling. | Purchasing, delivery call-offs, goods receipt |
| Call Off Mode | Control field in the sales process that determines how call-off data is interpreted and processed from a business perspective. | Automotive Sales Order, call-off processing |
| Plausibility Check | Validation function used before further processing to identify incomplete or unusual order data. | Sales order, release preparation |
| Method Release DCO | Release logic for detailed call-offs; influences how existing detailed call-offs are retained, replaced, or updated. | Detailed call-offs, sales call-offs |
| Shipment Sequence | Sequence-related reference used in shipping and call-off processing, especially in sequence-driven scenarios. | Sales, purchasing, JIS, shipping |
| Delivery EDI | Indicator that transport or shipping data is forwarded electronically as part of a delivery-EDI process. | Sales Transport Data, shipment, EDI |
| Incoming Delivery EDI | Inbound delivery-EDI message that can be linked to orders, receipts, warehouse processing, or event messages. | EDI import, goods receipt, event messages |
| Sales Transport Data | Working page for carrier, vehicle, target arrival, weights, Delivery EDI, and transport advice. | Shipment, transport, EDI |
| LE Account Keeper | Account-holding or responsible party for loading-unit or empties accounts. | Loading units, empties, account keeping |
| LE Account | Account or reporting view for balances and movements of loading units. | Loading units, reconciliation, history |
| Critical Stock Quantity | Critical inventory value below which the purchasing or call-off situation requires special attention. | Purchasing, detailed call-offs, planning |
| Key of Critical Stock | Indicator or rule that defines how critical stock is evaluated in the call-off context. | Purch. Det. Call Off, planning |
| Quality Assurance Activity | Operational quality-assurance activity inside Logistics Supply Chain. | LSC, quality assurance, material flow |
| Production Backflush | Feedback and material-consumption logic in LSC-related production processing. | LSC, production, material consumption |
| Event Messages List | Work list for open or completed event messages, with a default focus on still-unhandled cases. | Workflow, monitoring, daily work |
Practical term distinctions
Types of call-offs
Delivery call-offs, fine-schedule call-offs, and production-synchronous call-offs follow different planning horizons and control goals. In day-to-day operations, it is important to treat them differently in planning, date control, and prioritization, even if they sound similar.
Progress counters
LFZ and EFZ serve the same reconciliation purpose but from different perspectives. LFZ describes the cumulative quantity delivered from the supplier viewpoint. EFZ describes the received quantity from the customer or goods-recipient viewpoint.
EDL and consignment
In projects, EDL and consignment are often mentioned together. From a business perspective, EDL describes the external service provider. Consignment describes the related warehouse and ownership logic.
Delivery EDI and Incoming Delivery EDI
These terms sound similar but describe different directions. Delivery EDI is usually the flag or shipping-related context on your own process side, for example in transport data. Incoming Delivery EDI is an inbound message that is imported, checked, processed, and linked with documents.
LE Account Keeper and LE Account
LE Account Keeper describes the responsible counterparty or the account-keeping relationship. LE Account is the view of balances, movements, or periods. In daily work, both are often mixed up even though they serve different purposes.
Call Off Mode, Shipment Sequence, and Method Release DCO
These three terms work together in call-off processing but do not mean the same thing. Call Off Mode describes the business call-off logic. Shipment Sequence describes the sequence-related reference. Method Release DCO controls how detailed call-offs are handled during release.
Result
- You can place the most important automotive and EDI terms with confidence.
- You now also understand the most important field names and page names that appear directly in Automotive.
- You can identify more quickly which message types and abbreviations are meant in process descriptions.
- You establish one shared business language for the further migration of sales, purchasing, logistics, and EDI content.
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