Responsibility Matrix

In project management, this is a tool used to keep track of participation by key roles, stating who is in charge of completing assigned tasks. It can be useful in clarifying roles and responsibilities in cross-functional projects.

Retail distribution

This is the process of getting inventory into retail stores, where it is ultimately sold to end customers.

Retailer

An individual or organization purchases products from a manufacturer or distributor and resells them to the ultimate consumer. This group includes a wide range of businesses, from door-to-door and corner stores to global companies like Walmart, as well as online stores like Amazon.

Return Disposal Costs

The costs associated with disposing or recycling products that have been returned due to end-of-life or obsolescence.

Return Goods Handling

Processes involved with returning goods from the customer to the manufacturer include returning products due to performance problems or simply because the customer doesn't like the product.

Return Material Authorization or Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)

A reference number is produced to recognize and give authority for a faulty product to be returned to a distribution center or manufacturer. This form typically needs to be accompanied by a Warranty/Return, which helps the company identify the original product and the reason for the return. The RMA number often acts as an order for the work required in repair situations or as a reference for credit approval.

Return on Assets (ROA)

Financial measure calculated by dividing profit by assets.

Return on Investment (ROI)

The profit or loss resulting from an investment transaction is usually expressed as an annual percentage return. ROI is a popular metric used to show the value of an investment in new facilities, equipment, or software compared to the cost of the same. Return on Net Assets.

Return on Net Assets

Financial measure calculated by dividing profit by assets net of depreciation.

Return on Sales

Financial measure calculated by dividing profit by sales (also known as operating margin). Provides information on how much profit is being produced per sales dollar. (Fiscal year's pretax income) / (total sales).

Return Product Authorization (RPA)

Also called Return Material or Goods Authorization (RMA or RGA), a form is generally required with a Warranty/Return. This form helps the company identify the original product and the reason for return. The RPA number often acts as an order form for the work required in repair situations or as a reference for credit approval.

Returns Defect Analysis

A combination of flaw detection—so they may be removed from the product or process—and analysis of defects and errors received—to prevent future defects in the product or process.

Returns Inventory Costs

The costs associated with managing inventory are returned for any of the following reasons: repair, refurbish, excess, obsolescence, End-of-Life, ecological conformance, and demonstration. This includes all applicable elements of the Level 2 component Inventory Carrying Cost of Total Supply Chain Management Cost.

Returns Material Acquisition, Finance, Planning and IT Costs

The costs associated with acquiring the defective products and materials for repair or refurbishing items, plus any finance, planning, and information technology costs to support return activity, include all applicable elements of the Level 2 components: material acquisition cost (acquiring materials for repairs), supply chain-related finance and planning costs, and supply chain IT costs of total supply chain management cost.

Returns Order Management Costs

The costs associated with managing Return Product Authorizations (RPA) include all applicable elements of the Level 2 component Order Management Cost of Total Supply Chain Management Cost. Please refer to Order Management Costs.

Returns Processing Cost

The total cost to process repairs, refurbished, excess, obsolete, and end-of-life products includes diagnosing problems and replacing products. It also includes the costs of logistics support, materials, centralized functions, troubleshooting service requests, on-site diagnosis and repair, external repair, and miscellaneous. These costs are broken down into Returns Order Management, Returns Inventory Carrying, Returns Material Acquisition, Finance, Planning, IT, Disposal, and Warranty Costs.

Returns To Scale

A defining characteristic of B2B is that bigger is better. It's what creates the winner-takes-all quality of most B2B hubs. It also places a premium on being first to market and first to achieve critical mass.

Return to Vendor (RTV)

Material that has been rejected by the customer or the buyer's inspection department and is awaiting shipment back to the supplier for repair or replacement.

Reverse Auction

A type of auction where a select group of suppliers bid competitively for an order posted by the buyer (opposite of a regular auction, where buyers are bidding to buy products). The buyer may choose the lowest bid or may split the purchase among several of the suppliers. As bidding continues, the prices decline.

Reverse Engineering

A process whereby competitors' products are disassembled and analyzed for evidence of the use of better processes, components, and technologies.

Reverse logistics

This is the process of managing the logistics of returned items, including receiving and restocking when appropriate.

Reverse Logistics

A specialized segment of logistics focuses on the movement and management of products and resources after the sale and after delivery to the customer. It includes product returns for repair and/or credit.

RF

A form of wireless communication that allows users to relay information via electromagnetic energy waves from a terminal to a base station, which is linked in turn to a host computer. The terminals can be placed at a fixed station, mounted on a forklift truck, or carried in the worker's hand. The base station contains a transmitter and receiver for communication with the terminals. RF systems use either narrow-band or spread-spectrum transmissions. Narrow-band data transmissions move along a single limited radio frequency, while spread-spectrum transmissions move across several different frequencies. When combined with a barcode system for identifying inventory items, a radio-frequency system can relay data instantly, thus updating inventory records in so-called 'real time.

RFI

Request for Information

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification

RFM

Recency, Frequency, Monetary.

RFP

Request for Proposal

RFQ

Request for Quote

RF Remote Data Terminals (RDTs)

An electronic device that is used to enter or retrieve data via radio frequency transmissions.

RFT

Rich Text Format

RGA

Return Goods Authorization. See Return Material Authorization.

Rich Media

An internet advertising term for a web page ad that uses advanced technology, such as streaming video, downloaded applets (programs) that interact instantly with the user, and ads that change when the user's mouse passes over it.

Right of eminent domain

A concept that permits the purchase of land needed for transportation right-of-way in a court of law, used by railroads and pipelines.

Risk Exposure Analysis

The identification, evaluation, and ranking of the priority of risks are followed by synchronized and cost-effective application of resources to lessen, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events.

Risk Management

The identification, evaluation, and ranking of the priority of risks are followed by synchronized and cost-effective application of resources to lessen, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events.

Risk Mitigation

A reduction in the exposure to risk lessens the impact and/or the probability of its occurrence.

RM

Raw Materials

RMA

Return Material Authorization. See Return Product Authorization.

Roll-on-Roll-off (RO-RO)

A type of ship designed to permit cargo to be driven on at origin and off at destination; used extensively for the movement of automobiles.

Root Cause Analysis

A class of problem-solving methods aimed at identifying the root causes of problems or events, the practice of RCA is predicated on the belief that problems are best solved by attempting to correct or eliminate root causes, as opposed to merely addressing the immediately obvious symptoms.

RO-RO

Roll-on-Roll-off (RO-RO): A type of ship designed to permit cargo to be driven on at origin and off at destination; used extensively for the movement of automobiles.

RosettaNet

Consortium of major Information Technology, Electronic Components, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Telecommunications, and Logistics companies working to create and implement industry-wide, open e-business process standards. These standards form a common e-business language, aligning processes between supply chain partners on a global basis. RosettaNet is a subsidiary of the GS1 group.

Routing Accuracy

When specified activities conform to administrative specifications, and specified resource consumptions (both personnel and machinery) are detailed according to administrative specifications and are within 10% of actual requirements.

Routing or Routing Guide

1) The process of determining how a shipment will move between the origin and destination. Routing information includes the designation of carrier(s) involved, the actual route of the carrier, and the estimated time en-route. 2) The right of the shipper to determine carriers, routes, and points for transfer shipments. 3) In manufacturing, this is the document that defines the process steps used to manufacture and/or assemble a product.

RPA

Return Product Authorization

RTF

Rich Text Format

RTV

Return to Vendor.

Rule of Eight

Before the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, contract carriers requesting authority were restricted to eight shippers under contract. The number of shippers has been eliminated as a consideration for granting a contract carrier permit.