Term

Definition

Allocation

In Cofactr's terms, allocation is the act of assigning, or allocating, inventory for a specific program, kit, or use.

Analyzer

Analyzer is intended for exploring cost, availability, supply, and lead time at the BOM level.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

A Bill of Materials, or BOM, is a comprehensive list of all the components, parts, and materials needed to manufacture an electronic product.

Bin

An ESD container in which stock lots are stored. Cofactr will consolidate and organize to minimize the quantity of Bins needed.

Cart

A 'Cart' in the Cofactr platform is similar to a shopping cart seen on e-commerce sites. However, in Cofactr's case, the 'Cart' refers to the holistic purchase across many suppliers, and often has multiple 'orders' to various suppliers within.

Cofactr ID

A unique identifier for parts used by Cofactr internally. Also known as CPID.

Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS)

Standard components available through distribution (vs. custom or made-to-order).

Custom Part/Made-to-Order

Parts that require special fabrication, tooling, or processes.

Dashboard

Your org's main page, where you can view your different applications all at once.

Date Code

A 'Date Code' on electronic components refers to a series of characters or symbols indicating the manufacturing date or batch information for quality control and traceability purposes.

Distributor

A company that sells electronic components and materials, usually made by multiple manufacturers

Handling Task

A Cofactr performed task of reeling, combining, splicing, splitting, inspecting, etc that is initiated when making a shipment, or when a CM deems it necessary.

Kit

A complete set of parts required for a specific build.

Kitting

The process of gathering, organizing, and verifying all parts needed to start a build.

Lead Time

The time it takes from placing an order to receiving the component.

Lot Code

A 'Lot Code' on electronic components is a unique identifier assigned to a specific batch of production for tracking and quality control purposes.

Manufacturer

A company that produces physical components, subassemblies, or finished electronic products.

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

The smallest quantity a supplier is willing to sell.

MSL

'MSL' stands for 'Moisture Sensitivity Level' and refers to a classification system used in the electronics industry to indicate the level of sensitivity of a component to moisture during storage and handling, helping to prevent damage during soldering processes.

Non-PnP

Components that cannot be placed automatically by a PnP machine due to reasons such as size, unusual packaging, special handling needs, etc.

Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE)

One-time engineering costs related to design, tooling, or setup.

Part Library

The compilation of any parts that have been added to the system via a BOM, program, inventory integration, etc.

Part Search

Search for a single MPN across our large data network.

Pick and Place (PnP) Machine

A machine with an automated system that picks up surface-mount components and places them accurately onto a PCB.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

The board onto which electronic components are assembled.

Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA)

A PCB that has had all components soldered/installed.

Program

A 'Program' in the Cofactr platform can be created to track a specific build or project. Programs allow you to add multiple BOMs, and allocate stock.

Purchase Order (PO)

The official document issued to suppliers to procure materials.

Purchase Rule

A 'Purchase Rule' allows you to create a custom modifier on orders. These Purchase rules can include limiting orders to certain suppliers, adding supplier preference, and even requiring certifications.

Reference Designator

A 'Reference Designator' is a unique alphanumeric code assigned to specific components or locations on a circuit board, aiding in identification and assembly by indicating the component type, location, and function within the circuit design.

RFP/RFQ (Request for Proposal/Quote)

Formal requests to suppliers for price and lead time info.

Shipment

In Cofactr terms, a shipment is a physical package that has been sent from one location to another and contains one or more kits.

Splice

The operation of connecting two different pieces of tape.

Split

The operation of cutting tape to create a piece of cut tape with the desired quantity

Stock Lot

A single package or reel of components. Inventory is composed of stock lots.

Supplier

A company or entity that provides components, materials, or services.

Surface-Mount Technology (SMT)

A method where components are mounted directly onto the surface of a PCB.

Target Price

Target purchase price per piece (what you want to pay).

Target Quantity

Requested quantity of a part.

Through-Hole Technology (THT)

A method where component leads are inserted into holes drilled through the PCB and soldered on the opposite side.