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====== Supply Chain Terminology ======

===== Load Shifting =====

Load Shifting is a technique in which product supply is shifted from default source locations to alternative source locations within the network

===== Windmilling =====

Windmilling an Air Separation Unit (ASU) involves operating the unit at a significantly reduced capacity, typically during periods of low demand, to keep the equipment ready for full production while minimizing energy consumption. In this state, the plant's core machinery, such as compressors and turbines, are run at minimal or idle power to maintain the cryogenic temperatures required for air separation, without producing large quantities of oxygen, nitrogen, or argon.

Technically, this process keeps the refrigeration cycle and cryogenic distillation columns operational, ensuring that the cold box remains at optimal temperatures, preventing the need for a full warm-up and cool-down cycle. The main air compressor (MAC) may be run at a low flow rate, just enough to maintain pressure within the system. The expansion turbines may also operate in a low-load state to keep the refrigeration cycle active, but without significant air liquefaction or distillation.

The benefit of windmilling is maintaining the thermal and operational stability of the ASU, reducing stress on the equipment from frequent shutdowns and restarts. However, careful control of power usage and flow rates is required to ensure the system doesn’t drift outside operational limits, risking inefficiency or equipment damage.
===== Down/Outage =====
==== APSAs / Onsites ====
If an APSA / Onsite is "down" then product needs to be shipped into the location from outside sources
==== Customers ====
If a customer is "down" then product demand ceases at the customer level
==== ASU's ====
If an ASU is "down" then production of product stops and in many instances external product will need to be backhauled in to supply the network

====Source====
A source is a adjective that describes the role the ASU plays within the supply chain. A source is an ASU or Onsite that produces liquid supply to fill the demand of a given DP or Distribution Point.

==== Outage ====
 – Occurs when a plant or APSA shutdown causes hourly usage rate to increase. Product must be supplied to the tanks that backup the APSA.

===== Budget =====

A budget represents Airgas's plan expressed monetarily or volumetrically, addressing the allocation of resources such as people, assets, product and expenses

===== ASU =====

An ASU, or Air Separation Unit, is a large-scale industrial facility used to separate atmospheric air into its primary components: nitrogen, oxygen, and sometimes argon. The process of air separation typically involves cryogenic distillation, where air is cooled and compressed before being fed into a distillation column. Within the distillation column, the different components of air condense at different temperatures, allowing for their separation.

===== Load =====

A "load" is a term used to describe the amount of product being delivered in bulk. Generally, for budgetary purposes the conversions are as follows

=== Nitrogen ===
600000 SCF / 6500 Gallons

=== Oxygen ===
535000 SCF / 4650 Gallons

=== Argon ===
400000 SCF / 3476 Gallons

===== AHD (After Hours Desk) =====

– A team of support personnel, which works various shifts to monitor customer tank levels, customer service alarms, field service calls and disburse pertinent information to the responsible parties on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis.

===== ALTO =====
 – Air Liquide Transportation Optimization. The program NLC uses to create schedules.

===== APSA =====
 (Advanced Product Supply Approach) – The APSA plant is the latest system of the FLOXAL product line.  APSAs produce high purity gaseous Nitrogen using Cryogenic distillation.  The typical tank sizes for APSAs are 9,000 to 13,000 gallon tanks.

===== AMG =====

– Airgas Merchant Gases.

===== ARG/City =====
 – Are a cylinder plant followed by the specific city they are located, e.g. ARG/Detroit, ARG/Atlanta.

===== ASU =====
 (Air Separation Unit) – Onsite plant that makes Cryogenic gases/liquids. 
===== BOSS =====
 - Business Optimization Solution Software, software used to run budgeting, forecasting and cost analysis.

===== Balance Point =====
 – Term used when a driver has product left over after delivering all stops on the schedule. These are critical to ensure empty trucks returning to depots.

===== BAM =====
 – Bulk Asset Monitoring, a Telemetry provider that is owned and run by Airgas.

===== Bobtail =====
 – A tractor traveling without a trailer.

===== Bump =====
 – Term used when a driver delivers a full trailer and equalizes with the used trailer so the psi (pounds per square inch) level in the used tank increases. The result is both trailer and tank will have roughly the same level psi.

===== CIO =====
- Call in only – a customer who calls and places an order and we have 48 hours to deliver.

===== COA =====
 – Testing that is required for customers to ensure products meet their certain specifications.
Cost per Ton – Total cost of delivery divided by total tons delivered.

===== CO2 =====
 – Carbon Dioxide – Full trailer capacity is 43,000 lbs. (21.5 tons).
Cryogenic – The production of materials at VERY LOW temperatures.

===== CSCOA =====
 – Customer Specific Certificate of Analysis – specific product analysis that must be met before this load can be released from the plant.

===== CTI =====
 – Cryogenic Transport LLC (Contract Carrier).

===== CSWI =====
 – Customer Specific Work Instruction – Instructions created for High Profile customers, this outlines everything that’s needed to be done in order to make a successful delivery.

===== Datel =====
 – Provides the customer (and NSC) with real-time historical Nitrogen supply information.

===== DD250 =====
 - Government Material Inspection and Receiving Report – with specific instructions that must be followed in 
order to make delivery.

===== Dead Head =====
 – Traveling with an empty trailer.

===== DOL =====
 – Data On Line is a private telemetry company used by Airgas.

===== DP =====
 – Distribution Point – Customer’s identification number in OIR.

===== Driver Manifest =====
 – Document that contains all necessary Regulatory information and delivery instructions for the driver.  Note: ALTO delivery comments feed into the Driver Manifest. Accurate and timely information is critical to ensure the right amount of product gets delivered to the correct customer and location.

===== Fill ratios =====
 – The percentage of the tank that is delivered based on the beginning and ending level of a delivery.  If the tank was 25% full and it was filled to 100% then the fill ratio is 75%.

===== FLOXAL =====
 – A comprehensive program of on-site Compressed Gas service designed around standardized generation systems tailored specifically to meet the customer’s requirements.

===== GH2 =====
 – Gaseous Hydrogen – Loaded into tube trailers or tube banks and are hooked up to a line that feeds the customer the gas. Typically takes 6 to 8 hours to load a trailer.

===== GHE =====
 – Gaseous Helium – Loaded into tube trailers or tube banks and are hooked up to a line that feeds the customer the gas. Typically takes 6 to 8 hours to load a trailer.

===== LAR =====
 – Liquid Argon – The by-product of the production of Oxygen and Nitrogen.

===== LH2 =====
 – Liquid Hydrogen – Loaded into bulk trailers. Delivered into a Liquid tank where liquid is passed through a 
coil and is vaporized into gas and then into the customer’s line.

===== LHE =====
 – Liquid Helium – Loaded into liquid cryogenic tanks.

===== LIN =====
 – Liquid Nitrogen – Loaded into bulk trailers.

===== LOX =====
 – Liquid Oxygen – Loaded into bulk trailers.

===== LOC =====
 – Logistics Operation Center at Airgas Merchant Gases.

===== Miles per ton =====
 – Amount of miles driven divided by tons delivered.

===== NSC =====
 – National Scheduling Center – Located in Houston, TX.

===== OIR =====
 - Ortec Inventory Routing – the logistics program Airgas formerly used to forecast & plan trips.

===== OOS =====
 – Out of Service – Equipment that is unavailable due to maintenance or repair issues.

===== OSS =====
 – On site supply, customer who produces their own product on site.

===== Outage =====
 – Occurs when a plant or APSA shutdown causes hourly usage rate to increase. Product must be supplied to the tanks that backup the APSA.

===== PMI =====
 – Preventative Maintenance Inspection.  Performing checks on equipment to make sure it stays in good working order. PM’s take place on a regular schedule, if equipment is not available due to PM’s the Analyst need to take that into account when creating the schedules.

===== PSI =====
 – Pounds per square inch. 
PeopleNet – The on-board computer that is on all of our tractors.

===== Safety Level =====
 – Level is considered very low and should be on a schedule for delivery.

===== SCADA =====
 – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition – A program tool for viewing and managing inventory.

===== SCF =====
 – Standard Cubic Feet.

Service Interruption – Anytime that a customer alters their production process due to lack of or perceived lack of product. NOTE: Service Interruptions can lead to loss of life, millions of dollars of fines or customers to shut down. They should be avoided at all costs.

===== SmartSolve =====
 – A system where training, policies, procedures and forms are located.

===== Spot Job =====
 – A special delivery made to a customer that has no long-term contract for regular deliveries.

===== Swap =====
 – Drop of a full tube trailer GHE/GH2 at customer site and pick up of an empty trailer.

===== Rapid Pass =====
 - It is designed to enhance security at Commercial and Government facilities and installations, and to provide a means of more quickly and securely accessing the facilities and installations for vendors, suppliers and service providers who conduct official business there.

===== R & R =====
 – Roll & rest driver, a driver that that leaves the terminal and stays out for a given period of time.

===== TELEFLO =====
 – An integral part of a FLOXAL system. Automatically calls liquid distribution or service personnel if there is a problem.  Allows for remote call-in for operational analysis and system optimization.

===== Telemetry =====
 – Device used to monitor tank levels and FLOXAL on sites, also known as Remote Telemetry Unit.

===== TM =====
 – Terminal Manager.

===== TMS =====
 – Talent Management System – The computer system where required training resides.

===== Tons per trip =====
 – The gross amount of product delivered on the trip in tons versus pounds.

===== TPD =====
 – Tons per Day, total tons produced in 24 hours.

===== Transfill =====
 – Field Service Technician will utilize the main tank in order to fill the reserve (mainly performed at hospitals).

===== Trigger Level =====
 – Level is low and should be considered for scheduling in the near future.

===== Trimac =====
 – Trimac Transportation (Contract Carrier).

===== Turnover Notes/Briefing =====
 – Detailed notes completed at the end of each shift that include customers to watch/critical runs, special notes, pushable runs, balance points/dump sites, carrier information, cleared product and low/low alarms.  They are completed daily and shared daily between Logistics Analysts and AHD.

===== VDE =====
 – Vessel Drop Efficiency – Amount delivered v. the trailer capacity.

===== VFR =====
 – Vehicle Fill Ratio – Amount of product delivered v. the trailer capacity.

===== VSA =====
 – Vacuum Swing System – Plants that produce LOX (liquid oxygen) which sometimes require imports to maintain levels consumed over production and during outages.  Typical size back-up tanks for VSA’s are 9,000 and 11,000 gallon tanks.

===== Dumping =====

===== Dump Notice =====

===== Backhaul =====

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