14 Tech Acronyms Buyers Need to Know
ATS: Available To Sell
ATS is the quantity of a specific part or component that is both in stock and available for purchase. This does not reflect the total quantity of product on hand, but instead removes the portion that has already been committed to customers.
AVL: Approved Vendor List
An AVL is a list of all vendors or suppliers that have been approved by a company as sources from which to purchase parts and materials. Vendors on this list have usually been vetted and meet the company’s requirements based on a variety of standards, including consistency of performance and capacity to fill orders quickly.
COB: Chip on Board
COB refers to a chip that is mounted directly onto a printed circuit board (PCB). Here, a bare chip is mounted directly onto the board, and once wires are attached, epoxy or plastic is used to cover the chip and its connections. The result is a product that is more compact, lighter, and less costly.
CofC: Certificate of Conformity
A CofC is documentation, issued by the manufacturer, that indicates a product meets the required standards or specification. Buyers typically request a CofC for any product or component that is critical or high risk (something that could cause injury or loss of life).
ECIA: Electronic Components Industry Association
The ECIA is an organization comprised of electronic component manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, and authorized distributors. ECIA members develop industry guidelines and technical standards, as well as generate critical business intelligence.
EDI: Electronic Data Interchange
EDI is the electronic interchange of business information. EDI uses a standardized format, which allows companies to exchange information electronically. For example, a supplier can automatically send an invoice to a buyer, upon receipt of a purchase order.
ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning
ERP is a process companies use to manage and integrate different aspects of their business. A standard ERP software application can integrate planning, purchasing, sales, marketing, finance, and more.
FOB: Free On Board
FOB is a shipment term that indicates whether the buyer or seller is liable for goods that are damaged or destroyed during shipping. “FOB origin” means the buyer is at risk once the seller has shipped the product. “FOB destination” means that the seller is at risk until the goods have reached the buyer.
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization is responsible for publishing international standards that "support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges."
PCB: Printed Circuit Board
A PCB is an electronic circuit that consists of thin strips of copper or a similar conducting material, upon which integrated circuits and other components are attached.
PPM: Parts Per Million
PPM is used to track quality performance of a part or component. One PPM is one defect or event per million parts. Traditionally, a supplier with fewer than 10,000 PPM (less than 1%), is considered a quality supplier.
SiP: System In a Package
A SiP is a single module that contains a number of integrated circuits. It can perform the bulk of the functions of an electronic system and is commonly used in mobile phones.
SOC: System on a Chip
A SOC is a microchip that contains all the necessary electronic circuits for a system on a single integrated circuit. SOCs are typically used in smartphones or wearable computers.
TSOP: Thin Small Outline Package
This thin-bodied, rectangular surface mounted circuit package is used for RAM and Flash memory circuits, thanks to their high pin count and low profile.