Das Logistik-Glossar
Mail service
Main leg
Make or buy
Make to order
Make to stock
Marketing mix
Mass customization
Master production schedule
Mate’s receipt
Material supply
Material requirements planning
Micrologistics
Milk run
MIME
Modular sourcing
MPS
MRP
MTO
Multi-modal transport operator
Multiple sourcing
Multipurpose Internet mail extension
Multi-story warehouse
Multi-user warehouse
Main leg
The main leg is the highly efficient transport of large quantities (typically by rail or ship) as the central element of combined transports.
The main leg, first leg and subsequent leg form the fundamental processes of distribution logistics. In the first leg, goods are picked up at various senders and then consolidated. In the main leg, the goods are jointly distributed to other warehouses. The subsequent leg covers the detailed final sorting and the delivery to the recipient.
Mass customization
The mass-customization concept is based on the postponement of the determination about variations (customizing) and the use of size and synergy effects in the production of standardized modules. This can result in high customer value created by variety (differentiation) and cost leadership.
Master production schedule
The master production schedule (MPS) is the basis of production planning and determines the time- and quantity-based course of production.
The basis of the master production schedule is the sales program consisting of customer orders on hand in job-order production. In warehouse production, demand forecasts form the foundation for the sales program. Taking the rough performance levels of maximum-capacity machinery and installations into consideration, a company determines the type, quantity and schedule for products to be manufactured (primary need).
Mate’s receipt
The mate's receipt is a temporary receipt (intermediate document) of the ship operator about the goods delivered for loading on a ship. The mate’s receipt is generally associated with the entitlement that the ocean bill of lading should be handed to the bearer. Although the mate’s receipt is a valid on-board receipt, it does not have the legal validity of the ocean bill of lading. It is frequently used in transit trade and for loads in which the supplier is not supposed to know who the third-party recipient is and this recipient is not supposed to know who the actual shipper is.
Material supply
Material supply encompasses the management and physical supply of production with necessary materials.
A distinction is drawn between the principles of physical material supply (delivery and pick-up principle) and the principle of management (needs- and consumer-driven material supply).
Material requirements planning
MRP I (material requirements planning)
MRP I is a program system used in production planning and management for quantity planning which is based on a pre-determined production program.
MRP II (manufacturing resource planning)
MRP II is a higher integration stage of planning than MRP I because the results flow into additional operational plans. By transmitting the planning results to the previous planning steps, they can be further used for the planning of the production program.
Milk run
The milk run is a special form of direct transport. The route, time and the quantity of goods to be transported are pre-determined. The recipients along the route are served directly, with a good either being picked up or dropped off. Generally, no transshipping facilities are used. The principle results in balanced utilization during the course of the day and enables safety stocks to be reduced.
Multiple sourcing
The focus of multiple sourcing is usually the provision of industrial raw materials, auxiliary supplies and operating supplies from several suppliers. The procurement strategy is extremely market focused because it is based on the competition among suppliers. On the one hand, competition is encouraged and dependency on only one supplier is avoided. On the other hand, the strategy is time intensive because contact must be maintained with several suppliers and prices must be constantly compared.

