Procurement glossary
Short, plain definitions of the terms that appear in specifications and quotations for military clothing, tactical equipment, medical kits and field shelter. Each term has its own page.
A
- AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit)
- AQL is the worst defect rate still accepted when a lot is inspected by sampling — the basis of most textile and equipment inspection plans.
C
- CE marking for medical devices (EU MDR)
- CE marking shows that a medical device meets the EU Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745; it is required to place the device on the EU market.
- Colour fastness
- Colour fastness is a fabric’s resistance to losing or transferring colour through washing, light, rubbing, perspiration or water, graded under the ISO 105 test series.
- Contract manufacturing, OEM and private label
- In contract manufacturing a partner factory makes an item to another company’s specification; OEM and private label describe whose design and brand it carries.
D
- Denier (D)
- Denier is the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of a yarn or filament; tactical fabrics are often described as 500D or 1000D nylon or polyester.
E
- End-user certificate (EUC)
- An end-user certificate is a document in which the final user of goods states how they will be used and that they will not be re-exported without approval.
F
- Final inspection (pre-shipment inspection)
- A final inspection checks finished, packed goods by sampling before shipment, against the specification, the approved sample and the agreed AQL.
- First article inspection (FAI)
- First article inspection verifies the first units made under a contract against every requirement of the specification before full production is released.
H
- Hydrostatic head (water column)
- Hydrostatic head is the height of a water column a fabric withstands before water passes through — the usual measure of waterproofness for tents and outerwear.
I
- IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit)
- An IFAK is a compact first aid kit carried by each person, with contents defined by the user’s medical authority for the injuries expected in their role.
- Incoterms®
- Incoterms are the ICC rules that state who arranges and pays for transport, insurance and customs, and where risk passes from seller to buyer.
N
- Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance
- NIR reflectance describes how a fabric or component reflects near-infrared light, so that it does not stand out when seen through night-vision or NIR imaging.
- NyCo (nylon-cotton)
- NyCo is a blend of nylon (polyamide) and cotton, typically around 50/50, widely used for combat uniforms because it combines durability with breathability.
P
- Pre-production sample (PPS)
- A pre-production sample is made with bulk materials and the bulk method; once approved and sealed it becomes the reference for production and delivery.
R
- Ripstop
- Ripstop is a weave in which thicker reinforcing yarns form a grid at regular intervals, so a small tear stops at the next grid line instead of spreading.
S
- Shelf life (minimum remaining shelf life)
- Shelf life is the period a product stays within specification under stated storage conditions; buyers usually require a minimum remaining shelf life at delivery.
T
- Technical specification (tech pack)
- A technical specification is the written description of an item — materials, construction, sizes, tests, marking — that quotations and inspections are measured against.
- TOP sample (Top of Production)
- A TOP sample is taken from the first finished and packed units of bulk production to confirm that bulk output matches the approved sample.
W
- Webbing attachment system (MOLLE/PALS-type)
- A webbing attachment system is a grid of stitched webbing rows on vests, belts and packs that lets pouches and accessories be mounted in any configuration.