Reverse Supply Chains: Issues and Analysis

Winner of IIE Book of the Month, December 2013 The introduction of reverse supply chains has created many challenges in network design, transportation, selection of used products, selection and evaluation of suppliers, performance measurement, marketing-related issues, end-of-life (EOL) alternative selection, remanufacturing, disassembly, and product acquisition management, to name a few. Under the guidance of an expert editor and with contributions from pioneers in the field, Reverse Supply Chains: Issues and Analysis addresses several important issues faced by strategic, tactical, and operation planners of reverse supply chains, using efficient models in a variety of decision-making situations providing easy-to-use mathematical and/or simulation modeling-based solution methodologies for a majority of the issues. The book introduces the basic concepts of reverse logistics and systematically analyzes the literature by classifying more than 400 published references into five major types of product returns. It then identifies the basic activities and scope of reverse logistics, examining its drivers and barriers as well as major issues and challenges. The chapters cover metrics for quantitatively comparing competing new-product designs for end-of-life disassembly on a reverse production line, how to use the theory of constraints thinking processes to determine the core problems in reverse logistics, and an integrated multi-criteria decision-making methodology using Taguchi loss functions AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and fuzzy programming. They explore issues associated with remanufacturing and green and resilient supply chain management and propose system modeling based on graph theory and network flows application to analyze material resource flows in the life cycle of a product. Reverse supply chains is a new and fast growing area of research and only a handful of books are on the market, however t

Table of Contents:
Reverse Logistics. Issues and Challenges in Reverse Logistics. New-Product Design Metrics for Efficient Reverse Supply Chains. Application of Theory of Constraints’ Thinking Process in a Reverse Logistics Process. Modeling Supplier Selection in Reverse Supply Chains. A General Modeling Framework for Cost/Benefit Analysis of Remanufacturing. Integrated Inventory Models for Retail Pricing and Return Reimbursements in a JIT Environment for Remanufacturing a Product. Advanced Remanufacturing-to-Order And Disassembly-to-Order System under Demand/Decision Uncertainty. Importance of Green and Resilient SCM Practices for the Competitiveness of the Automotive Industry: A Multinational Perspective. A Graph-Based Approach for Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization of Life Cycle Resource Flows. Delivery and Pickup Problems with Time Windows: Strategy and Modeling. Materials Flow Analysis as a Tool for Understanding Long-Term Developments.

About the Author :
Surendra M. Gupta

Review :
"... compiles the research, thoughts and experiences of nearly three dozen supply chain experts from across the globe. Veteran industrial engineering professor and author Surendra M. Gupta edited the compilation. The 15 chapters begin with a discussion of reverse logistics and its issues and challenges, continuing on to deal with designing new products with reverse logistics in mind, advanced remanufacturing applications (including integrated inventory models), modeling supplier selection, removing barriers to "greening" your supply chains, material flow, strategy and dealing with governmental regulation. It includes metrics, case studies, modeling and optimization." - IIE Book of the Month December 2013 "... addresses a very important issue, reverse supply chain management, which soon is expected become mandatory for various business due to environmental, regulatory and financial considerations. The timing of the book couldn't be more appropriate. ... will allow the readers to understand the reverse supply chains better as well as will aid in their decision making processes while trying to decide on the problem solving methodologies they should involve." -Elif Kongar, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut "... This is a timely issue which contains a fine and balanced selection of ethodologies and practical results in the field of the pacing "green manufacturing" industries. It is likely to be of use both for academia people and industry practitioners interested in gaining a competitive advance for their organizations." -F.G. Filip, The Romanian Academy, Bucharest "This book gives a thorough view of a large number of important issues in Reverse Logistics, with detailed surveys, mathematical models, analyses, case studies, and numerical examples. It is self-contained for any academician or practitioner interested in Reverse Logistics, Environmentally Conscious Production, and Reverse/Closed-loop Supply Chain Management." -Kishore Kumar Pochampally, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester "... the book presents different models for analyzing reverse supply chains, mostly from an industrial engineering perspective. An IE researcher will realize the lack of environmental considerations in the mathematical optimization models, particularly metrics that report on environmental impact of products and processes, and that gap may provide opportunities for collaboration between the two fields." -Gilvan C. Souza, Indiana University, USA in Journal of Industrial Ecology