A Decision Making Framework for Reverse Logistics Network Design

The main objective of this research is to answer the following research question “How should a company design their reverse logistics network in a more efficient or responsive way?” In this research, a conceptual framework has been developed based on several key factors for network design. Through the analysis of each key factor affecting network design decision, we have built a conceptual framework for reverse logistics network for companies to decide on whether to centralize versus decentralize their reverse logistics operations, and whether to outsource or insource some of their operations? Some existing studies are able to fit well in our proposed framework, giving us better insights to decision making in reverse logistics network design. The proposed conceptual framework is helpful for the companies or organizations to make better decisions when designing their reverse logistics operations to achieve a lean or responsive network

The Evolution of Municipal Waste Management in Europe: how Different are National Regimes

International audienceThe 1994 European directive on packaging waste let a diversity of conceptions of waste management to be developed and tested by reality in various countries. Such a diversity may raise drawbacks related to the achievement of the single market and the European law of competition. The paper describes the main differences in the regimes in five countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece. This comparative approach allows to identify four main variables in order to characterise policy regimes, which explain the degree of orientation of waste regimes to cost-effectiveness. A second result is to show that, in each country, implementation has resulted in learning, correction and self-regulation, which have reduced the initial divergences between national regimes. So an efficient harmonisation may be unexpectedly achieved by such a soft way without passing stringent European directives. Moreover, by playing the option of experimenting competing organisational and policy concepts, this approach of the European harmonisation would allow to reveal in 2004 the cost-effectiveness of alternative solutions at a moment when the European policy has to be reconsidered

Design of Closed Loop Supply Chains

Increased concern for the environment has lead to new techniques to design products and supply chains that are both economically and ecologically feasible. This paper deals with the product - and corresponding supply chain design for a refrigerator. Literature study shows that there are many models to support product design and logistics separately, but not in an integrated way. In our research we develop quantitative modelling to support an optimal design structure of a product, i.e. modularity, repairability, recyclability, as well as the optimal locations and goods flows allocation in the logistics system. Environmental impacts are measured by energy and waste. Economic costs are modelled as linear functions of volumes with a fixed set-up component for facilities. We apply this model using real life R&D data of a Japanese consumer electronics company. The model is run for different scenarios using different parameter settings such as centralised versus decentralised logistics, alternative product designs, varying return quality and quantity, and potential environmental legislation based on producer responsibility.supply chain management;reverse logistics;facility location;network design;product design

A computer-based product classification and component detection for demanufacturing processes

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 24(10), 900-914, 2011 [copyright Taylor & Francis], available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/0951192X.2011.579169.The aim of this paper is to propose a novel computer-based product classification, component detection and tracking for demanufacturing and disassembly process. This is achieved by introducing a series of automated and sequential product scanning, component identification, image analysis and sorting – leading to the development of a bill of material (BOM). The produced BOM can then be associated with the relevant disassembly/demanufacture proviso. The proposed integrated image sorting and product classification (ISPC) approach can be considered as a step forward in automation of demanufacturing activities. The ISPC model proposed in this paper utilises and builds on the state-of-the-art technology and current body of research in computer-integrated demanufacturing and remanufacturing (CIDR). An appraisal of the latest research material and the factors that inhibit CIDR methods inpractice are presented. A novel solution for the integration of imaging and material identification techniques toovercome some of the existing shortcomings of automated recycling processes is proposed in this paper. The proposed product scanning and component detection ISPC software consists of four distinct models: the repertory database, the search engine, the product-attributes updater and the image sorting and classification algorithm. The software framework that integrates the four components is presented in this paper. Finally, an overall assessment of applying ISPC at various stages of CIDR processes concludes the article.University of Ibadan MacArthur Foundation Gran

Strategies for the Replication of Urban Environmental Innovations - A Case of Community-based Decentralized Composting in Dhaka

Traditionally sanitary services are provided by the State or State owned bodies. However, with the ever increasing population and waste generation rates coupled with lack of financial resources and infrastructure, poor community participation the municipalities are unable to provide a good service. As a result major fraction of waste remains uncollected on streets and sewer systems. Many bigger cities in Asia, South and Southeast-Asia in particular, are facing this situation. Hence, to bring the much needed additional resources and also to improve the efficiency of the system, involvement of private sector in providing these civic services has become a necessity. Waste Concern (WC), a non-government organization in Dhaka had initiated community based composting by partnering with Public Works Department (PWD), Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and fertilizer manufacturing industry. With improved community participation, they have successfully demonstrated the marketing of compost generated from solid waste and increasing demand for the same in the market testimonies the fact that the whole process is a success with all partners sharing various benefits. As this attempt by WC has been identified as an innovative urban practice by many international agencies, other cities from the developing countries are showing interest in this useful practice. In this paper attempts are made to understand the process of Dhakas Community-based Decentralized Composting (DCDC) model, its socio-economic impacts, long term intra-sectoral implications, necessary conditions, and to identify strategies/measures to replicate DCDC in the other developing cities of Asia. DCDC is more labour intensive and less capital intensive option with promising employment generation. From the analysis it was found that this method of waste management is suitable for cities with poor waste management efficiency, considerable activity of rag picking by informal sector and existence of urban poor deriving livelihood on scavenging activity. There should also be enough demand for the compost generated and also the acceptability among partners. Based on the socio-economic analysis and personal interviews with all actors involved in DCDC, the following strategies/measures are identified as requirement for its replication and long term sustainability in the other developing cities in Asia selection of appropriate technology; utilization of local human resources; public-private-community partnership and appropriate risk sharing; community participation; need for champion organization (Ambassador); entrepreneurship in the approach; product quality control; sustainable benefits sharing; regulatory framework to promote partnerships; interfacing the other complementing sectors; analyzing the demand-supply dynamics; pricing policies to regulate compost price; assessment of macro-economic impacts.Community Participation, Decentralized Composting, Dhaka, Replication Strategies, Solid Waste Management

A rubbish idea : how blockchains could tackle the world’s waste problem

Waste litters our oceans, beaches and wider environment, making it one of the pressing issues of our times. Blockchains are virtual ledgers on which data can be permanently stored. They are a public record, so they are very transparent and accountable. This post aims to set out how blockchains may be used as part of the waste management toolkit

The economics of household waste management: a review

In recent years reducing the amount of waste generated by households has become an important policy issue in industrialised economies. It is no longer acceptable to discard waste without concern for environmental and natural resource issues. In an effort to reduce household waste various policy instruments such as kerbside charges, deposit‐refund schemes, integrated sales tax exemptions and virgin material taxes, have been proposed and/or implemented. This article reviews the economics literature that has addressed household waste management. It is argued that a comprehensive modelling framework is necessary if the complex policy environment is to be accurately described.Consumer/Household Economics,

A fractally fractionated spacecraft

The advantages of decentralised multi-spacecraft architectures for many space applications are well understood. Distributed antennas represent popularly envisaged applications of such an architecture; these are composed of, typically, receiving elements carried on-board multiple spacecraft in precise formation. In this paper decentralised control, based on artificial potential functions, together with a fractal-like connection network, is used to produce autonomous and verifiable deployment and formation control of a swarm of spacecraft into a fractal-like pattern. The effect of using fractal-like routing of control data within the spacecraft generates complex formation shape patterns, while simultaneously reducing the amount of control information required to form such complex formation shapes. Furthermore, the techniques used ensures against swarm fragmentation, which can otherwise be a consequence of the non-uniform connectivity of the communication graph. In particular, the superposition of potential functions operating at multiple levels (single agents, subgroups of agents, groups of agents) according to a self-similar adjacency matrix produces a fractal-like final deployment with the same stability property on each scale. Results from the investigations carried out indicate the approach is feasible, whilst outlining its robustness characteristics, and versatility in formation deployment and control. Considering future high-precision formation flying and control capabilities, this paper considers, for the first time and as an example of a fractally fractionated spacecraft, a decentralised multi-spacecraft fractal shaped antenna. Furthermore, multi-spacecraft architecture exploiting fractal-like formations can be considered to investigate multi-scale phenomena in areas such as cosmic radiation and space plasma physics. Both numerical simulations and analytic treatment are presented, demonstrating the feasibility of deploying and controlling a fractionated fractal antenna in space through autonomous decentralised means. This work frames the problem of architecture and tackles the one of control, whilst not neglecting actuation