Performance measurement for reverse and closed-loop supply chains

Supply chains today continue to have shorter life-cycle products as a result of high rates of innovation. The increasing number of electronic retailing and catalogue sales fulfil the requirement of home shopping. More liberal return policies have been introduced to protect customers' buying rights and at the same time generate more sales. A growing number of environmental regulations are created which involve a wide range of products. All of these circumstances contribute to the reverse flow of products which require manufacturing organisations to strategically manage and deal with the return flows. Reverse supply chains or reverse logistics have attracted the attention of many academics and practitioners and one of the important field studies in this area is of Supply Chain Management. To contribute to the field, this research is purposely carried out to study the performance measurement in reverse supply chains. Reverse logistics networks may be classified into several categories depending on the source of the reverse flow. This research will focus on customer and distribution return flows. The research is significant because there is a gap in the literature and it could help to give companies guidance in managing their reverse supply chains better. Case studies on five companies which include manufacturers and retailers in the UK provide empirical evidence for their practice of performance measurement in reverse supply chains. The research investigates the selection of strategic objectives for reverse supply chains and the impact of product returns' characteristics and the choice of product returns disposition channels. Learning from the performance measurement in a reverse supply chain, the research proposes a three-level performance measurement framework model for reverse and closed-loop supply chains. This framework model provides the decision makers with a formal and systematic approach to select strategic objectives and towards the use of meaningful performance attributes and performance metrics. Subsequently, it offers a practical approach to the decision maker to perform and manage the reverse supply chain more effectively

Performance measurement for reverse and closed-loop supply chains

Supply chains today continue to have shorter life-cycle products as a result of high rates of innovation. The increasing number of electronic retailing and catalogue sales fulfil the requirement of home shopping. More liberal return policies have been introduced to protect customers' buying rights and at the same time generate more sales. A growing number of environmental regulations are created which involve a wide range of products. All of these circumstances contribute to the reverse flow of products which require manufacturing organisations to strategically manage and deal with the return flows. Reverse supply chains or reverse logistics have attracted the attention of many academics and practitioners and one of the important field studies in this area is of Supply Chain Management. To contribute to the field, this research is purposely carried out to study the performance measurement in reverse supply chains. Reverse logistics networks may be classified into several categories depending on the source of the reverse flow. This research will focus on customer and distribution return flows. The research is significant because there is a gap in the literature and it could help to give companies guidance in managing their reverse supply chains better. Case studies on five companies which include manufacturers and retailers in the UK provide empirical evidence for their practice of performance measurement in reverse supply chains. The research investigates the selection of strategic objectives for reverse supply chains and the impact of product returns' characteristics and the choice of product returns disposition channels. Learning from the performance measurement in a reverse supply chain, the research proposes a three-level performance measurement framework model for reverse and closed-loop supply chains. This framework model provides the decision makers with a formal and systematic approach to select strategic objectives and towards the use of meaningful performance attributes and performance metrics. Subsequently, it offers a practical approach to the decision maker to perform and manage the reverse supply chain more effectively

Improving Green Computing in Business Intelligence by Measuring Performance of Reverse Supply Chains

Increasing attention has been given to greencomputing in Business Intelligence. This paper specificallyconsiders the measurement of performance in the reversesupply chain. That is because of the increasing value ofproducts and technology at the end of general direct supplychains as well as the impact of new green legislation. Unlikeforward supply chains, design strategies for reverse supplychains are relatively unexplored and underdeveloped.Meanwhile measuring supply chain performance is becomingimportant as the need for data in business intelligence systemsincreases and the understanding, collaboration and integrationincreases between supply chain members. It also helpscompanies to target the most profitable market segments oridentify a suitable service definition. This paper describes asynthesis of known theory concerning measuring performanceand assesses the state of the art. Strengths and gaps areidentified. Some initial results are presented for measuringsupply performance in reverse supply chains (using robustmethods) and are outlined future research needs

A Conceptual Framework of Reverse Logistics Impact on Firm Performance

This study aims to examine the reverse logistics factors that impact upon firm performance. We review reverse logistics factors under three research streams: (a) resource-based view of the firm, including: Firm strategy, Operations management, and Customer loyalty (b) relational theory, including: Supply chain efficiency, Supply chain collaboration, and institutional theory, including: Government support and Cultural alignment. We measured firm performance with 5 measures: profitability, cost, innovativeness, perceived competitive advantage, and perceived customer satisfaction. We discuss implications for research, policy and practice

Performance of reverse supply chains

Globalised trade and pressure on resources require supply chains to become more sustainable, which includes the need for material flows to become closed loops. Reverse Supply Chains (RSC) recover parts and products from end customers or any other stage of the supply chain and feeds them back into the supply network for reuse, remanufacturing, recycling or proper disposal. In thisway, RSCs contribute to manufacturing becoming more sustainable ecologically, economically and socially. However, most companies are unaware of their RSC and therefore miss out on beneficial opportunities. This paper explores the current situation in industry and refers to relevant literature. A first version of an RSC framework is suggested, together with examples and discussion

The regenerative supply chain: a framework for developing circular economy indicators

This is the final version. Available on open access from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordThere are widely differing experiences and practices in the development of indicators to monitor, report and communicate progress towards the implementation of the circular economy (CE). We present a framework for developing CE indicators which link to the core goals, principles and building blocks of a CE. To do this we utilise the Ellen MacArthur Foundation butterfly model as a coherent systems overview of key material stocks and flows, and representation of relationships between inputs, outputs, recovery processes, emissions, energy and value loops in physical and financial measures which constitute the CE supply chain. Based on nine multinational organisations and four cases of leading companies engaged with CE activity, we address the types of indicators being used and make recommendations for indicators to reflect key goals and principles of CE. Our research on the development and expansion of circular practices leads to the question of what new opportunities and challenges CE raises for such companies in terms of competitive business advantage and resultant requirements for supply chain redesign and indicator development, over and above pre-existing closed-loop production.This work was supported by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/P008941/1 Modelling supply chain optimisation i]

Closed Loop Supply Chain: Evaluating Ecological Footprint

Purpose:  The purpose of this research is to evaluate the success of the closed-loop E-waste supply chain operations, primarily focused on achieving sustainability objectives related to the manufacturing, distribution, reusing, and discarding of electrical components. Methodology: The supply chain operations reference model offers suggestions and benchmarking tools to monitor the performance of supply chains and enhance the processes. This study illustrates a conceptual framework to show how these standards could be used in the E-waste supply chain to link business processes, metrics, industry standards, and technology to enhance the relationship and coordination between the supply chain members and to increase sustainability throughout the supply chain. Findings: According to an assessment of the literature, insufficient attention has been paid to the SCOR model's sustainability criteria. Consequently, in the wake of portraying the structure of the Supply Chain Operation Reference model, we make sense of which credits should be included in the Supply Chain Operation Reference to reflect manageability and which cycles and practices are related to every standard or should be remembered for Supply Chain Operation Reference to lay out the connection between execution, cycles, and practices. Conclusions: When a company's supply chain has achieved a desirable degree of eco-friendliness in all regards, its performance will be improved and satisfactory from a sustainability perspectiv

Verification, Analytical Validation, and Clinical Validation (V3): The Foundation of Determining Fit-for-Purpose for Biometric Monitoring Technologies (BioMeTs)

Digital medicine is an interdisciplinary field, drawing together stakeholders with expertize in engineering, manufacturing, clinical science, data science, biostatistics, regulatory science, ethics, patient advocacy, and healthcare policy, to name a few. Although this diversity is undoubtedly valuable, it can lead to confusion regarding terminology and best practices. There are many instances, as we detail in this paper, where a single term is used by different groups to mean different things, as well as cases where multiple terms are used to describe essentially the same concept. Our intent is to clarify core terminology and best practices for the evaluation of Biometric Monitoring Technologies (BioMeTs), without unnecessarily introducing new terms. We focus on the evaluation of BioMeTs as fit-for-purpose for use in clinical trials. However, our intent is for this framework to be instructional to all users of digital measurement tools, regardless of setting or intended use. We propose and describe a three-component framework intended to provide a foundational evaluation framework for BioMeTs. This framework includes (1) verification, (2) analytical validation, and (3) clinical validation. We aim for this common vocabulary to enable more effective communication and collaboration, generate a common and meaningful evidence base for BioMeTs, and improve the accessibility of the digital medicine field

Ekologiczny łańcuch dostaw: narzędzia do oceny E-odpadów – globalna perspektywa

When a company's supply chain has achieved a desirable degree of eco-friendliness in all regards, from a sustainability perspective, its performance will be satisfactory. Since the closed-loop e-waste supply chain's operations are primarily focused on achieving sustainability objectives related to the manufacturing, distribution, reusing, and discarding electrical components, it is crucial to evaluate its success in this area. In order to monitor the performance of supply chains and enhance the processes, the supply chain operations reference model offers suggestions and benchmarking tools. In this study, a conceptual framework is illustrated to show how these standards could be used in the E-waste supply chain to link business processes, metrics, industry standards, and technology in order to enhance the relationship and coordination between the supply chain members and to increase sustainability throughout the supply chain. Insufficient attention so far has been paid to the SCOR model's sustainability criteria, according to an assessment of the literature. Consequently, in the wake of portraying the structure of Supply Chain Operation Reference model, we make sense of which credits should be included in Supply Chain Operation Reference so to reflect manageability and which cycles and practices are related with every standard or should be remembered for Supply Chain Operation Reference to lay out the connection between execution, cycles, and practices.Kiedy łańcuch dostaw firmy osiągnie pożądany stopień przyjazności dla środowiska pod każdym względem, z punktu widzenia zrównoważonego rozwoju, jego wyniki będą zadowalające. Ponieważ operacje łańcucha dostaw E-odpadów w obiegu zamkniętym koncentrują się przede wszystkim na osiąganiu celów zrównoważonego rozwoju związanych z produkcją, dystrybucją, ponownym użyciem i utylizacją komponentów elektrycznych, kluczowe znaczenie ma ocena jego sukcesu w tej dziedzinie. Aby monitorować wydajność łańcuchów dostaw i ulepszać procesy, model referencyjny operacji łańcucha dostaw oferuje sugestie i narzędzia do analizy porównawczej. W tym badaniu nakreślono ramy koncepcyjne, aby pokazać, w jaki sposób standardy te można wykorzystać w łańcuchu dostaw elektrośmieci w powiązaniu z procesami biznesowymi, wskaźnikami, standardami branżowymi i technologią w celu wzmocnienia relacji i koordynacji między członkami łańcucha dostaw i aby zwiększyć poziom zrównoważonego rozwoju w całym łańcuchu dostaw. Jak dotąd, co potwierdza dokonany przegląd literatury, kryteria zrównoważonego rozwoju modelu SCOR nie poświęcano wystarczającej uwagi. W związku z tym, po przedstawieniu struktury Modelu referencyjnego operacji łańcucha dostaw, rozumiemy, które kredyty powinny zostać uwzględnione w referencyjnej operacji łańcucha dostaw, aby odzwierciedlić łatwość zarządzania oraz które cykle i praktyki są związane z każdym standardem lub należy o nich pamiętać w odniesieniu do łańcucha dostaw, co umożliwia ukazanie związku pomiędzy wykonaniem, cyklami i praktykami

A MULTI-STAGE DECISION SUPPORT MODEL FOR COORDINATED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT AND SUPPLY CHAIN DESIGN

In this research, a decision support model for coordinating sustainable product and supply chain design decisions is developed using a multi-stage hierarchical approach. The model evaluates alternate product designs and their corresponding supply chain configurations to identify the best product design and the corresponding supply chain configuration that maximizes the economic, environmental and societal benefits. The model considers a total life-cycle approach and incorporates closed-loop flow among multiple product lifecycles. In the first stage, a mixed integer linear programming model is developed to select for each product design an optimal supply chain configuration that maximizes the profit. In the subsequent stages, the economic, environmental and societal multiple life-cycle analysis models are developed which assess the economic, environment and the societal performance of each product design and its optimal supply chain configuration to identify the best product design with highest sustainability benefits. The decision support model is applied for an example problem to illustrate the procedure for identifying the best sustainable design. Later, the model is applied for a real-time refrigerator case to identify the best refrigerator design that maximizes economic, environmental and societal benefits. Further, sensitivity analysis is performed on the optimization model to study the closed-loop supply chain behavior under various situations. The results indicated that both product and supply chain design criteria significantly influence the performance of the supply chain. The results provided insights into closed-loop supply chain models and their behavior under various situations. Decision support models such as above can help a company identify the best designs that bring highest sustainability benefits, can provide a manager with holistic view and the impact of their design decisions on the supply chain performance and also provide areas for improvement