Managing Closed-Loop Supply Chains [Paperback]

Introduction Closing supply chains refers to taking care of items once they are no longer desired or can no longer be used by their user. Smart management of closed-loop supply chains means profitable recovery of value from these items (products, functional components, materials or packaging). The company closing the supply chain may be the original equipment manuf- turer (OEM), a distribution partner or a third party not involved in the f- ward distribution. In recent years, the management of closed-loop supply chains has gained importance because of increased legislation on producer respon- bility, requiring companies to take back products from customers and to organize for proper recovery and disposal. This legislation is partially due to increased awareness of environmental issues. However, smart com- nies have also understood that returned products often contain lots of value to be recovered. They manage closed-loop supply chains simply because it is a profitable business proposition.to closed-loop supply chains.- Production closed-loop supply chains.- Reverse logistics in a pharmaceutical company: the Schering case.- Reverse logistics in an electronics company: the NEC-Cl case.- Distribution closed-loop supply chains.- The chip in crate: the Heineken case.- Recovery and reuse of maritime containers: the Blue Container Line case.- Empty container reposition: the port of Rotterdam case.- Commercial returns closed-loop supply chains.- Commercial returns of sun-protection products: the LOr?al France case.- Commercial returns of printers: the HP case.- Commercial returns in a mail order company: the Wehkamp case.- Repair and replacement closed-loop supply chains.- The repair of electronic equipment: the OMRON case.- Tire recovery: the RetreadCo case.- The closed-loop supply chain of service parts: the Whirlpool case.- End-of-use closed-loop supply chains.- End-of-lease asset recovery: the Oc? case.- Cellular telephone reuse: the ReCellular Inc. case.- Recovery of l3„