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A Reference Model of Reverse Logistics Process for Improving Sustainability in the Supply Chain

Author

Listed:
  • Faustino Alarcón

    (Research Centre on Production Management and Engineering (CIGIP), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 València, Spain)

  • Pascual Cortés-Pellicer

    (Department of Business Management, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 València, Spain)

  • David Pérez-Perales

    (Research Centre on Production Management and Engineering (CIGIP), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 València, Spain)

  • Ana Mengual-Recuerda

    (Department of Business Management, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 València, Spain)

Abstract

The reverse logistics process (RLP) has become a key process for the supply chain (SC) given its importance for treating the increasing quantity of returned or recovered products and its impact on sustainability. However, the RLP is complex and involves a high degree of uncertainty and difficult decisions that affect SC efficiency. One of the aspects that can help the most to reduce this complexity and to improve SC efficiency is to formalize this process. The consulted studies agree on the numerous benefits of RLP formalization, but no tools, methodologies or specific solutions were found that help companies to advance in this matter. This work aims to develop a specific tool for RLP formalization so that its efficiency can be increased, leading to an improvement of SC sustainability. The main results comprise a reference model for RLP (RM-RLP) and an associated methodology so that any company can formalize its RLP by modeling its activities. The proposed tool (RM-RLP and methodology) is applied to a closed loop SC of relaxing chairs as an example of RLP formalization, proving its usefulness and, additionally, the improvements that can be reached in three RLP key indicators: total process duration, customer response time and the perceived autonomy and trust of the workers participating in the process.

Suggested Citation

  • Faustino Alarcón & Pascual Cortés-Pellicer & David Pérez-Perales & Ana Mengual-Recuerda, 2021. "A Reference Model of Reverse Logistics Process for Improving Sustainability in the Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-29, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:18:p:10383-:d:637545
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Olga Lingaitienė & Aurelija Burinskienė & Vida Davidavičienė, 2022. "Case Study of Municipal Waste and Its Reliance on Reverse Logistics in European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Marcin Relich, 2023. "A Data-Driven Approach for Improving Sustainable Product Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Jevgenia Kim & Jelizaveta Janno, 2023. "Sustainability Model Framework For Estonia Through Integration Of Reverse Logistics: Literature Review," Business Logistics in Modern Management, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics, Croatia, vol. 23, pages 97-113.

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