Reverse Logistics As An Integral Part Of Supply Chain Management. Essa

Reverse Logistics As An Integral Part Of Supply Chain Management. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Introduction 2 - What is reverse logistics? - Why reverse logistics is so important? 2. Body 4 - Components - International Reverse Logistics - Outsourcing 3. Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction Most of us think of logistics as a one-way street. Products are manufactured, packaged, stored in a warehouse, sold, and then shipped off to the customer ... end of story. Yet for many logistics managers today, that's not the end of the story. In addition to managing outbound goods, they also are responsible for reverse logistics--the flow of returned goods and packaging, including customer service and final disposition of returned items. The need to manage waste materials and returned goods is growing in all kinds of industries. Today, companies like Xerox, Eastman Kodak, Mobil, Home Depot, and Ethan Allen Furniture - to name just a few - have recycling programs that meet the needs of their individual industries. There are many reasons for the explosive growth of what's come to be known as reverse logistics over the past five years or so. The most prominent is increasing public awareness of the social costs of excess waste. A large-scale recycling program, therefore, generates goodwill among consumers and industrial customers. As support for recycling grows, moreover, companies want to be perceived as good citizens that are committed to protecting the environment. Another important reason is the need to control costs. Frequently, manufacturers treat recovery of products and packaging as an afterthought. A well-managed reverse-logistics program, however, can bring enormous savings in inventory-carrying, transportation , and waste-disposal costs. For these and other reasons, more and more companies are launching reverse-logistics programs today. Unfortunately, it's often assumed that reverse logistics is simply a matter of reversing the outbound distribution process. In fact, recycling and returns management have their own unique and complex issues that affect logistics operations. A brief overview of those issues highlights the five main areas you should consider before starting a reverse-logistics program. A related issue is what kind of resources you are willing to commit to a reverse-logistics program. The obvious answer is that the level of potential benefits will influence how much a company will invest in such a program. Too often, though, companies shortchange themselves by failing to devote sufficient time, money, and personnel to the project. A lot of times, [reverse logistics] becomes a side job for somebody. It's not their focus or a high priority, says Cindie Vaughan, supervisor of reverse logistics for Consolidated Freightways. If no one is proactively managing the process, it's bound to result in higher costs and missed opportunities for savings and profits. A solution for many companies that have limited resources for reverse logistics is outsourcing that function to third parties or transportation companies. It's up to the shipper, though, to examine the cost and service benefits, then decide how much of the process should be outsourced. As with any outsourcing decision, it's a matter of being able to focus on your core competencies and freeing up your people to work on products rather than expend your assets on [reverse logistics], suggests Brett Chyatte, senior marketing specialist for reverse logistics at Federal Express. Components The primary components of the reverse-logistics operation are retrieval, transportation, and disposition. The retrieval stage deals with where the waste or products should be picked up and by whom. Much depends on the nature of the item being returned; if it's clothing, for example, a carrier can handle all of the pickup and documentation tasks at the consumer's door. If, on the other hand, the items are oversized, heavy, hazardous, or very delicate, special training may be necessary for both customers and carriers. Burnham, for example, dismantles photocopiers for several customers that sell or lease the reconditioned machines. Drivers are trained to remove internal components that could cause damage in transit, protect glass, secure all moving parts, and pack them for transportation. Hazardous materials, meanwhile, must be flawlessly handled, but field locations and distributors may not have the necessary expertise. Michael LeMirande, business development manager for Redwood Systems, says he often tutors auto dealers in how to manage returns of such items as engines and transmissions. The battery and most fluids in automobiles are classified as hazardous, so there are specific procedures for

How to Write an Essay Rough Draft Sample

How to Write an Essay Rough Draft SampleIn this article, I'm going to share with you a powerful tip on how to write an essay rough draft sample. The first step in doing this is to write down your goals for the essay, and to create a detailed outline for yourself. By doing this, you'll be able to get a better idea of what you're going to write in your rough draft.Next, you need to figure out which topics are going to be covered in your essay. This is an essential step because it will make it easier for you to identify your story or theme. What themes or stories do you like to read about? If you're not interested in reading about them, it's likely that you won't have any interest in writing about them either. So take some time to think about what type of topic that you would like to include in your paper.Finally, you should spend some time writing your rough draft. As you read the details of your draft, you'll be able to see what types of details you need to include and what types of d etails you don't need to include.One of the best parts about writing this type of document is that it can be done entirely in the outline stage. All you need to do is write down the topic of your essay, the title, and your main point. By being able to focus on the essentials while you prepare for the rest of the essay, it will make your job much easier and will make you more efficient.However, if you do decide to take your rough draft to another level, there are a few things that you'll want to do. For example, you may find that some of the details you're writing about are irrelevant to your topic, or you may have something to add to the outline. By outlining this way, you'll be able to find the information that you need to help you complete your rough draft.When you're preparing your rough draft, it's also important to keep notes. You may want to write down some of the places you find yourself getting lost, as well as notes on how you can improve the topic. That way, you'll be able to quickly find the information that you need while you're writing.As you work on your outline, don't forget to check it for errors. Anytime you make a mistake in your outline, you should always be sure to fix it before you submit your essay. Even if it's an incredibly easy mistake to fix, you may want to have it fixed before you publish it so that your audience can read it. If you're not confident about the error, then you can always edit it out.If you're going to write an essay rough draft sample, make sure that you follow these simple tips. They'll help you be able to craft the best outline and allow you to feel more comfortable when it comes to working on your essay.