TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Introduction 2 -What is reverse logistics? -Why reverse logistics is so important? Body 4-Components-International Reverse Logistics-Outsourcing3. Conclusion 11 References 12IntroductionMost 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-disposa...
