Applications of reverse logistics in different industrial sectors: comparative study

Abstract

Reverse logistics has become one of the significant concepts for various industries to practice to achieve sustainability objectives. Reverse logistic is defined as movement of goods from a consumer towards a producer in a channel of distribution. A number of cases that implement successful reverse logistics system have been found worldwide in specific industrial sectors such as heavy machines, electronic sectors and plastic sector. Whereas, there is a limited application of reverse logistics in other sectors. The main purpose of this study is to explore and describe the applications of reverse logistics processes in industrial sector. This leads the researcher to conduct a comparison using qualitative approach between those applications to highlight strengths and weaknesses in RL practices in Egyptian industrial companies. Finally, the researcher proposes a number of corrective and preventive actions to improve the application of RL. Based on the findings of the comparison, the researcher recommends that the companies shall establish, implement and maintain acquisition strategy and a manual to describe the inspection criteria and guidelines for the inspection process to accelerate the process and avoid any errors in deposition decision.