Flexible modelling approach for evaluating reverse logistics adoption barriers using fuzzy AHP and IRP framework

Abstract

Due to environmental concern, enforced legislation, rapid change in technology and corporate citizenship reverse logistics practices are growing. Reverse logistics (RL) has been seen as a part of sustainable development but presence of barriers make RL implementation difficult and hence reduce the success rate. To increase RL adoption, a flexible decision making approach is needed which could evaluate barriers explicitly. This paper proposes a flexible methodology based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and interpretative ranking process (IRP) to evaluate, prioritise and compare the barriers of RL adoption. This IRP method describes the logic for dominance of one barrier over the other by each pair-wise comparison. A numerical analysis of electronics industry of India is presented to demonstrate the use of the proposed flexible method. Electronics companies should mitigate the effect of these barriers with higher priority for effective RL adoption by employing flexible and robust strategies in their operations.