189 Impacts of Uncertainties in 3PLs Reverse Logistics on the Performance of Reverse Logistics Service
The impacts of unceratinties are various depend on the different uncertainties. Generally speaking, most of the impacts of unceratinties are negative. The impacts of the different types of uncertainties have been discussed separately under different uncertainties, which were found in this research in Chapter 5. Some major impacts include increasing the lead time, increasing cost, reducing the efficiency of operations, disturbing relationships, and decreasing customer satisfaction. The impacts of uncertainties could help managements and researchers to identify and estimate the costs in certain cases. This finding also could be employed in other companies and cases for further researches.
Seven Different Types of Return Models in New Zealand Couriers
As per discussing in Chapter5, the return situation is normally complex and various. And accoring to the case study of New Zealand Couriers, there are seven different types of return models have been found and investigated in this thesis. Each type of return model is suitable for certain customers. The findings of seven types of return models are very significant, and also this one is one of the most important findings during the entire research, because the seven different types of reurn models could cover most of return situations, and each model’s advantages and disadvantages have been deeply researched in Chapter 5. Moreover, the findings have high level of validity, due to this research based on third party logitsics model, in other words the findings can be widely employed in other companies and future studies.
Return/Reverse Logistics Strategy
The return/reverse logistics strategy is not a solution or method of supply chain optimizations for problems or issues in return/ reverse logistics, but the return/ reverse logistics could guide companies to find a correct direction and save lots of money and time. 5.6 Return/ reverse
190 logistics strategies Return strategies have been developed depending on the case of New Zealand Couriers. Two critical dimensions which include volume of return and return frequency determine the type of return. There are four different types of return including Efficient Return, Responsive Return, Efficient & Responsive return and Agile Return. Each type of return strategy has its own characteristics which are suitable for different return satiations in terms of the volume of return and the return frequency. Appropriate return strategy is an essential part in logistics and supply chain optimization.
Key Reverse Logistics Management Elements
Several key reverse logistics management elements have been found in the case of New Zealand Couriers, such as gate keeping, compacting cycle time, reverse logistics information systems and central return centers. Each key element strongly influences the performance of return/ reverse logistics. Good gate keeping is the primarily critical factor of making the entire reverse flow manageable and profitable. Another essential element of successful reverse logistics management is having short disposition cycle times. Besides, a problem that firms have to face in the execution of a reverse logistics operation is the dearth of good information systems. CRCs have been utilized for many years, but in the last few years, they have become much more popular as more retailers and manufacturers have decided to devote specialized buildings and workforces to managing and processing returns (Lembke, 1998).
191
6.3
Future Research
Return/ reverse logistics is new and emerging. However the trend of return /reverse logistics is obvious. Return/ reverse logistics optimization plays vital role in on-going development of return/ reverse logistics. There are many different kinds of methods and solutions of return/ reverse logistics optimization; however, the solutions are just general guide and maps, each of which has different merits and characteristics. The methods and solutions should match the certain case, and the appropriate strategies and the optimization method are critical factors in the optimization. Besides, the logistics and supply chain optimization is a complex project where there are many risks and uncertainties could be involved. And the costs of the optimization might be relative high and the duration might be long; however, a successful logistic optimization could fundamentally improve and change an entire company or business in the long run.
As mentioned above, the subject of return/ reverse logistics has a huge potential for the future development and research. There are many aspects of return/ reverse logistics have not been researched yet, for instance “Designing the return/ reverse logistic system,” and “International reverse logistics.”
Designing theRreturn/ Reverse Logistic System
Although return/ reverse logistic is a part of the logistics and supply chain, there are many different characteristics between return/ reverse logistics and forward logistics. With the increasing demand of return/ reverse services, the return/ reverse logistics have to be separated from traditional logistics, in order to maximize the efficiency, because currently the cost of processing a return can be two to three times that of an outbound shipment (Stock, 1998). Personally designing the separated return/reverse logistics system is one of the effective solutions to reduce the costs, and there are some examples, which include the CENZ returns in New
Zealand Couriers, already showed the trend. Therefore “How to design an effective and