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The customer order decoupling point (CODP) is the point in the supply chain where the product is linked to a customer order and is, by definition, the last stock point along the supply chain. The CODP decouples the upstream operations that are made to stock from the downstream operations that are triggered by customer orders. We employed a systematic literature review of the empirical research on the CODP in operations and supply chain management (OSCM). We identified 40 articles that explicitly contributed with empirical results concerning factors and characteristics for the operations upstream versus downstream of the CODP, or between make-to-stock (MTS) and make-to-order (MTO) operations. The 32 factors that were identified were grouped into four main categories: market and product factors, operations factors, supply chain factors, and performance measures. Based on the content analysis, we propose a framework that provides a holistic view on the CODP. The distinctive differences between MTS and MTO characteristics strongly suggest that there are two configurations: one for the upstream MTS-type operations and another for the downstream MTO-type operations. We discuss implications for research and practice and provide suggestions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) using expanded polystyrene (EPS) for building insulation in Germany has resulted in accumulating end-of-life EPS-ETICS. To address limited waste management options and enhance EPS circularity, alternative recycling options like pyrolysis or solvent-based recycling need to be implemented. However, efficient recycling requires ex-ante analyses of the corresponding reverse logistics networks, including all necessary pre-treatment and transport processes. This study aims to develop a decision support system to determine optimal EPS-ETICS waste management by minimising the net present value of the corresponding network design. Our mixed-integer linear optimisation model considers decisions on technology, capacity, and location for pre-processing and recycling facilities as well as on material flow allocation. Applied to a German case study, our model finds pyrolysis and solvent-based recycling economically superior to current waste treatment in waste incineration plants. We present an optimal network design combining central pyrolysis with decentral pre-processing. A scenario analysis shows fluctuating styrene and polystyrene prices might favour solvent-based recycling over the optimal choice in pyrolysis, with minor overall cost differences. Further, legal recycling quotas of at least 40% would be necessary to promote solvent-based recycling and enhance EPS circularity beyond what is achievable through pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud Manufacturing (CMfg) is a promising approach that leverages the sharing economy to reduce costs and enhance supply chain flexibility. Particularly, when utilised alongside Additive Manufacturing (AM), CMfg is considered a key enabler for collaborative production (CP) systems. However, there is still a lack of planning models that reduce entry barriers for CP. Therefore, we propose a decentralised CP planning framework for AM. In our approach, machines autonomously select jobs from an existing production plan to forward them to other suppliers that can produce these parts more efficiently. A CMfg platform facilitates job forwarding and creates promising part bundles and manufacturing machines autonomously places bids on the packages via a combinatorial $ 2^{nd} $ 2 nd price reverse auction. Costs of the reallocated bundles are shared throughout a Shapley value-based approach without the need to disclose critical information. We benchmark our proposed framework against a centralised planning approach and find that it achieves comparable effectiveness as the benchmark solution. We also show that this mechanism promotes individual rationality and that agents particularly benefit when participating in both offering and acquiring production jobs through the auction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global trade is plagued by slow and inefficient manual processes associated with physical documents. Firms are constantly looking for new ways to improve transparency and increase the resilience of their supply chains. This can be solved by the digitalisation of supply chains and the automation of document- and information-sharing processes. Blockchain is touted as a solution to these issues due to its unique combination of features, such as immutability, decentralisation and transparency. A lack of business cases that quantify the costs and benefits causes uncertainty regarding the truth of these claims. This paper explores how the costs and benefits of a blockchain-based solution for digitalising and automating documentation flows in cross-border supply chains compare to a conventional centralised relational database solution. The research described in this paper uses primary data collected through semi-structured interviews with industry experts, as well as secondary data from literature. Two models based on existing services were developed and the costs and benefits compared and then analysed using the Architecture Trade-off Analysis Method (ATAM) and the Analytic Network Process (ANP). Findings from the analysis show that a consortium blockchain solution like TradeLens is the favourable solution for digitalising and automating information flows in cross-border supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a three-echelon supply chain problem under demand uncertainty is considered. The problem is formulated as a multiperiod two-stage stochastic optimisation model. The first stage, consisting of production and replenishment decisions, is integrated with the second stage, which comprises reactive fulfillment decisions, allowing seamless determination as demands are revealed over time. The demand in each period is characterised by an uncertainty set based on the nominal value and demand bounds. We propose a target-based robust optimisation (TRO) approach to determine the most robust planning with respect to a pre-specified cost target. The proposed TRO approach can trade off the total cost (performance) and model feasibility in the presence of demand perturbation (robustness) by fine-tuning the cost target. The robust counterpart is converted to a quadratically constrained linear programming (QCLP) problem, which can be solved by commercial solvers. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the TRO approach can outperform traditional robust optimisation methods in terms of both cost and feasibility against demand uncertainty by enabling precise adjustment of the cost target. Importantly, the TRO approach provides a flexible means to strike a balance between performance and robustness metrics, making it a valuable tool for supply chain planning under uncertain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with a closed-loop supply chain where inventory levels are controlled by an order-up-to inventory policy. The system under consideration is the cylinder-packaged gas supply chain of Air Liquide company, where empty cylinders used by customers are returned to be filled again by company plants. First, we examine the goodness of fit for demand distributions based on company real data. This enables us to better characterise demands pertaining to different classes of products. Then, we formulate the multi-echelon serial inventory model to be optimised and propose a heuristic to compute the target inventory levels that helps in achieving the desired customer service level while minimising the total inventory cost. The proposed heuristic is easy to implement in the field and gives results close those obtained using a simulation-optimisation approach that is more time-consuming. Finally, we perform a numerical analysis based on company real data and compare several methods that can be used to compute the target inventory levels by varying mainly two assumptions: parameters regarding demand distributions and metrics used to assess customer service levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International trade, through global supply chains, is central to global sustainable production and consumption. Redistribution of environmental resources impacts through international trade has become apparent in ecological research – and may have long-term design and planning implications for production and supply chain management. However, current trade and production accounting methods are still incapable of providing accurate and reliable results for policymakers and organisational decision makers to manage global and supply chain trade issues. In this study, a blockchain-based conceptual framework for embodied environmental resources accounting in trade is proposed to address global supply chain and trade issues. Framework design, benefits, and challenges are also discussed. Future research and linkage to theory are also provided. This study provides a strong systemic foundation for managing environmental resources at the nexus of international trade, sustainable production, and global supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian subcontinent is highly susceptible to natural disasters. To abate the effect of the disasters, the government emanates institutional mechanisms and strategies for disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. Although there is well-established institutional framework in India for disaster management, there is no study that proposes a disaster supply chain structure under the institutional framework and integrates information and digital technologies (IDT) of industry 4.0 within it. The present study overcomes this research gap. It introduces an IDT structure within the institutional framework of India for multi-agency information sharing, coordination and decision making. It formulates a mathematical model and analyses the impact of IDT on the total response time through three scenarios. The results of scenario analysis reveal the significance of IDT on the disaster supply chains and its capability to handle information delays and IDT failure. The present study can be adopted by disaster management institutions to construct and implement better response practices at the operational, planning and strategic levels. Furthermore, the proposed model in the study can be used for vaccination planning, which includes vaccine distribution, monitoring, regulation and effective implmentation as a response against the current pandemic situation caused due to SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are interested in modelling and solving a flow and resource planning problem related to the trade-in, treatment and resale of pre-owned consumer electronic products. This problem is motivated and inspired by the flows and the processes of the company Recommerce Group, which mainly handles traded-in used smartphones in Europe, but also used tablets, smartwatches, game consoles, laptops, etc. Collected products must be directed to refurbishment centres. After having been recorded, cleaned, tested and reset, they may be refurbished, or remanufactured by a subcontractor. They may also remain in their initial state. Finally, they are sold on diversified channels. This problem can be generalised to other refurbishment and remanufacturing activities of used consumer electronic products. We first formulate the problem as a mixed-integer linear program and show its NP-hardness. In order to solve large size real-life instances, mixed-integer programming based heuristic approaches are proposed. Extensive computational experiments on realistic instances are conducted to show the advantages and the limits of the proposed approaches. Several managerial insights are investigated and analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The price of oil is highly complex to predict as it is impacted by global demand and supply, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. The accuracy of such predictions, however, has far-reaching implications for supply chain performance, portfolio management, and expected stock market returns. This paper contributes to the oil price prediction literature by evaluating the predictive impact of the US President's communication on Twitter, while benchmarking various Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, including Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), Word2Vec, Doc2Vec, Global Vectors for Word Representation (GloVe), and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). These techniques are combined with a deep neural network Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture using a five-day lag for both the oil price and the textual Twitter data. The data was collected during the term of US President Donald Trump, resulting in 1449 days of crude oil price prediction and a total of 16,457 tweets. The study is validated for Brent and West Texas Intermediate blends, using the daily price of a barrel of crude oil as the target variable. The results confirm that including the US President's tweets significantly increases the predictive power of oil price prediction models, and that an LSTM architecture with BERT as NLP technique has the best performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Configuring supply chains (SCs) is critical to spare parts retailers' success, entailing two key aspects: stock deployment into distribution centres (DCs) (i.e. inventory centralisation or decentralisation) and stock supply in each DC (how many spare parts to supply and how often). Given the unpredictability of spare parts demand, stock deployment and supply policies should be regularly reviewed, adapting to fluctuations in customer needs. A viable way to do this is to adopt a multi-criteria ABC criticality classification. However, the multi-criteria ABC criticality classification has often been used to plan stock supply policies in a single DC, but only once to plan spare parts deployment. Nevertheless, the available literature methodology presents major limitations, being not applicable in real companies. Therefore, this paper provides a novel methodology, called SP-LACE, which first reviews the configuration of spare parts SCs based on a multi-criteria criticality classification. Then, allows, for the first time, to evaluate the economic benefits of the reviewed SC configuration. SP-LACE was tested on two case studies and compared with the literature methodology. The results indicate that it provides economic benefits (in terms of total SC cost), overcoming the limitations of the literature methodology and ensuring high service levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective operations of closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) can help companies achieve sustainability goals and boost economic performance. In practice, CLSCs must collect used products, a complex process that is often constrained by collection station capacity. However, how collection station capacity influences the bullwhip effect and the dynamic performance of CLSCs remains unclear. Here, we develop a system dynamics model for CLSCs that integrates traditional manufacturing with remanufacturing and explore the effects of the stochastic capacity constraint of the collection station on the bullwhip effect of CLSCs. We find that, generally speaking, a collection station with looser or more stable capacity constraints tends to reduce bullwhip of CLSCs. However, pertinent interactions emerge between the relevant parameters; in some situations, reducing the capacity level of a collection station may be reasonable and beneficial when the stochastic capacity constraint is very stable, or when customer demand is highly variable. We also consider the partial backlog in return collection, a phenomenon associated with the stochastic capacity constraint of a collection station, and identify a new trade-off between CLSC sustainability and economic performance. Ultimately, our findings provide evidence that will guide managers' plans for the capacity management of return collection in CLSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a prediction-based product change recovery strategy for the SC (supply chain) under long-term disruptions. A real-world case composed of multi-period planning and dynamic customer demand is considered. First, to forecast dynamic customer demand, a data-based demand predictive method with feedback errors is designed. Second, to schedule procurement and production in advance, based on the predicted demand, the selection of the supply portfolio is transformed into a bi-objective mixed integer programming problem incorporating product change. Furthermore, goods allocation and customer order fulfillment strategy is also designed to finish the transportation of goods and delivery of customer orders. To systematically synthesise and address the problems aforementioned, a three-stage heuristic method is further developed. Finally, a case study is presented to substantiate the reliability of the proposed strategy via an actual SC model of Dongsheng Electronics Co., Ltd. Based on the results obtained after one month, the proposed disruption recovery strategy can reduce the unit product cost and improve the service level, which outperforms the original method adopted by Dongsheng. Additionally, sensitivity analysis of unit product change cost is conducted to reveal the effect of different unit product change costs on SC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the industrial observation of the increasing application of blockchain in the supply chain and its improvement in terms of consumer demand, this study examines the impact of investment decisions of blockchain data acquisition nodes upstream and downstream of the supply chain on firms' product recycling and pricing, market demand, and profits. The influences of different pricing leadership (i.e. supplier-led vs. retailer-led) in a supply chain are also thoroughly investigated. First, the presence of a strong retailer dramatically reduces suppliers' incentive to invest in blockchain. However, the supplier is still likely to invest more in a retailer-led supply chain than that in a supply chain led by itself under certain conditions; that is, the cost of blockchain is relatively small, or consumers' sensitivity to blockchain or product recycling benefits is rather large. Second, the total number of blockchain data acquisition nodes, market demand, and supply chain profit in a retailer-led supply chain are higher than in a supplier-led supply chain. Finally, interestingly, the supplier will be better off in a retailer-led supply chain when the return effect of product recycling is relatively high, while the cost-effectiveness of blockchain investment is relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a Stochastic Mixed Integer Linear Programming (SMILP) model to optimize the reverse logistics network for debris generated from proactive demolition of end-of-life buildings. Unlike most existing research, this study addresses proactive strategies for the Mitigation stage of disaster management. Our model identifies the optimal number of landfilling areas and sorting facilities, factoring in uncertainties in debris quantity and material quality. It incorporates environmental constraints, such as mandatory sorting processes and recycling thresholds. Multiple scenarios are considered, each with unique parameter values and occurrence probabilities, with the overall objective of minimizing net costs across all scenarios. A realistic case study is used to illustrate the model, demonstrating its capacity to reduce post-disaster recovery costs, improve operational efficiency, and balance financial and environmental considerations. This study offers insights for decision-makers, advocating proactive end-of-life buildings’ management as a disaster preparedness and sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world without the textile and clothing industry would be unimaginable as it plays an essential role in the lifecycle of human beings. However, due to rapidly changing fashion trends and the short lifespan of textile products, the consumption rate is increasing daily, resulting in worldwide concern about managing textile waste and sustainability. Reuse-remanufacturing-recycling (3R) of textile items is an alternative for longer product life and reduced consumption. This paper attempted to identify the 3R challenges and possible solutions in the reverse logistics process of the textile supply chain. A systematic literature review of 68 articles was done to develop five propositions of 3R challenges: product acquisition, waste collection, inspection & sorting, disposition, and information & legislation. The understanding of challenges helps managers to develop mitigation strategies to overcome them. Implementing 3R practices by overcoming the challenges helps the stakeholders for sustainable reverse logistics (economic, environmental, and social) in the textile and clothing units. Knowledge about a comprehensive list of challenges to 3R practices in reverse logistics helps policymakers to develop regulations and rules that encourage sustainability practices in the textile and clothing industry. The study concluded with limitations and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to strict governmental regulations, manufacturers have increasingly focused on recovering end-of-life (EoL) products through disassembly lines, aiming to achieve economic benefits while addressing the environmental aspects of supply chain sustainability. Disassembly line balancing (DLB) has become a key challenge for enterprises seeking to perform environmentally conscious manufacturing as part of a closed-loop supply chain policy. Therefore, designing a sustainable closed-loop supply chain requires analyzing interrelated problems by focusing on strategic-, tactical-, and operational-level decisions simultaneously. This study introduces an integrated problem that addresses multi-manned DLB, lot sizing, and reverse supply chain (RSC) design problems. To mathematically represent the problem, a generic optimization model is developed to minimize overall costs, including station opening, inventory holding, shortage, transportation, and collection center/facility opening costs. This study addresses several research questions to explore the impact of distribution strategies (centralized and decentralized) on multi-manned DLB and lot size decisions within the context of reverse supply chain design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, dental tourism is regarded as one of the most important tourist industries due to its high demand and financial transactions. Sustainable development has become increasingly important because of the depletion of natural resources, health problems, and waste management. Contrary to the previous works, we firstly develop a multi-objective mathematical model seeking to reach and optimize sustainable objectives in the dental tourism supply chain. To achieve these aims, optimal locations of dental clinics and accommodation facilities and their required number and capacities are found. Besides, transportation activities and waste treatment facilities are optimized based on supply and demand. Biological risks, job vacancies creation, environmental issues, and costs and profits are considered in our work. Also, an improved goal programming is employed to solve the model. In addition, this model is implemented and analyzed by a real case study of the dental tourist industry to validate the proposed model. The government and practitioners of private sectors would derive great benefits from the real case outputs to build a thriving business from sustainable perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing shared resources across multiple clients is a complex challenge in the production, logistics, and service sectors. This study addresses the underexplored area of forecasting service costs for non-cooperative clients, which is essential for sustainable business management. We propose a framework that merges Operations Research (OR) and Machine Learning (ML) to fill this gap. It begins by applying the OR model to historical instances, optimizing resource allocation, and determining equitable service cost allocations for each client. These allocations serve as training targets for ML models, which are trained using a combination of original and augmented client data, aiming to reliably project service costs and support competitive, sustainable pricing strategies. The framework's efficacy is demonstrated in a reverse logistics case study, benchmarked against two traditional cost estimation methods for new clients. Comparative analysis shows that our framework outperforms these methods in terms of predictive accuracy, highlighting its superior effectiveness. The integration of OR and ML offers a significant decision-support mechanism, improving sustainable business strategies across sectors. Our framework provides a scalable solution for cost forecasting and resource optimization, marking progress toward a circular, sustainable economy by accurately estimating costs and promoting efficient operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ability of closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) and reverse logistics (RL) to improve the triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental values) has increased the development of design and management models for CLSCs and RL. Consequently, there exists an extensive body of literature dedicated to exploring these supply and logistics issues. This paper reviews recent and relevant literature on CLSC and RL with an emphasis on uncertainty, carbon emissions, greenness index, return product quality and reliability considerations. The selected references are organized, reviewed, and analyzed to establish valuable mapping to highlight major findings. Finally, the outcomes are synthesized, and the primary research gaps are emphasized, pointing toward potential avenues for future investigation. These findings reveal that research efforts must be directed towards the development of multi-criteria greenness indices and multi-objective robust optimization models for uncertain quality and reliability of returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complicated and dynamic conditions of the contemporary era, which partially is due to the advances in the communication age technology, have been influenced by digital transformation. Therefore, such issues necessitate reviewing fundamental changes in the requirements for improving enterprises, especially supply chain components. In recent years, reverse logistics of the supply chain, as a complement of forward logistics, have had a significant share of research literature regarding its major benefits in proper management and dramatic effects. In this regard, entering the modern advanced world requires new outlooks in terms of traditional paradigms through the lens of digitalization and their synchronization with continuous changes. Accordingly, this transformation has significantly affected the concept of reverse logistics. To identify the solutions ahead, through a systematic review of valid scientific databases, we reviewed almost 100 papers published in the last decade focusing on three basic topics: digital transformation, decision support systems, and logistics/reverse logistics. After extracting all major subcategories of the literature based on the research methodology, a comprehensive view allowed mapping of the literature based on main concepts to synthesize the developments of different research streams, and research gaps were introduced to clarify future research suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology is commonly used in many industries. One current application is that providing supply chain transparency, sellers can disclose product information to consumers for authentication and certification. To examine the supply chain blockchain based transparency‐level strategy and its interact with different refund policies, in a two‐echelon supply chain, we consider a supplier decides on the transparency level and wholesale price, and a retailer decides on retail price and provides full refund (policy F), or partial refund (policy P), or no refund (policy N) policy to consumers. We find the refund policy choice and the transparency‐level strategy have a mutual influence. A lenient refund policy (a higher refund) can generate more demand, which makes the supplier to provide a high transparency level, whereas a high consumer's transparency awareness also promotes the retailer to choose a more lenient refund policy. We find Pareto improvement exists under a cost‐sharing strategy, and the retailer is willing to share part of the adoption cost only when the efficiency of improving the transparency level is moderate. Otherwise, the retailer adopts blockchain technology only when there is no cost sharing. Further, different shipping cost bearers can change the sensitivity of refund policy choice, and the supplier prefers to provide a high transparency level when the retailer covers the shipping cost. When the retailer becomes more socially responsible, the supplier is more willing to provide a higher transparency level, and the retailer is more willing to provide a partial refund policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing production of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in Brazil is driving the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices related to the management of the WEEE reverse chain. Thus, the adoption of CE becomes essential for strategic management that promotes environmental preservation, and economic and social development. This study, which employed a survey as the research method, aims to evaluate the importance of CE practices related to the management of the WEEE reverse chain in Brazil. To achieve this, we employed the Kruskal–Wallis and Holm-Sidak multiple comparison tests. Based on the obtained results, the most significant practices are related to legislation and regulations, and effective consumer participation. These are followed by practices related to the management of outsourced recycling companies, and the involvement of logistics operators, treatment, and recycling strategies. The least representative practices were simulations and optimization strategies for logistics transportation, collection centers, and recycling centers. This study contributes to managerial practice by suggesting trends related to environmental management practices and material circularity, as well as compliance with the National Solid Waste Policy. For society, the research highlights the need for consumer education regarding the disposal of WEEE, as well as the necessity for governments and companies to collaborate in forming cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain management (SCM) is the active management of supply chain activities to optimize customer value and establish a sustainable competitive advantage. It demonstrates that supply chain management firms are actively working to establish and run source chains as profitably and well as they can. The activities that comprise the supply chain include the development of products, procurement, manufacturing, shipping, and the data systems wanted to oversee these processes. This review presents information. SCM was introduced in the opening paragraph of this page, which was followed by information about the participants and the procedures used by different businesses. It employs sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), which offers five-dimensional sustainable approaches, and presents GSCM in this study. The needs in the industrial industry's supply chain are continuously presented. Accordingly, the waste material management process is presented for different manufacturing industries, however, it consists of waste management methods like disposal method, landfill, and incineration. Additionally, this study presents detailed information about reverse Supply Chain Management (RSCM), their concept and process are explained in this review. The review describes the state of the art in survey technology, the methodology of implementation, the definition and motivation of the research topic, current trends and advancements, and the goal of the study. Reviewers came to the conclusion that RSCM controls the waste product well as a result. Utilizing the components and materials of returned goods to cut down on raw material usage and expenses is the focus of supply management in reverse logistics (RL). In future, reverse logistic SCM is introduced in the automobile industry to efficiently manage automobile waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Today, reverse logistics (RL) is still considered as an emerging field, despite the fact that it has drawn increasing attention over the last decade and now there is a growing interest in the domain of RL than ever before. Although many firms have yet to recognize the capability of effective RL, some firms have realized the strategic importance of RL and initiated deployment of thoughtful investments in functions and systems of their RL practices. Nowadays, RL is considered as a crucial activity for the survival of companies. This article deliberates on RL, cost optimization (CO) and return strategies (RS), along with their implications for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Information is collected from 420 SMEs using judgemental sampling. On the basis of the literature, the framework of the study is proposed and further analysis is performed using a reliability assessment, normality and adequacy examination, evaluation of the homogeneity of variances, development of the structural model with coefficients and testing of the model through fitment analysis. The outcome of the study highlights that there is no direct causal association between RL and CO; however, there is an indirect association through RS. It is observed that there is a significant cause-and-effect association between RL and RS, as well as a significant cause-and-effect association between RS and CO, in SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) is a highly important strategic issue in the healthcare domain because of its significant effect on human wellbeing and healthcare costs. This paper provides a mathematical optimization model to design a PSC by considering the drug's corruption. Given the importance of the sustainable development goals, three objectives are considered: economic, social, and environmental. The cost of fixed installation, transportation, holding, collection, distribution, recycling and disposal is reduced by the economic objective. A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and nonrenewable energy consumption is achieved by the environmental objective. Based on the social objective, the number of employment opportunities, economic growth, job satisfaction, and national self-sufficiency are all increased, while the number of days lost due to work-related accidents decreases. To achieve the weight of elements in environmental and social objectives, the fuzzy best–worst method is used. Due to the inherent uncertainty in the PSC, its main parameters are referred to as unpredictable, which calls for a robust optimization approach to eliminate the model parameters' uncertainty. A fuzzy programming approach is used to solve the developed model. Numerical evidence drawn from a practical case shows that the suggested model is efficacious and valid. We suggest that the priorities and challenges of sustainable growth contribute to the determination of the PSC's managerial and operational characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the research is to indicate potential areas of application for ChatGPT in the supply chain and the associated outcomes with reference to specific examples. The purpose of the deliberations is also to propose a research model, which will serve as an empirical matrix for examining case studies and, as this technology becomes more widespread, for quantitative research. Design/methodology/approach: In the first stage of the research, a qualitative review of scientific literature was conducted. Subsequently, selected items were assigned to thematic modules, guided by knowledge of the sequencing of processes in the supply chain. The collected material allowed for the identification of research gaps in the discussed topic. Findings: As a result of the undertaken work, a measurement tool has been proposed, useful for future research on the use of ChatGPT in supply chains, consisting of several constructs and dozens of test items. This is also the first such proposal in the world literature. It has been found that the application of ChatGPT at its current stage of development and empirical evidence is primarily illustrated in relation to logistics and marketing management, mainly in customer service and transport tasks. The effectiveness of chat application has been confirmed, among others, in the area of supply chain configuration, supplier selection, inventory management, production, and transportation. However, these are individual studies. There is a lack of empirical studies on the use of GPT in freight forwarding, logistics operators, distribution, and reverse logistics. Research is also needed on the connections between the described technology and other Industry 4.0 technologies used in the supply chain. Such correlations have been examined in relation to blockchain, 3D, but the potential in this area is much greater. Research limitations/implications: The article integrates knowledge of supply chain management and the potential of one of the most advanced Natural Language Processing models. This area is exceptionally under-explored compared to previous works in the field of ChatGPT. Practical implications: Enterprises implementing ChatGPT in their supply chains can generate specific business benefits outlined in the research model. Social implications: The described technology can have positive effects in all dimensions of sustainable activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the research is to identify the most frequently undertaken research areas in scientific publications addressing the issues of green supply chain and green logistics simultaneously. Design/methodology/approach: The study was planned and carried out in the period from April to August 2024. The analyzed research areas were expressed through author keywords, which were assigned to individual scientific publications through their authors. The multi-stage research process used two methods for bibliometric research (systematic literature review and classical literature review). Author keywords assigned to 111 precisely selected scientific publications were analyzed. Findings: Nine of the most frequently addressed research areas in scientific publications that simultaneously addressed green supply chain and green logistics were identified. In terms of as many as three identified research areas, there was a direct reference to the supply chain (green supply chain, green supply chain management, supply chain management). In turn, in two areas there was a reference to sustainability issues (environmental sustainability, sustainability). In addition, the issue of reverse logistics was identified as a key research area and at the same time corresponding to the issue of green logistics. Research limitations/implications: An important factor limiting the study was the choice of database for bibliometric analyses (Scopus database). In addition, the scope of the analyses undertaken was limited to the constructed bibliometric query (Q1). However, both aspects indicated simultaneously made it possible to obtain precise and consistent results of the analyses. Moreover, it becomes possible to repeat the study in the future and compare it with other constructed studies aimed at literature review. Originality/value: The study, compared to other such bibliometric analyses, is distinguished by the syntax of the constructed query. In addition, it was noted that research should be undertaken in learning more about the role and importance of logistics and supply chain greening for emerging green business ecosystems. Other relevant areas are the question of green job creation due to the greening of supply chains, or how the green skills gap affects the process of green supply chain and green logistics. The article is addressed to anyone interested in issues related to green supply chain and green logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is one of the most economically important practices in the world; it is essential for food security and socioeconomic development in several countries. However, the use of pesticides, which are essential for fighting pests and weeds and guaranteeing agricultural yields, has brought about an environmental issue pertaining to the management of empty pesticide packaging. The improper disposal of pesticide packaging can put both environmental and human health at risk. Therefore, the implementation of reverse logistics systems will be essential if we are to ensure that packages are collected, recycled, and disposed of safely. Blockchain technology is an innovative solution that offers transparent and immutable recording of data, thereby facilitating traceability. In this study, we present the application of a circular economy-based framework to agricultural production via blockchain (and involving all actors within production and consumption) to enable the more responsible disposal of empty pesticide packaging for eventual reuse, recovery, or recycling. Bibliographical research was carried out through Scopus and Web of Science from 2018 to 2023; we principally aimed to provide an overview of this pertinent area of research using the following keywords: "blockchain", "circular economy", "pesticide packaging", and "reverse logistics". Bibliometrics using graphs and tables made it possible to refine the information collected from the databases. We analyzed how blockchain can be integrated alongside reverse logistics, highlighting how it can promote the principles of the circular economy through various methods of sustainable and responsible agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the largest consumer of pesticides in the world, the amount used causes a lot of damage to the environment (BORSOI et al., 2014). Reverse logistics operates from the planning and control of logistical information equivalent to the process of returning after-sales and consumption products to mastering the cycles of logistics and business (LEITE, 2009). In this sense, the general objective is to evaluate the reverse logistics process used for containers of agricultural pesticides in rural communities in the municipality of São João Evangelista. Based on this study, on-site visits were made to ten family farming properties in the rural municipality, carried out in the month of May of the year 2023, and during these visits, data were collected from observations, photos and dialogues with local farmers. Through conversations with the ranchers, the lack of nearby collection points, the lack of transportation and information, are one of the determining factors in the difficulties encountered, and that cause the incorrect disposal and reuse of packaging. It was observed that there are many difficulties encountered by small livestock farmers in relation to the return of postconsumption containers. The municipality does not offer any structure for receiving these packages until the time of the local study and currently, there is no collection by traders in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse logistics network design is a complex decision-making problem that involves the reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling of end-of-life (EOL) under the tradeoff among conflicting objectives. The cutting-edge technologies in Industry 4.0 are now leading to an unprecedented and dynamic transformation of reverse logistics systems, which, however, further complicates the initial network design. In this paper, a two-level decision-support framework combined with both optimization and dynamic simulation is proposed to balance the cost, environmental impact, and service level in smart and sustainable reverse logistics network design under a dynamically evolving and stochastic environment. The results of a real-world case study in Norway show that the method can better support robust strategic decisions, eliminate dominated/near-dominated solutions, and yield holistic performance analyses considering smart reverse logistics transformation. The proposed two-level decision-support framework can better analyze the impact of the technology transformation of Industry 4.0 on reverse logistics systems, while it also provides a fundamental structure for digital reverse logistics twin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Payables finance, also known as reverse factoring or supply chain finance, is a form of trade finance offered by a bank that provides a supplier with the option to receive a buyer's payables early while allowing the buyer to extend its payment due date. There has been an increasing adoption of payables finance by various industries in recent years. In "Optimal Cash Management with Payables Finance," X. Yan, L. Chen, and X. Ding characterize the supplier's optimal cash policy under the payables finance arrangement with a buyer and a bank. The authors show that it is the supplier's future cash flow uncertainty, together with the supplier's risk averseness, that drives the cash liquidity value of payables finance. Numerical results of applying the analysis to data sets obtained from a major U.S. chemical company suggest that adopting payables finance can generate considerable value for the company and its suppliers. Payables finance, also known as reverse factoring or supply chain finance, is a form of trade finance arrangement that provides a supplier with the option to receive a buyer's payables early while allowing the buyer to extend its payment due date. The recent adoption of the blockchain technology has the potential to make payables finance more efficient and secure. In this paper, we study the supplier's optimal cash policy under such a "frictionless" payables finance arrangement. Our work extends the classic cash flow management literature in four fronts: (1) we introduce the salient features of payables finance into the cash flow problem; (2) we allow cash flows to be temporally correlated; (3) we adopt a general risk-aversion utility framework for the problem; and (4) we consider a more realistic integrated cash balance model, that is, all interest gains and costs are allowed to accrue together with the cash balance in a single sum. We find the optimal cash policy possesses the "non-borrow-up-to" and "non-invest-down-to" features that differ from the classic (L, U) policy known in the literature. We further quantify the value of payables finance to the supplier and determine the equilibrium payment term extension for the buyer. We show that it is the cash liquidity enabled by payables finance to hedge against cash flow uncertainty that generates value to the supplier. To tackle the computational challenge of the problem, we derive easy-to-compute heuristic policies and system bounds. Numerical studies show that heuristic policies achieve near-optimal performance. Finally, we present results from applying our model to data sets obtained from a major U.S. chemical company. Supplemental Material: The computer code and data that supports the findings of this study are available within this article's supplemental material at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2022.0196. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a compilation of articles from the journal "Operations Research" that cover a wide range of topics related to production management, inventory systems, financial networks, audit strategies, online markets, volunteer engagement, and data-driven optimization. The articles provide valuable insights and findings that can enhance efficiency and decision-making in these fields. The research presented in these articles is relevant for practitioners and researchers conducting research in these areas. The articles offer unique perspectives and approaches to solving complex problems in different industries, aiming to provide practical solutions and improve decision-making processes. [Extracted from the article]

The integration of online trading has emerged as a crucial driver of operational efficiency in the reverse supply chain. This study expands the recycling model to include three distinct scenarios: basic-offline recycling (BR), single-platform recycling (SR), and dual-platform recycling (DR). The research delves into the implications of varying platform numbers, profit-sharing contracts, consumer recycling preferences, and recycling price adjustment speeds on supply chain stability within a multi-period decision-making framework. Findings reveal that the SR model is not always yield higher profits for remanufacturers through lower revenue allocation proportions to platforms, in stark contrast to the DR model. Furthermore, rapid decision adjustments do not consistently enhance the stability of the recycling system across multiple decision cycles. Remanufacturers' expansion strategies are significantly impacted by the costs associated with acquiring e-waste from individual recyclers. Importantly, an excess of platforms does not always result in favorable outcomes. Conversely, the SR model proves superior to the DR model in practical contexts that may arise. These insights offer valuable guidance to remanufacturers seeking to develop viable expansion strategies that foster mutually beneficial relationships among individual recyclers, remanufacturers, and platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main aim of the article is to present the author's model of the maturity of logistic centres, in its improved version. Design/methodology/approach: To carry out the research and prepare the article, an expert (Delphic) method was used, using the knowledge of experts professionally connected with logistic centres, and a literature review. Findings: The conclusion of the research and analysis of the results is an improved model of logistic centre maturity compared to previous work. The developed model of logistic centre maturity allows for a comprehensive analysis of the logistic centre's maturity, locating points in need of improvement, and allows continuity and reliability of the centre's operation to be ensured. Practical implications: The model developed has practical use for management of logistics centres and is a universal one, meaning it can be utilised in any logistic centre in order to improve its inner workings. Originality/value: The main value of the paper is improvement upon author's original model of the maturity of logistics centres, with inclusion of additional arenas. The developed model is the authors’ own input into logistics science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers an e‐tailing supply chain for fresh produce (E‐FSC) composed of a supplier investing in freshness‐keeping effort and an e‐retailer providing value‐added service. We study the e‐retailer's information sharing strategy with supplier encroachment. First, we discuss the supplier's encroachment strategy without or with information sharing and indicate that the e‐retailer may profit more from encroachment. Second, we explore the e‐retailer's information sharing strategy under two scenarios. Under the independent scenario, the e‐retailer may share information when the freshness sensitivity is comparatively high, which cannot affect the supplier's encroachment strategy. Under the interactive scenario, the e‐retailer influences the supplier's encroachment strategy through an information sharing strategy. The e‐retailer may share (withhold) information to induce (deter) encroachment when the competition intensity is comparatively low or high (moderate). Finally, we discuss the influence of the entry cost on E‐FSC members' profits, which finds that increasing entry cost may improve the supplier's profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of reverse logistics has been well established in developed countries as compared to the developing countries. However, the implementation of reverse logistics in some of the companies in India finds difficulties owing to different barriers. Thus, this study primarily focussed on identifying the barriers to implement reverse logistics for an effective supply chain management in five bottle manufacturing companies located in Odisha state in India. Data were collected by the use of designed questionnaire from 154 employees followed by subsequent analysis with statistical analysis, and further, the barriers were ranked based on their preferences by the use of an integrated approach of both "Best Worst Method (BWM) and Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA)". Out of a total of 48 barriers in the questionnaire, 40 barriers were identified to be more significant under five prevailing-factors or "Barriers' Related Factor (BRF)", such as "Economic-Barriers (EB); Informational-Barriers (IB); Laws, Regulations and Policies based Barriers (LRPB); Management and Infrastructural Barriers (MIB); and Environmental-Barriers (ENVB)"; respectively. The BWM method was used to rank the dominant-factors representing the reverse logistics based barriers (RLBs) with the calculation of optimized weight values of the factors, while the SWARA method was utilized to rank the concerned RLBs by considering the respective factor's optimized weight values to calculate the final weight values of respective RLBs. The finding of this research will provide a guide-way to the professional and other decision-makers to plan for appropriate resolutions of these barriers for implementing reverse logistics in a more successful manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shipping industry is the cornerstone that facilitates the movement of approximately 90% of international commercial goods. However, environmental challenges, particularly in the ship recycling (SR) industry, have become increasingly evident. Via closed-loop production patterns within an economic system, a circular economy aims to improve resource-use efficiency by focusing on urban and industrial waste to achieve better balance and harmony between the economy, environment, and society. A key element in this process is a well-executed disassembly that enables reuse, remanufacturing, high-value recycling, and implementing other circular strategies. Based on a systematic literature review, this paper delineates the SR process, identifies influential scholarly works on recycling end-of-life ships, discusses factors affecting shipowners' decision to recycle, and opportunities for sustainability and circularity in SR processes. The results confirm the increasing need for green SR to reduce shipbreaking waste. Also discussed is how greening SR could be integrated into sustainable development goals under proper environmental and safety regulations and an aligned cultural mindset for stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the planning decisions in a production facility that receives returned products as a contribution to sustainability through the reduction in waste from used products. It involves three processes: the refurbishing and disassembly of returned items and the manufacturing of new items. The process is driven by the demands of new items and collected secondhand items. In this study, we consider a downward substitution, in which new items could be used to meet the demand for secondhand items. The objective is to determine the best production planning schedule to satisfy all demands while minimizing the total costs of production and inventory. We propose and analyze different configurations distinguished by their level of integration and whether they allow substitution. Integration is mainly achieved through the sharing of the inventory of returns between the refurbishing line and the disassembly line, which responsible for feeding the manufacturing process with "as good as new" parts. The best configuration is identified based on the total cost and environmental impact. Four heuristics based on combining relax-and-fix and fix-and-optimize approaches are proposed. Numerical experiments have shown that the heuristics are very efficient, achieving gaps of less than 1% from the optimum in short CPU times for most instances. Numerical experiments have also shown that integration through the sharing of returns inventories leads to considerable cost and environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of e-commerce has led to an increase in the number of product returns in supply chains, which is both environmentally and economically challenging. E-commerce companies need to effectively manage product returns, as this has a direct impact on their reputation and consumer experience. Reducing returns is key to maintaining sustainable practices for online product sales. A significant increase in e-commerce transactions is also evident in Indonesia, which is the fourth largest country in the world. Despite the very large size of the market, research on e-commerce in the business-to-customer (B2C) market in Indonesia is underrepresented in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to identify key factors from the customer perspective that influence product returns in reverse logistics in Indonesian e-commerce. The novelty of this study stems from the focus on the customer perspective on product returns in the B2C market when shopping online and the spatial scope. Due to the uncertainty inherent in multi-criteria decision making, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to rank factors and potential solutions derived from a critical literature review. As a result, the study provides a ranking of factors and alternatives for managing e-commerce returns in Indonesia. The results show that among Indonesian e-commerce customers, product quality (QP) was rated the highest, while (Pu) was rated the lowest. In terms of the alternatives that are the most suitable for improving the customer experience of e-commerce product returns in Indonesia, a clear returns policy (CRP) scored the highest, while the merchandise catalog (Cat) was rated as the lowest priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]