Bolaji: Thank you for your question. Reverse logistics is so much more than the name suggests. It can be nearly any activity that occurs in the end market – or after the point-of-sale. In the automotive market, for example, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) deal with warranty issues, such as parts recalls or pulling back the precious metals in catalytic converters. Ensuring the product is returned to the correct location using the most efficient transportation mode is important – whether it's a radio, transmission or any warranty part. Further to the retail side of the industry, eBay states that a part or accessory is sold online every one second and an engine or component sells every 25 seconds. With the ongoing growth of online sales, returns is one component of reverse logistics that continues to play an increasingly important role in customer satisfaction and repeat sales.
Jim, You made the case convincingly for companies to adopt reverse logistics. However, not much of this goes in several end markets. Automotives come to mind. Why is this the case?
The more I read about this, the more convinced I am that revrese logistics plays a growing role in the electronics supply chain. One aspect that OEMs can improve on is ease of doing business. Our mobile service carrier does not take our old cells phones when we upgrade. Unless we are able to make a certain town-wide collection date, we just keep the things until...well, we still have them. Even donating them becomes problematic. If I were to get a prepaid box to send my old phones back to the manufacturer along with my new phone, I'd send them back in a minute.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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