Title: Integration of design for reverse logistics and harvesting of information: a research agenda

Authors: M. Reza Hosseini; Nicholas Chileshe; Raufdeen Rameezdeen; Steffen Lehmann

Addresses: School of Natural and Built Environments, Barbara Hardy Institute (BHI), University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia ' School of Natural and Built Environments, Barbara Hardy Institute (BHI), University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia ' School of Natural and Built Environments, Barbara Hardy Institute (BHI), University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia ' School of Art, Architecture and Design, Barbara Hardy Institute (BHI), University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia

Abstract: The literature is replete with treatises advocating the immense benefits of reverse logistics (RL) systems for organisations in terms of alleviating environmental concerns and enhancing the level of productivity. Nevertheless, implementing RL in organisations is fraught with complications with its success largely riding on fulfilling the requirements prescribed by the critical success factors (CSFs) of RL. Despite the voluminous body of knowledge on RL in the extant literature, operational aspects of RL have overshadowed some central strategic prerequisites for the success of RL systems. Drawing upon an integrative literature review, this paper provides an insight into different aspects of the implementation of RL practices. The central role of the integration of design for reverse logistics (DfRL) and harvesting of information (HoI) in the effective implementation of RL systems is then established and clarified through developing a conceptual framework. The paper concludes by putting forward an agenda for research.

Keywords: reverse logistics; logistics design; design integration; information harvesting; knowledge management; supply chain management; SCM; critical success factors; CSFs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2015.068490

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2015 Vol.20 No.4, pp.480 - 515

Received: 23 Aug 2013
Accepted: 08 Dec 2013

Published online: 15 Apr 2015 *

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