Comparing Two Reverse Logistics Journal Articles

¶ … Improving After-Sale Reverse Logistics in Department Stores: A Brazilian Case Study After-sale reverse logistics has grown in significance in the last decade. So as to contribute to scientific innovation, the authors present a structured process for reverse logistics. Additionally, the article looks into conventional supply chains in terms of similarities of its inventory management, transport operations and data management. The authors aimed to come up with a structured procedure for reverse logistics that would be based on process management.

In their aim, they looked at three levels: performance management, resource management and product entry management in the reverse logistics chain. The authors conducted a field research of three departmental stores and did a literature review on the subject matter.

The data collected from the stores utilizing questionnaires and interviews showed that an improved structuring of the reverse logistic process in the departmental stores and other kind of retail stores can result in increased financial performance for companies, by reducing the costs of product returns, enhancing asset usage, increasing efficiency in storage and/or inventor management, increasing revenue and providing resources for social responsibility e.g. the donation of some products that have been returned (Lopes, D'Agosto, Ferreira, & Oliveira, 2014).

2nd article: Recycling and Reverse Logistics One of the main elements in government attempts to enhance recycling programs has been the increase of curbside recycling initiatives. However, some experts are of the opinion that this kind of supply-based method of recycling may interfere with the market balance and likely result in negative long-term consequences. According to the authors of the article, a demand-based approach may work more effectively to guarantee the long-term success of recycling.

This article looks into the issue of recycling as a component of reverse logistics, and recommends how government initiatives on the side of the demand can encourage the growth of recycling as a component of reverse logistics, where demand and supply are closely matched (Wright, Richey, Tokman, & Palmer, 2011).

How Each Article Describes Its Reverse Logistics Topic The first journal delves into the topic of reverse logistics and how it can be utilized to improve efficiency and sort out supply issues in department stores, while the second journal delves into the subject of reverse logistics as a system that can be used by governments in the area of recycling. What Company OR Events Were Compared? The first article compared 3 department stores in Brazil, while the second article compared government supply-based curbside recycling initiatives with the alternative demand-based recycling approaches.

How Each Reached Their Conclusions Journal One Conclusions and suggestions were arrived at by the authors of journal 1 via a literature review and an interviewing data collection process. The interviewing process gathered data on the departmental stores' operational practices. Three stores were chosen for the interviews and they agreed to fill questionnaires and participate in interviews. The data gathering process delved into the post sales processes of the three departmental processes, and the policies and activities of the management with regards to returns of products.

Journal Two Conclusions in the second journal were arrived at through observations and literature review on the subject of reverse logistics. How the Two Conclusions Compared In the first journal, it was concluded that none of the stores had already come up with reasons to explain the growing significance of reverse logistics, meaning that they didn't.