Analyzing Indexes of Agile Reverse logistics Using Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach

Subject Areas :

Mona Ganjali ¹ , Hadi Shirouyehzad ² , Arash Shahin ³

1 - Department of Industrial Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
2 - Department of Industrial Engineering, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
3 - Department of Management, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2015-07-05 Accepted : 2015-07-05 Published : 2014-08-01

Keywords: reverse logistics, Agility, Indexes of agile reverse logistics, ISM,

Abstract :

With development of technology and science and continuous increase in productivity, product life cycles are shortened and customer demands are more personalized and diversified, which makes companies face with ever changing and unpredictable competitive environment. Therefore, rapid response to market competition has become one of the main focuses and the competitive advantages. Today, one of the most important issues in supply chain is reverse logistics, which includes all operations related to the reuse of products and materials. The concept of reverse logistics has received growing attention in the recent decades due to a number of factors such as Competition and marketing motives, direct economic motives and concerns with the environment. Reverse logistics has become an important source of opportunity for companies to improve visibility and profitability and lower the costs across the supply chain.Environmental issues are also increasing awareness of the importance of reverse logistics. More companies are now considering reverse logistics as a strategic activity because it can create value. Since agility becomes one of the most important tools for sustainable development of companies, achieving high agility of reverse logistics enterprises is an effective means of reducing costs and better meeting consumer needs for enterprise. Therefore, constructing high agile reverse logistics systems is very necessary. The problem of how organizations can successfully deal with unpredictable, dynamic, and constantly changing environments has been a prevailing topic both in industry and academia for the last decades. This paper introduces indexes of agile reverse logistic, and then analyses the interaction between indexes by using ISM. The results were obtained through a questionnaire from the experts. The obtained results reveal that the application level of the information system of reverse logisticsandthe time of starting reverse logistics system are two undeniable needs for the agility of reverse logistics.