Why Mattel's Reverse Logistics Team Gets All the Resources They Need

By Paul Rupnow, Editor
Reverse Logistics Professional Report

While the Reverse Logistics teams at most companies are resource strapped and operating on shoestring budgets, Nancy Maclean's team at Mattel gets all the resources she needs. Maclean and her team have developed a very effective program to monitor, manage and prevent Returned Goods. Their work has resulted in a reduction in Mattel's cost of defective returns by over 50% over the last 5 years. For a large company like Mattel, with brands like Barbie, American Girl, Hot Wheels and Fisher Price, any reduction in product return costs can add up to a significant impact in profitability.  Full Article

RLTS Singapore 2005

October 25-27, 2005
Pan Pacific Hotel
Singapore

RLTS Singapore 2005 is just one month away! International and regional representatives will be in attendance. ODMs and OEMs will be looking for 3PSPs that can manage ReverseLogistics™ in the Far-East, along with identifying ReverseLogistics™ solutions for Europe and North America.

Reserve your room at the newly renovated Pan Pacific Hotel and get the group rate for the Reverse Logistics Conference & Expo.

For more information visit www.RLTShows.com.

Benchmark Analysis & Evaluation of Repair Depot Operations

by Michael Blumberg, President
D. F. Blumberg Associates

The following is an excerpt from "Benchmark Analysis & Evaluation of Repair Depot Operations" a research document by D. F. Blumberg Associates, Inc.

I. Introduction The analysis and evaluation of depot repair operations through a formal benchmarking process can be extremely useful in identifying and evaluating current levels of efficiency and identifying opportunities for productivity and efficiency improvement. Based on the studies of 49 repair depots, a comprehensive benchmark database has been developed. This database is segmented in terms of type of repair operation, level of performance, and type of technology supported.
Full article and associated charts

• RLTS Singapore - Oct 25-27, 2005
• E-Scrap Electronics Recycling Conference - Orlando - Oct 27-28, 2005
• Reverse Logistics Workshop - Atlanta - Nov 8, 2005
• Storage Visions Conference - Las Vegas - Jan 6-7, 2006
• RLTS Las Vegas - Feb 6-8, 2006

Drew Seitam formerly of Parcelhouse Pty Ltd has recently joined Retriever Communications of New South Wales as Director of Operations. Retriever is a leading provider of wireless field force automation solutions.

Ronald Fenstra formerly of Teleplan recently joined Jabil as Senior Director of Sales responsible for EMEA.

Depot Repair Measurements

by Roy Fain, Vice President
JFR Consulting

If your business is repair how do you know if your getting better? Are you efficient? Where is the opportunity? What is your repair takt time?

Repair has many manufacturing similarities and is typically managed as a manufacturing operation. Repair has greater potential for process variation since two products can be the same but have very different repair solutions and repair times.   Full Article

New RFIs Listed

• A major OEM of PCs, Laptops and peripheral products is seeking a Third Party Service Provider (3PSP) in Latin America to process products returned from their customers.
• Major US semiconductor capital equipment manufacturer seeking consultant / project management services to stream line and help implement optimized reverse logistics.
• Major OEM of consumer telecommunication products is seeking Third Party Service Provider (3PSP) to process products returned.

RL Quote is a service of the Reverse Logistics Association that facilitates Retailers and Manufacturers requests for information (RFIs).  More...