Industry Insight
Returning Profits from Returns:
Leveraging all 5 R's of Effective Returns Management
by Kate Vitasek, Karl Manrodt and Peter Murphy
 Managing returns is big business. However, for most companies, managing returns is just a big headache that most executives hope would just disappear. Unfortunately for logistics professionals the returns headache is migraine size. According to the chairman of the Returns Logistics Executive Council (RLEC), the top 30 non-grocery retailers in the United States handle around $53 billion in returns per year. Other recent estimates range as high as $100 billion – which is more than the GDP of two-thirds of the world's countries. Full Article
RLTS Singapore 2006
Le Meridien Singapore Hotel
October 24-26, 2006
 RLTS Singapore is fast approaching! The third annual RLTS Conference and Expo in Asia/Pacific will be held on October 24-26, 2006 in Singapore at Le Meridien Singapore Hotel. Attendees from throughout the South Pacific and Asia as well as many other international delegates will network with peers and key industry professionals and discuss today's most relevant RL issues. ODMs and OEMs will be looking for 3PSPs that can manage Reverse Logistics in North America and Europe, along with identifying Service Logistics solutions for the Far-East.
 Speaker & panelist positions are still open. There are many benefits for session speakers and panel participants. Exhibit booths are available if you would like to showcase your products or services. For more information on exhibiting, visit the Exhibitor Resources page. Read what past participants have to say about RLTS events.
Integrated Reverse Logistics
New Ways to Streamline Operations, Drive Profits, and Delight Customers
by Ray Martin
 What is old is new again. A quick search on Amazon.com pulls up over one thousand business books with the term "integrated" in the title. This word, which is defined as "to make a whole by bringing all parts together" has been applied to logistics and supply chain concepts for decades.
The intent of this article is not to stake claim that integration is critical to reverse logistics success—this is a given. Integration in the context of reverse logistics, or any business area, is a means to an end, not the end itself. As technology, business practices and globalization continue to evolve; enterprises will continue to expand the boundaries integration to drive business value. Full Article
Industry Events
- Aviation Week Management Forums - Integrated Asset Management & Inventory Solutions - Dallas, TX - September 28-29, 2006
- RFID for Pharma Web Conference - October 10, 2006 - 1:00PM EDT
- Open Source Software for the Enterprise Web Conference - October 11, 2006 - 11:00AM EDT
- E-Scrap 2006 - Austin, TX - October 18-19, 2006
- RLTS Singapore 2006 - October 24-26, 2006
- RL Seminar - Miami, FL - November 15, 2006
- RL Seminar - Phoenix, AZ - December 6, 2006
- Storage Visions - Las Vegas, NV - January 6-7, 2007
- International CES - Las Vegas, NV - January 8 - 11, 2007
- RL Seminar - Ontario, CA - January 11, 2007
- RLTS Las Vegas 2007 - February 5-7, 2007
- Asset Management Conference & Expo West - San Diego, CA - February 21-22, 2007
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Featured Article
Using Online Auction Marketplaces to Maximize Revenue in the Reverse Supply Chain
by Ram Aikat
 Supply chain executives know the importance of a streamlined and efficient forward supply chain. Organizations of all types and sizes have heavily invested in technology and have developed enhanced operational processes that quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively bring finished goods to the end-user. However, the most accurate planning and inventory management cannot overcome the inevitable flow of goods that are returned through the reverse supply chain. The introduction of new products, liberal return policies, supply chain inefficiencies, and even regulatory policies are contributing to the growth of the Reverse Logistics, predicted to reach $63.1 billion by 2008, according to recent research by D.F. Blumberg Associates. Full Article
ClearOrbit White Paper
Unlocking the Payback of Better Visibility
 Visibility both up and down the supply chain is an important priority for manufacturers. Yet, most companies are woefully inadequate in providing visibility to returned materials flow. Download Aberdeen Group's report on ClearOrbit's Enterprise Returns Management Solution, designed to improve visibility and control over the reverse logistics process. View White Paper
RL Seminar Road Show
Denver RL Seminar Highlights
 "Environmental Issues of Reverse Logistics" was the focus of the fifth stop of the Reverse Logistics Road Show series of seminars. Steve Simpson of Sun Microsystems talked about Sun's approach to Eco Responsibility and shared specific supply chain effects of various regulatory requirements.
 Jade Lee of Supply-Chain Services, Inc. presented "How the Global Environmental Mandates Have Changed Business Behavior" and covered regulatory requirements including RoHS, WEEE, US Legislature, NEPSI Status, HIPAA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley & SOX.
 After lunch attendees boarded the RLA shuttle and headed for the Sun/StorageTek Reverse Logistics Warehouse where returns are processed.
Rounding out this productive seminar was a highly interactive panel discussion led by Anne Peters, President, Greystone Inc. on environmental issues and challenges and regulatory requirements.
Next Stop - Miami!
On The Move in Reverse Logistics
 Paul Bruce joins Flextronics as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Aftermarket Services. Formerly of Celestica, Paul served as vice president and general manager, Reverse Logistics and Repair.
Bryant Underwood, formerly of Solectron has recently joined Foxconn as Director, North American Service.
RL Quote
RL Quote provides OEMs, ODMs and Retailers a way to connect with 3PSPs. With RL Quote a manufacturer or retailer can send out RFIs anonymously to our worldwide database of suppliers, screen through the 3PSP responses and narrow down the prospects.
RL Quote is available for all manufacturers and retail companies at no cost. 3PSPs that are members of RLA can respond to RFIs. Get details on RL Quote.
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