Singapore Conference & Expo a Huge Success

Over 300 attendees representing 165 companies gathered in Singapore for Asia's largest reverse logistics conference! Reverse logistics professionals and leading academics from throughout Asia Pacific met to share best practices and discuss the most pressing reverse logistics challenges.

Companies represented included Apple, GE Healthcare, HP, IBM, Network Appliance, RIM, DaimlerChrysler and Seagate, just to name a few. Representatives from academia included Nanyang University, Singapore, Korea Aerospace University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University. The complete list of the companies that participated is available on the Event Attendees page.

Kerry Mok of DHL delivered the keynote address Wednesday morning (see Keynote article) and was followed by conference sessions and panel discussions focused on industry-specific issues such as Managing Reverse Logistics to Improve Performance, Services Role in Delighting Customers and Driving Loyalty and Design and Implementation of RFID based Product Lifecycle Tracking.

Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with Exhibitors during the 2-day expo. "The RLA event is one of the most important vehicles to promote Cycleon in its growth and in getting attention of OEMs," said Andre Olde Hampsink, Sales Director, Cycleon.

Visit the Photo Gallery for more pictures from the show.

How to Measure the Progress of Your Reverse Logistics Improvements

by Paul Rupnow

As you work on improving your Reverse Logistics, one of the challenges is to measure your progress. A helpful method is to use a progression model. A Reverse Logistics Progression Model is a strategic framework for the design and improvement of your Reverse Logistics processes, Reverse Supply Chain and your Reverse Logistics relationships, based on the experiences, best practices and knowledge of the industry and the community. You can use this model to help assess your Reverse Logistics progress.
Full Article

Hilton Austin Airport
Parts Harvesting and Recycling

Come hear from speakers representing DELL, CompUSA, and 3M. Electronic Recycling & Trading is sponsoring the facility tour. There will be time to visit with current and new business associates at the Roundtable Discussions during lunch. A panel discussion featuring the speakers and other reverse logistics professionals is sure to be informative as well. This full day seminar begins with a continental breakfast and ends with an evening reception starting at 6:00 p.m.

We hope you will join us as we explore the topic of Parts Harvesting and Recycling at this Reverse Logistics Association event in Austin, Texas.

Register now to secure your spot. Overnight guests may contact Hilton Austin Airport directly for availability and rates.

Celestica, BigByte and SabeRex Group each renewed their Silver Level RLA Members recently.

RLA Membership provides passes to RLTS events and access to RL Quote and conference presentations. Go online for a complete list of Membership Benefits.

Michael Connolly, formerly of Centis (Ireland) Limited/Founders Ltd. Kinsealy, has joined Data Exchange Corporation as Vice President, Services Sales for the European marketplace. He is based out of the company's Dublin, Ireland facility and has more than 23 years of experience in the logistics, marketing services, and software sectors. In his position, Connolly will be responsible for working with European customers to develop supply chain solutions that meet their requirements.

Click Commerce recently announced a number of appointments to align its organization with certain key customer segments – aviation, aerospace and defense. Click has assembled a team which will focus on providing these industries with the ability to make their aftermarket supply chains lean, collaborative, and transparent.

The team will be led by David Barboro, general manager, who brings more than 25 years of industry experience in the software, aviation, and aerospace and defense fields. His current responsibilities include providing global strategy, leadership, and business process optimization for the A&D team.

Ted Anderson, director of solutions marketing, is responsible for the strategic direction of Click Commerce’s complete suite of software solutions for the aviation, aerospace and defense industries. Anderson joins Click Commerce with close to 20 years of aviation experience.

David Nowicki comes to Click Commerce in the role of director of product management. Nowicki has over 10 years of experience at software vendors including i2 Technologies and Servigistics. Nowicki will lead the development of Click software solutions for aviation, aerospace and defense.

Judy Pitchford has joined Click Commerce in the role of account executive. Pitchford brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the sales team.

• RL Seminar - Austin, TX - October 17, 2007
• E-Scrap 2007 - Atlanta, GA - October 24-25, 2007
• Parcel Forum 2007 - Chicago, IL - October 29-31, 2007
• RL Seminar - Columbus, OH - November 13, 2007
• RL Seminar - Laredo, TX - December 5, 2007
• Storage Visions 2008 - January 5-6, 2008
• RLA Conference & Expo Las Vegas 2008 - February 4-6, 2008
• RL Seminar - San Jose, CA - March 5, 2008

Challenges & Opportunities Facing Reverse Logistics

The RLTS Singapore 2007 keynote address was presented by Kerry Mok, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Service Logistics, DHL Exel Supply Chain.

Reverse logistics, according to the Reverse Logistics Association definition, refers to all activity associated with a product/service after the point of sale, with the ultimate goal of optimizing or making aftermarket activity more efficient, thus saving money and environmental resources.

The growth of reverse logistics from a back-end function supporting the returns management process to its present form can be attributed to three categories of key drivers—Economic / Commercial, Regulatory and Environmental concerns.

As the concept of reverse logistics evolves and matures, companies are faced with new challenges which need to be addressed: such as lack of internal management support—seen as a key barrier to effective and environmentally responsible reverse logistics programs, no clear model in the market to support product returns processes, and a complex regulatory environment surrounding the WEEE and RoHS directives.

Despite these challenges, early adopters and industry thought leaders have recognized that reverse logistics present significant business opportunities, with information gathered through the returns process, providing key insights as to how companies can continue to deliver value.

An effective reverse logistics program can be a key differentiator in the face of intense market competition, as well as providing support for corporate social responsibility efforts towards building an environmentally sustainable business.

As environmental concerns continue to influence the market landscape, we need to rethink the impact on our businesses and be prepared to manage increasingly complex information flows required for compliance reporting purposes.

Even as reverse logistics creates challenges, opportunities arise – collaboration is the key towards sustainability!

The conference presentations are now available and free to RLA members for download.

For the next 30 days, attendees at RLTS Amsterdam may apply their registration fee to an Associate level membership. For only $200.00, this Membership Upgrade will provide access to all presentations delivered in Amsterdam as well as all prior conferences.

Over 100 Exhibitors —1500 RL Professionals Attending! Join us in Las Vegas at the 5th Annual RLA Conference and Expo. This conference is shaping up to be the largest Reverse Logistics Conference ever—now expanded to three days to include Industry Focus Committee meetings, RL Workshops, more sessions, and a larger exhibition.

Come to the RLA Football Party on Sunday, February 3! Imagine Super Bowl Sunday in Las Vegas... No other city generates as much excitement surrounding this all-American spectacle. Arrive early to have some fun before the conference starts. Enjoy watching the game with your colleagues and clients.

The RLA conference kicks off on Monday with a number of activities including RL Workshops, RL Industry Focus Committee meetings and the opening of the Exhibit Hall. For those who like one-on-one time with their clients, join us at the RLA Golf Tournament.

Tuesday will start with an industry overview and forecast followed by the keynote address "Major Challenges Facing Reverse Logistics" by Joe Warren, VP & General Manager, Customer Support Operations of Canon USA. Presented by RL professionals and leading academics, afternoon sessions and panel discussions will focus on cutting edge reverse logistics practices. The day concludes with roundtable discussions with each of the speakers. Take advantage of this opportunity to delve into the issues and to network with others who share your interest in a particular topic.

The Wednesday keynote address "Reverse Logistics as an Asset" will be presented by Bernie Schaeffer, Corporate Vice President, Global Repair & Reverse Logistics Integrated Supply Chain, Motorola, Inc. More sessions and panels will follow.

Be sure to visit the Exhibit Hall, open all three days, where OEMs, ODMs, Branded Companies and Retailers can find 3PSPs that can manage RL in the Americas, along with identifying solutions for Europe and the Far East. Exhibitors will be showcasing their RL services and solutions.

If you are a Reverse Logistics professional -- don't miss this event!

We invite professionals from all industries to participate as speakers or panelists. For more information, contact Michelle Warner or to sign up, visit the Speaker Registration page. RLA Conference & Expo speakers receive many benefits.

The "NEW" Post RFI Button makes it easier than ever to post an RFI. One click takes you right to the data entry screen -- complete the form, submit and it's posted. It's as simple as 1-2-3.

RL Quote is available for all manufacturers and retail companies at no cost. 3PSPs that are members of RLA can respond to these RFIs:

• RFI ID 98 - CANADA - OEM Looking for Receiving Operation in Canada, and a Purchase of All Returned Goods
• RFI ID 97 - North America - Large retail company looking for 3rd party to recycle shopping carts.

RL Quote provides OEMs, ODMs and Retailers a way to connect with 3PSPs. Get details at RL Quote.