Identify and prioritise the critical factors in implementing the reverse logistics practices: a case of Indian auto component manufacturer

Abstract

Abstract:In recent years, reverse logistics (RL) practices have been perceived a great recognition among researchers/practitioners. In this paper, we intend to identify and prioritise the critical factors (CFs) in implementing the RL practices, from the industrial viewpoint. There are 13 CFs crucial in accomplishing the RL practices were recognised on the basis of critical review Identify and prioritise the CFs in implementing the RL practices 43of literature and experts opinion. These finalised 13 CFs were then analysed to determine their priority by means of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique. The AHP technique assists in determining the relative importance of the identified RL implementation critical factors. The findings of the work may help managers to address the related issues in RL implementation. Inputs needed to carry out this research work are taken from an Indian automotive components manufacturing company. The results of the study may help researchers/practitioners to prioritise their efforts to implement RL practices in effective manner. In the end, sensitivity analysis is carried out to examine the proposed RL implementation CFs stability.Keywords: analytical hierarchy process; AHP; critical factors; CFs; reverse logistics; RL; supply chain management; SCM; sensitivity analysis.Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Luthra, S., Mangla, S.K., Kumar, S., Garg, D. and Haleem, A. (2017) He has been associated with teaching for the last 13 years. He has contributed over 50 research papers in international referred and national journals, and conferences at international and national level. He has received over 380 citations on Google scholar (h-index = 9). His specific areas of interest are operation management; optimisation techniques; green supply chain management, sustainable supply chain management, sustainable consumption and production, innovation and technology management, performance measurement, reverse logistics, renewable/sustainable energy technologies, business sustainability etc.Sachin Kumar Mangla is working in the field of green supply chain management; risk management; flexible systems; modelling and simulation of supply chain; reverse logistics; product recovery; renewable energy; energy systems; decision-making. He has submitted his doctorate thesis (specialisation Production and Industrial Engineering/Supply Chain Management) and is from IIT, Roorkee. He loves to write research papers and projects. He has published/presented several papers in repute international/national journals (RSER, IJPR, PPC, RCR, IJOR, IJLSM, JFSM, IE) and conferences (POMS, SOMS, GLOGIFT). Regarding research impacts, he has an h-index equal to 6 and i10-index equal to 6. Sanjay Kumar is working as a Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department in I.I.T.M, Sonepat, Haryana, India. He completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia University Delhi, India. He did his Master's in Mechanical Engineering with specialisation in Production Engineering from Delhi Techno...