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Feature Article
The Intelligent Supply Chain
by John Borelli
 The reverse supply chain function has filled an important role for manufacturers to control the flow of product returns back through the distribution channel. This function has become even more important in the technology space where the stakes are high, as grueling competition and razor-thin margins have already driven companies to squeeze every last dollar out of the manufacturing process. As these companies search for new ways to reduce their operating expense, many technology manufacturers still find themselves grappling with stubborn inefficiencies embedded within their reverse supply chain.
It is estimated that 70% to 85% of products returned through this channel have what is known as no trouble found (NTF), where materials are returned for reasons other than a product defect. However, amongst the advanced processes prevalent in today's supply chain, which are primarily designed to minimize costs, there is not a well-defined focus on the timely repair, warranty evaluation, remarketing and intelligently reintroducing product back into the service supply chain. Full Article
Seattle Retail Summit Postponed to August 12th
Tony Sciarrotta, Director of Asset Recovery for Philips Consumer Lifestyle will be Keynote Speaker and will be talking about "Understanding The Business Impact of Returns: Who Do We Serve?"
Topics to be addressed include:
- Why the customer is "king" and how to give the customer the best possible experience.
- Driving down Costs
- And Building revenue centers from effective returns management.
This seminar is for all RL experts and should be a "must attend, calendar item!" More Info
New RLA Members
Bell Techlogix, OnProcess Technology and Spring Global Mail each recently joined or renewed their Silver Level RLA Membership.
RLA Members can display the RLA membership logo on their website. Membership provides passes to RLA events and access to RL Quote and conference presentations. Go online for a complete list of membership benefits.
RLA Connect
RLA is pleased to announce the launch this month of a new program called RLA Connect.
Many members are already familiar with RL Quote, RL Quote will now be called "RLA Connect - Services" and will be one of eight new connection tools available under the RLA Connect program. A new tool that will launch during May 2009 is "RLA Connect - Consulting" to help companies find the ideal consultant to fit their needs. The complete list of tools under the program is as follows:
- 3PSP Services
- Consultants
- Facilities with RL Infrastructure
- Academic/MBA Research
- RL Forum
- Internship Programs
- Industry Jobs
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Using Your RLA Membership Benefits
Did you know that with an RLA Professional membership (or higher) you can post open positions within your company at www.rltinc.com AT NO CHARGE?! This is a valuable benefit of your RLA membership and in today's economy finding quality candidates is essential. Finding them without a fee attached is even better!
If you are looking to staff positions within the Reverse Logistics industry, get them posted today on the RLA Connect - Jobs site. This benefit is free of charge to our members, with no limit to the number of positions being posted.
For more information or assistance with the process, please contact Leslie Harms, Director of Membership Relations at (801) 331-8949, ext. 24.
On The Move in Reverse Logistics
James Hunt has joined Celestica as VP After-Market Services. In this role, James is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the After-Market Services business, which includes repair, refurbishment, recovery and recycling services.
James is joining Celestica with over 15 years of progressive experience in a variety of senior management roles in business development and operations, a decade of which was spent in the electronics manufacturing services industry. Most recently, James was the VP Business Development, Research & Development, for Seagate Technologies, a leading digital storage solutions company. Prior to that, he was the VP usiness Development at Jabil Global Services, where he directed the global organization in expanding key customer relationships.
Bert Munnikhuis has joined GENCO Supply Chain Solutions as Sr. VP and GM of Reverse Logistics. He will concentrate on broadening GENCO's presence and service offerings in the CE and IT market space. Bert has served the industry as an independent consultant at Agnitio Management Consultants and held executive positions with leading Reverse Logistics companies such as Solectron Global Services, Teleplan International and Magnetic Data Technologies.
Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. recently announced that the company has hired Jeffrey M. Brown for the newly created position of VP Recycling Systems.
Brown will focus on developing sales and appliance recycling opportunities for ARCA, which holds exclusive North American distributorship of UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of Europe's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and waste disposal recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap.
Most recently, Brown worked closely with retail appliance dealers and appliance recyclers to develop a reverse logistics dealer network to manage discontinued, obsolete and damaged products for Whirlpool Corporation.
New Industry Committee
Several of our members have requested that we launch a DOT-COM Retail Committee. The committee has been launched and we request you register to participate.
The Chairperson is Craig Sultan of The Home Depot and the Co-chair is Pat Sullivan of Inmar. Both Craig and Pat are very experienced RL professionals and encourage those Retailers, OEMs and 3PSPs to actively participate in this committee.
The committee is currently accepting registrations. Click here to join.
Article Reprint
Originally published in Supply & Demand Chain Executive - March 23, 2009
The Dreaded Recall
When supply chain management turns into crisis management
by Frederic Gomer
 Recalls of consumer products like foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals have dramatically increased in recent years, especially for those produced in China. Toymaker Mattel conducted unprecedented recalls of its toys in August 2007, with 21 million toys recalled twice due to harmful magnets and lead paints. And more recently there was a mass recall of dairy products in China that had been tainted by Melamine. Full Article
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American Public University
RLA Conference & Expo Amsterdam 2009
Dorint Amsterdam Airport Hotel
June 16-18, 2009
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
 Join us for Europe's Premiere Reverse Logistics Event! Companies from throughout Europe as well as many other international delegates will be in attendance. ODMs and OEMs will be looking for 3PSPs that can manage Reverse Logistics in Europe, along with identifying solutions for Asia and the Americas.
Starting Tuesday with Workshops on a variety of subjects including Best Practices: Lean Repair and Reverse Logistics Trends and Eco-Efficiency. Wednesday and Thursday will have keynote addresses followed by sessions presented by RL professionals, leading academics and also panel discussions.
Reinier Jens, Executive Vice President and Cluster Leader Western Europe & North America of Philips Consumer Lifestyle, will deliver the Keynote Address on Wednesday followed by industry leaders and top academics sharing their ideas on topics as returns and loss prevention, revenue opportunities within reverse logistics, outsourcing and regulatory requirements. There will be more great speakers and panels on Thursday followed by the closing session and the Lucky Draw. See the Conference Schedule for a full listing of session topics.
Call for Speakers. Nominate reverse logistics thought leaders to speak at our Amsterdam event! There are many benefits for session speakers and panel participants.
 With standing room only last year, we have reserved every meter of space for what is shaping up to be the largest show in Amsterdam - we are expecting over 500 attendees and more than 25 exhibitors! The Exhibit Hall is almost sold-out - so call us today to reserve the limited exhibit space that is left! More Info
IT Committee Survey
 The Reverse Logistics Association is conducting an IT Trends Survey to assess how various technologies are impacting reverse supply chain operations. The goals of the survey are:
- to benchmark uptake of technology by companies that perform reverse logistics
- to identify technologies as potential competitive enablers or threats in RL
- to identify market opportunities for service and software vendors in RL
Complete the survey and to enter a drawing to win a digital camera and other prizes. For more information, please visit the RLA IT Committee page.
RLA Seminar Sacramento
Doubletree Hotel
July 22, 2009
Sacramento, California
 Focusing on reverse logistics in the commercial electronics world, RLA is bringing together OEMs and third party service providers to discuss best practice operations that ensure the processing and disposing of material is done in an environmentally friendly manner. The seminar will also examine how quality repair service increases customer loyalty and strengthens the brand as products are repaired and used parts are recertified.
 Tech-Ed Networks is sponsoring the Service Awareness Tour and will highlight their reverse logistics functions for Hewlett-Packard. Tech-Ed Networks motto is to reduce, reuse, resell, and recycle, and will reflect this through out the tour.
 The seminar will have executives from HP talking about the RL challenges facing the commercial world, and the opportunities that are available for the effective management of the returns process.
This will be an insightful seminar and an excellent opportunity to see first hand the value of building strong relationships between the OEM and the third party service provider.
Open University Inauguration
In its ongoing commitment to education in the field of reverse logistics, the Reverse Logistics Association last year sponsored a chair in Supply Chain Management at the Open University of the Netherlands. The chair was offered to the eminent professor of SCM, Dr. Harold Krikke; a leading academic with many publications to his name.
Professor Krikke accepted the chair and his public acceptance and inaugural address took place at the Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands on April 27th 2009. Representing the RLA at the ceremony were Gailen Vick, President and CEO and David Meldrum-Taylor, Director of Research.
Dr. Krikke's address was titled "Opposites Attract: a happy marriage of forward and reverse supply chain". In this he discussed the development of logistics systems from operational 'make-and-delivery' engines into an essential part of a companies' competitive edge. He went on to look at Reverse Logistics and its key role in the business process with emphasis on Closed-loop SCM, maximizing value creation over the entire life cycle with dynamic recovery of value from different types of returns over time. Dr. Krikke then went on to explore the following questions:
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