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京东商逆向物流流程优化英语In recent years, with the rapid development of e-commerce, the demand for reverse logistics in the retail industry has been on the rise. Reverse logistics refers to the process of moving goods from their final destinationfor the purpose of capturing value, or proper disposal. In the context of e-commerce, reverse logistics primarily involves the return of products by customers. Jingdong, one of the leading e-commerce platforms in China, has been continuously optimizing its reverse logistics process to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.The reverse logistics process at Jingdong begins with the customer initiating a return request through the platform's website or mobile app. Upon receiving the return request, Jingdong's system generates a return order with a unique tracking number. This tracking number allows both the customer and the company to monitor the status of the returned item throughout the process.Once the return order is generated, the customer is instructed to package the item securely and affix the return label provided by Jingdong. Depending on the reasonfor the return, the customer may have the option to dropoff the package at a designated Jingdong logistics center or have it picked up from their location.Upon receiving the returned item, Jingdong's logistics team conducts a thorough inspection to determine the condition of the product. If the product meets the return criteria, it is then sorted and processed accordingly. For example, if the product is eligible for resale, it is sent to a designated warehouse for quality checks and repackaging. On the other hand, if the product is damaged or defective, it is directed to the appropriate disposal or recycling facility.After the returned item has been processed, Jingdong updates the status of the return order, allowing the customer to track the progress of their return through the platform. Once the return is finalized, the customer is issued a refund or store credit, depending on their preference.Jingdong has implemented several measures to optimizeits reverse logistics process. One of the key strategies is the use of advanced technology such as barcode scanning andRFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to track and manage returned items more efficiently. This not only reduces the likelihood of errors but also expedites the processing of returns.Furthermore, Jingdong has established strategic partnerships with logistics service providers to ensure a seamless and cost-effective reverse logistics network. By leveraging the expertise and resources of these partners, Jingdong is able to offer flexible return options to customers, including drop-off locations and scheduled pickups.In addition, Jingdong has focused on enhancing the transparency of its reverse logistics process to buildtrust with customers. Through real-time updates and notifications, customers are kept informed about the status of their return, creating a sense of reliability and accountability.Overall, Jingdong's continuous efforts to optimize its reverse logistics process have resulted in improved operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. By leveraging technology, strategic partnerships, and acustomer-centric approach, Jingdong has established itself as a leader in the e-commerce industry with a robustreverse logistics system.近年来，随着电子商务的快速发展，零售行业对逆向物流的需求不断增加。
小学上册英语第3单元期末试卷英语试题一、综合题(本题有100小题，每小题1分，共100分.每小题不选、错误，均不给分)1.What is the sound a dog makes?A. MeowB. BarkC. RoarD. Hiss2.Learning about plants can inspire ______ (环保) efforts.3.What is the term for a young fox?A. CubB. KitC. PupD. Calf答案:B Kit4.What do you call the person who writes books?A. AuthorB. EditorC. PublisherD. Journalist答案:A5.I can _____ my shoes by myself. (put on)6.What do we call a song that tells a story?A. PoemB. BalladC. NovelD. Play答案:B7.The _______ (The Harlem Renaissance) was a cultural movement in the 1920s.8.The movie is ______ (based) on a true story.9.The ________ is a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.10.What is the name of the ancient civilization that built pyramids in Egypt?A. MayansB. AztecsC. EgyptiansD. Greeks答案:C Egyptians11.What is the opposite of "hot"?A. WarmB. ColdC. CoolD. Spicy12.Which season comes after winter?A. SpringB. SummerC. FallD. Autumn13.The tree has green ________.14.The ________ chirps in the morning.15.The tropical fish in aquariums come in various ________________ (颜色) and patterns.16.My sister loves __________ (动物).17.I enjoy playing musical instruments. I play __________.18.What do we call a person who studies the weather?A. MeteorologistB. ClimatologistC. GeologistD. Astronomer19.I saw a ladybug on a ______.20.The clock says it is ________ (三点).21.I like eating ________ (chocolate) cake.22.ts are _____ (多年生) and come back every year. Some pla23.What is the capital of Brazil?A. Rio de JaneiroB. BrasíliaC. São PauloD. Salvador答案:B24.What do we call the process of writing down thoughts or ideas?A. DrawingB. PaintingC. WritingD. Sculpting答案:C25.The _____ (fish/bird) is swimming.26. A polymer is a large molecule made up of many ______ units.27.I saw a _______ (小猩猩) swinging from tree to tree.28. A plateau is an elevated flat ______.29.The bird builds a nest in the _______ (鸟在_______中筑巢).30. A ______ reaction releases energy, often as heat or light.31.What do we call the central part of an atom?A. ElectronB. ProtonC. NucleusD. Neutron答案:C32.What do plants need to grow?A. LightB. WaterC. SoilD. All of the above答案:D33.My dog wags its ______ (尾巴) when happy.34.The study of chemicals and their reactions is called ______.35.What is the name of the famous Greek philosopher who taught Alexander the Great?A. PlatoB. SocratesC. AristotleD. Epicurus答案:C36.I enjoy _______ (培养兴趣) in different subjects.37.The girl loves to ________.38.The main gas produced during respiration is __________.39.The ancient Greeks made significant advancements in ________ (医学).40.The process of condensation occurs when a gas turns into a __________.41.Which shape has four equal sides?A. RectangleB. TriangleC. SquareD. Circle42.What is the capital of Brunei?A. Bandar Seri BegawanB. Kuala BelaitC. TutongD. Seria答案:A43.What is the name of the famous wizarding school in Harry Potter?A. HogwartsB. NarniaC. Middle-earthD. Oz44. A __________ is a famous city for its festivals.45.The ______ is a measure of how far light travels in one year.46. A __________ is a famous site for camping.47.The _______ is where the roots grow.48.The ______ (植物生长) cycle is fascinating.49.I like to ride my ______ (horse).50.I saw a _______ (小鸟) building a nest.51. A __________ is the measure of how much matter is in an object.52.The _____ (peony) blooms in late spring.53.The ______ (植物的适应机制) is a subject of study.54.How do you say "thank you" in Japanese?A. GraciasB. MerciC. ArigatoD. Danke55.The _______ of a tree is called its trunk.56.The cake is _____ (delicious/yummy).57.My favorite toy is a ________ (拼图). I enjoy putting the pieces ________ (在一起).58.The Milky Way is just one of billions of _______ in the universe.59.I want to be a _______ when I grow up.60.My family goes camping in the ______.61.What is the opposite of "hot"?A. WarmB. ColdC. CoolD. Mild答案:B62.What do you call the female counterpart of a rooster?A. HenB. DuckC. GooseD. Chicken答案:A63.What is the capital of Kyrgyzstan?A. BishkekB. TashkentC. DushanbeD. Almaty答案:A64.I love ________ on the beach.65.The invention of ________ has revolutionized personal communication.66.The fish swims in the ______ (池塘). It is very ______ (活泼).67.My _____ (奶奶) makes delicious cookies.68.Shadows are formed when light is ______ (blocked).69.The Earth's crust is constantly being shaped by ______ forces.70.What is the main ingredient in popcorn?A. WheatB. CornC. RiceD. Barley答案:B71.In a polymerization reaction, monomers join together to form _____.72. A rabbit can hop across the ______ (草地).73.The peacock displays its feathers to attract ________________ (配偶).74.My dad takes us to ____.75.My dad is a __________ (商业分析师).76.The __________ (历史的说明) clarifies misconceptions.77.I have a special ________ that shines in the dark.78.The capital city of Djibouti is ________ (吉布提的首都城市是________).79.What is the color of an eggplant?A. RedB. PurpleC. GreenD. Yellow答案:B80.What is the name of the fairy tale character who had long hair?A. CinderellaB. RapunzelC. Snow WhiteD. Belle答案:B81. A _____ is a fun toy to ride.82. A molecule made of two identical atoms is called a _______ molecule.83.I saw a ________ flying over the lake.84.The puma is also called a _________ (美洲狮).85.How many colors are there in a rainbow?A. FiveB. SixC. SevenD. Eight86.The concept of "light years" helps us measure distances in _______.87.The capital city of Vietnam is ________ (河内).88.I like to ride my _______ (我喜欢骑我的_______).89.What do you call a baby cat?A. PuppyB. KittenC. CubD. Foal90.The ancient Romans spoke ________.91.My cat enjoys chasing ______ (小虫) in the sunlight.92.What is the name of the famous singer known as the "King of Pop"?A. Elvis PresleyB. Michael JacksonC. Freddie MercuryD. Prince答案:B93.What is the longest river in the world?A. AmazonB. NileC. MississippiD. Yangtze答案:B94.What do we call a baby dog?A. KittenB. PuppyC. CalfD. Chick95.An insulator does not allow ______ to pass through.96.Which animal can fly?A. ElephantB. DogC. BirdD. Fish答案:C97.What is the capital of Uganda?A. KampalaB. EntebbeC. JinjaD. Gulu98.Which fruit is yellow and curved?A. AppleB. BananaC. GrapeD. Orange答案:B99.How many days are in February during a leap year?A. 28B. 29C. 30D. 31100. A volcano that has not erupted in a long time is called a ______ volcano.。
反向带货英语Reverse Product PlacementReverse product placement, also known as anti-product placement or anti-brand placement, is a marketing strategy where a brand or product is intentionally excluded or removed from a media production, often in exchange for compensation from competitors. This technique is employed to prevent the inadvertent promotion of a rival brand or to maintain the integrity of the creative vision.The practice of reverse product placement can take various forms. In some cases, a production team mayactively seek to remove or obscure the presence of a particular brand from a scene, replacing it with a generic or fictional alternative. This could involve digitally editing out logos, covering up product labels, or substituting alternative products. Alternatively, a production may choose to feature a competitor's brand in a prominent way, effectively "demoting" the original brand.The motivations behind reverse product placement are multifaceted. Brands may seek to prevent their productsfrom being associated with negative or undesirable content, such as violence, drug use, or other controversial themes. Conversely, a production team may wish to maintain creative control over the visual aesthetics of a scene, without being beholden to the branding requirements of commercial partners.From a commercial perspective, reverse product placement can also be a strategic move. By denying a rival brand exposure, a company can potentially limit its reach and influence, potentially diverting consumer attention and market share towards its own offerings. This tactic can be particularly effective in highly competitive industries where brand recognition and consumer loyalty are crucial.However, the practice of reverse product placement is not without its critics. Some argue that it can be seen as a form of censorship, where creative freedom is compromised in the pursuit of commercial interests. There are also concerns that the practice may undermine the authenticity and realism of media productions, as the absence or replacement of familiar brands can be jarring or disruptive to the viewer's experience.Despite these criticisms, reverse product placement remains a relevant and widely-used marketing strategy, particularly in the film and television industries. As the landscape of media consumption and advertising continues to evolve, it is likely that the use of this technique will continue to be a subject of debate and discussion among industry professionals, academics, and the general public.反向带货反向带货,也被称为反产品植入或反品牌植入,是一种营销策略,其中品牌或产品被有意地排除或从媒体作品中移除,通常是为了换取竞争对手的补偿。
跨境电商英语试题及答案一、选择题（每题2分，共20分）1. What does "B2B" stand for in e-commerce?A. Business to BusinessB. Business to ConsumerC. Consumer to ConsumerD. Business to Government2. Which of the following is not a common payment method in cross-border e-commerce?A. Credit cardB. PayPalC. Bank transferD. Cash on delivery3. What is the abbreviation for "Free On Board"?A. FOBB. MOQC. ROID. SKU4. In cross-border e-commerce, what does "DHL" refer to?A. Digital Home LivingB. Direct Home LogisticsC. Door to Home LogisticsD. None of the above5. Which of the following is a key factor for success incross-border e-commerce?A. Product qualityB. Customer serviceC. Competitive pricingD. All of the above6. What is the role of a "dropshipper" in e-commerce?A. A manufacturer of productsB. A retailer that stocks productsC. A retailer that doesn't stock products but fulfills orders directly from the manufacturerD. A distributor of products7. What does "SEO" stand for in digital marketing?A. Search Engine OptimizationB. Social Engine OptimizationC. Systemic Electronic OrderingD. Secure Electronic Ordering8. Which of the following is not a social media platform?A. FacebookB. TwitterC. WeChatD. Yahoo9. What is the purpose of using "A/B testing" in e-commerce?A. To test different product designsB. To compare two versions of a webpage to see which performs betterC. To test the efficiency of different payment methodsD. To compare different customer service strategies10. What is the meaning of "CTR" in online advertising?A. Click-Through RateB. Cost To ReachC. Conversion Through RateD. Customer Transaction Ratio二、填空题（每空2分，共20分）11. The term "e-commerce" refers to buying and selling goods or services over the _______.12. In cross-border e-commerce, the process of returning goods is known as _______.13. The term "EDI" stands for _______ Data Interchange.14. A(n) _______ is a person who purchases goods or services from a seller.15. The acronym "API" refers to Application Programming_______.16. When a product is shipped internationally, it is subject to _______ duties and taxes.17. The _______ is a document that accompanies a shipment and lists the contents and their value.18. A(n) _______ is a method of payment where the buyer's bank guarantees payment to the seller.19. "EAN" stands for European _______ Number.20. The process of adapting a product or service to aspecific market is known as _______.三、简答题（每题10分，共20分）21. What are the main challenges faced by businesses incross-border e-commerce?22. Explain the importance of cultural adaptation in cross-border e-commerce marketing strategies.四、论述题（每题15分，共30分）23. Discuss the role of logistics in the success of cross-border e-commerce.24. Analyze the impact of technological advancements on the cross-border e-commerce industry.五、案例分析题（10分）25. A small business owner is considering expanding into cross-border e-commerce. What advice would you give them regarding market research, legal compliance, and supply chain management?答案：一、选择题1. A2. D3. A4. D5. D6. C7. A8. D9. B 10. A二、填空题11. internet 12. reverse logistics 13. Electronic 14. consumer 15. Interface 16. customs 17. invoice 18. letter of credit 19. Article 20. localization三、简答题21. 主要挑战包括语言和文化差异、复杂的法律法规、支付和物流问题、货币汇率波动以及知识产权保护等。
1、The aim of (inventory)management is to minimize the amouneof material in stock .2/(Logistics) is a hot topic in China and the whole world.3/If the ship had sailed along the recommended(route),it would have been able to acoid the heavy weather.4/People generally consider logistics as the (flowing)of goods,it is partly right,but logistics is much more than that.5/Logistics involves the (movement) of goods,but also of people,as well as housing and feeding them6/The foreign company has to (purchase )500 garmentd from China every year7、The meaning of the word”logistics” firstly(originate)from the military.8/The(storge)expenses willbe for your account if you place an order of 100,000 tons ofroll stell at a time.My workshop uses tons a month.9/With the development of modern economy,people become more and more aware of the (impotance) of logistics.10/Whether facilities are owend or rented,the (location)of warehouses is extremely important.1/Transport can be done by sea,air,（and）rail and pipe.2/Mr.wang is an iventory(manager)in a bonded warehouses in Capital Airport.3/Logistics managers pay more attention to inventory at persent,because inventory management can effectively reduce logistics (cost)4/Information is akey to the (success) of logistics strategy.5/Warehousing is not a new (business),but it has gained new functions in modern logistics6/In every company customer service is (source)of information for demand forecasting.7/Every firm,large and small (alike),needs logistics strategic planning for itd development.8/packing is one of the most impotant (activities)which are includede in a logistics system9/(Procurement) ideals with the buying of goods and services that keep the organization functioning.10/Could you five me a brief(analysis)of the present situation in relation to logistics in China?1/General purpose of warehouses is to provide ( safe) environment conditions and a wide range of products.2/Usually warehouses are typically viewed as a (temporary)place to store goods.3/The cost of small(order)becomes expensive to transport.4/Warehousing plays a vital role in providing a (moderate)level of cusiomer service.5/Customer service may be the deciding factor for warehouse site location,(access)to markets can improve its service level/6/Disteeibution center is alarge and highly (sufficient)warehouse designed to receive goods from various plants and suppliers.7/A warehouse can be viewed as a (bridge) between supply and demand.8/IN order to (achieve)the efficiency they may have to hold stock ,but this is not their main role.9/Retailers found it difficult to source in (desired)quantity from a singke supplier.10/After the goods are unloaded from the transportation carrier ,rhey shouldbe (verify)against cargo manifest.1/Managers must establish inplement inventory policies on the basis of (strategic) consideration. 2/When he asopted new stratgy in inventory management, he lowered the cost while (expand)the sales.3/The aim of reducing (inventory) is to make better use of overall assets.4/Inventory refers to (stocks)of anything necessary to do business.5/To make efficient and effective use of the (warehouse)space,you should decide how large your order must be.6/When the stock is near safety stock leverl,materials have to be (reoder).7/Raw materials,goods in process and finished goods all (cause)various forms of inventory.8/Buffer stock is adopted to maintain (balance) in demand or supply.9/The order cost is (decline)with the increase of quantity.10/Inventory makes it possible for each firm to (specialize)in the products that it manufactures.1/I always (confuse)John with his brother ;they are very much alike.2/We re sure to fullill the task ahead of schedule if everyone bears down.3/Many plastic(containers)are disposed of as waste,although they are resuable.4.You’re supposed to keep your car (exterior)in good condition by cleaning it .5/You can schedule a weekend to (discard)some things that perhaps you don’t actually need.6/The idea of a holiday abroad is certainly(appealing)7/That invention is of great commercial (widesperead)8/She is strong enough to (withstand) intellectual challenge.9/In today’s world,trade barriers in international trade are still (significant).10/The case was dismissed because of (insufficient)evidence.1/We ar noe ina position to (reinforce) our own demands to our emplpyers.2/We’ll (dictate) the cease with iron strap.3/These plicies (instill)strong felling of loyalty in P&G employees.4/The smell of food (tempts) the hungry children unto the hut.5/I can’t figure out why he’s been behaving so (oddly)6/Consumers may also (shun) firms that pollute the environment or engage in unethical practices by not buyong their products.7/What is the reaction to the new car in the (marketplace)?8/It is thus clear that the (residual)infuuences of clannishness must not be understiomated .9/From the (standpoint)of success,a good work ehic is no less important than an education .10/More and more public places in the United States (forbid) smoking.1/Transpotation,by moving goods from one place to another place,creates (place utility) for poducts.2/To satisfy customers with special taste, manufactures have to provide (personal)services.3/In the supply chain,(external customers) may contain wholesalers,retailers and end-users.4/There is a great (demand) foreign investment in the western part of China.5/We should make an (analysis) of prouducts,depending on who use them and how they are used.6/We must distribute the products to as many places as possible so that our customers find it (convenient) to get them7/Customer service is considered as the (output)of logistics system.8/The key point in distribution is whether the product is (available)where the customer wishes to consume it .9/One of the basis tasks of a logistics analyst is to dtermine customer(response) to service.10/Generally speaking ,soap can be found in a (retail) shop.1/Once their oreders are accpted ,all customers should be treated equally by receiving (basis service).2/It’s my job to (offest ) cusiomer’s response to logistics service.3/Customer service plays a significant (role ) in the development of all firms.4/A firm may have a customer service department or customer service employees that (handle)complaints,special orders,damage claims,etc.5/The mission of logistics mangement is to plan and (coordinate)all logistics activities to achieve desired level.6/In today’s (competitive) market,fiems find it extremely difficult to create new custoomers.7/You can learn about your customer’s (response)by analyzing inventory information.8/Every company’s ultimate goal is to gain (profit),not sales .9/I think if our warehouses are located in the (proximity)of customers,we can offer better after-sale service.10/Good logistics plan (determine) the cost of warehousing anf transportation of products.1/The river departed from its original course several miles (downstream).2/It now provides a (linkage) to more than 60 home pages of goverment agencies and related organzations.3/we’ll try to work as (procurement) agent on behalf of IBM.4/(Competitiveness) is also about the quality and cretivity of the people .5/He resigned in the face of mounting pressure from the (shareholder).6/We expect to increase (utilization) of the helicopters.7/Hi-tech industry has been driving the (optimization)of the economic structure.8/She would like to be a film actress,but at present she is (modeling)9/The general price level declined by small (margin)10/We have the busiest container port in the world and the busiest international air freight(throughput)1/I think I’ll be all right as soon as the plane gets out of this (turbulence).2/People are much better informed since the (advent ) of television.3/Vendors could charge between $190 and $375 per cumputer,depending on (configuration).4/Every value they created (ultimately) redounded to their boss.5/As your company’s representative, your phone manners should be (impeccable)6/Tax became a powerful policy instrument to tackle monetary(deflation)7/He is a (prominent) scholar in the field of linguistics.8/I would ask you to collaborate) with us in this work.9/We must (accommodate)ourselves to circumstance.10/Her intemperance will (entail) the curse of insanity upon her innocent children.英译汉1、Modern Logisticsis one of the most challenging and exciting jobs in the world .现代物流是全世界最有挑战力同时令人兴奋的工作之一。
1(LIS)——logisticsinformationsystem：物流信息系统providelesscostandcycletimeforcompanies.purchasinginformationsystem采购信息系统transportinformationsystem运输信息系统qualitymanagementinformationsystem质量管理信息系统salesinformationsystem销售信息系统2ICO——inventorycontrollingsystem库存控制系统3MRP——materialrequiringplanning物料需求归化4OMS——OperationsManagementSystem运营管理系统（order订单管理系统）5WMS——warehousemanagementsystem TMS——transportmanagementsystem6GPA——AgreementonGovernmentProcurement政府采购协定7LTL——lessthantruckload零担货运8TEU——twentyfootequivalentunit标准箱(系集装箱运量统计单位,以长20英尺的集装箱为标准)9POS——pointofsale销售点10ERP——enterpriseresourceplanning11VMI——vendormanagedinventory供应商管理库存12XML——extensiblemarkuplanguage可扩展标记语言13GPS——globalpositioningsystem14VMS——供应商管理系统RMS——retailermanagementsystem15(EDI)——electronicdatainterchange电子数据交换16(GPS)——globalpositioningsystem全球定位系统17W/Rwarehousereceipt仓单18ULS——unitloadssystems单位包装系统（pallet数量大）19OPS——orderpickingsystem拣货式系统20EXW——ExWorks工厂交货（……指定地点）FCA——freecarrier货交承运人（……指定地点）FAS——Freealongship船边交货（……指定装运港）FOB——freeonboard船上交货（……指定装运港）CFR——cost，freight成本加运费（……指定目的港）CIF——cost，insurance，freight成本、保险费加运费付至（……指定目的港）CPT——CarriagePaidto运费付至（……指定目的地）CIP——CarriageandInsurancePaidto运费、保险费付至（…指定目的地）DAF——DeliveredatFrontier边境交货（……指定地点）DES——DeliveredExShip目的港船上交货（……指定目的港）DEQ——DeliveredExQuay目的港码头交货（……指定目的港）DDU——DeliveredDutyUnpaid未完税交货（……指定目的地）DDP——DeliveredDutypaid完税后交货（……指定目的地）21(FCL)——fullcontainerload整箱货22.整车货(Full-Truck-Load)23JIT——justintime（production、distribution）及时制24OEM——originalequipmentmanufacture原始设备制造商25SCM——supplychainmanagement26SCOR——supplychainoperationreference供应链操作参考模型27TPL——thirdpartylogistics28LLP——LeadLogisticsProvider领导物流厂商29MRp——materialsrequirementsplanning物料需求计划30EOS——electronicorderingsystem电子订货系统31QR——quickresponse32RFI——radiofrequencyidentification射频自动识别33ACT——automaticcargotracking自动货物追踪34AS\RS——automatedstorageandretrievalsystem自动储存和回收系统35DC——distributioncenter36upc——universalproductcode（barcode）37 JAZ——justaboutzero38LLP——leadlogisticsprovider领先物流39VMIvendormanagedinventory供应商管理库存42PI——proformainvoice形式发票43CI——commercialinvoice商业发票44PU——polyurethane聚酯45PE——polyethylene聚乙烯46SKU——stockkeepingunit订货存储单位短语中翻英Inventorydaysofsupply供应天数Inventoryplanning库存规划Inventoryconsolidation库存合并Inventorymodel库存模型? Inventorydeployment配置? Inventorycycle周期? Inventoryturns周转量? Inventoryturnover周转率2Aggregateinventorycontrol库存总量控制Overalllevelofinventory库存总体水平3 Insidetemperature库内温度4 costefficiency成本效率性Stockavailability存货可得性Stockcarryingcost存货周转成本Stockholdingcost库存维持成本Stocklocation存货点? Stockrotation库存周转? Stocksheet库存清单Stockturnover库存周转率5receivingdock收货装卸平台6Put-away入库7Order-picking订单拣货8Shipping装车9Trigger-pointmethodreplenishmentprogram临界点补货法10demandforecastingandplanning需求预测与计划11Laborplanning工作人员作业计划12Inventory-levelplanning库存水平计划13Accountingreport会计报表14Statusreport财务状况报表153transportdocument运输单据16Warehousestocktransferreceiptadvice仓库库存周转收货单17Warehouseoperation仓库作业18Bondedwarehouse保税仓库19Barcoding条形码20销售订单salesorders21Freightconsolidation货物拼装22Routingandschedulingshipments23Claimsprocessing24Trackingshipments25出票Issue背书ENDORSEMENT 承兑ACCEPTANCE 贴现DISCOUNT 付款PAYMENT 拒付DISHONOR26ex-factoryprice出厂价27retailprice零售价28eachnode（节点）inthesupplychain29pointoforigin原产地30pointofconsumption消费地31physicaldistribution实体配送32distributionofphysicalgoods实体物资的配送33integrationandoptimizationofresources资源的整合与优化34efficiencyincrease提高效率35costreduction降低成本35distributionprocessing流通加工36安全库存safetystock37库存周期inventorycycletime38前置期（或提前期）leadtime39.Customerservice（客户服务）40.Orderprocessing（订单处理）41Returngoodshandling.退货处理42?Material?handling物料搬运43.Partsandservicesupport零件和服务支持44Forecasting?demands需求预测45Warehousing?and?storage??仓储与保管46Plant?and?warehouse?site selection47line’freighttariff班轮定价表48basicrate基本运费率49inquiry询盘offer报盘counteroffer还盘acceptance收盘50托盘化palletization51arrivalnotice到达通知52cash—in—advance预付货款Cash—on—delivery货到付款53continuousreplenishment连续补货54proformainvoice形式发票55Customerbroker关税代理人56freightconsolidation合并运输57orderproductmixing组合订购的产品58inbound|outboundlogistics内向外向物流57forward|reverselogistics正向逆向物流58availabilityofgoods现货性59stockout缺货60delayerthemanagementlevel减少管理层61orderplacement下订单62Loseanddamage货损货差63Channelofdistribution分销渠道64runlengths运营时间65corrugatedmaterials瓦楞纸材料66pickproducts挑拣货物67piggybackservice背负式服务68commercialinvoice商业发票69receivingdock装卸平台70pickslip拣货单71Franchisedealer经销商72throughoutvolume吞吐量73Documentarycredit信用单证74consignmentnote托运单75Bookingnote订仓单customerpower客户实力Longtermorientation长期定位leveragingtechnology杠杆技术Bullwhipeffect牛鞭效应demandpull需求拉动Supplypull供应拉动benchmark标准化Datamining数据挖掘strategicalliance战略同盟Franchising特许经营logisticsoutsourcing物流外包Customized定制化的InternationaltransportcargoinsuranceLaborplanning总做人员作业计划statusreport财务状况报表2dbarcode二维码Methodofshipment运输方式Logisticsdocument物流单证Combinedtransport联运safetystock安全库存Ordercycletime订单处理周期Neuralpacking中性包装orderpicking订单分拣Virtualwarehouse虚拟仓库landbridgetransport大陆桥运输Internationalmultimodaltransport国际多式联运Time|voyagecharter定期租船航次租船Consignerconsignee收货人carriershipper托运人Portcongestionsurcharge港口拥堵附加费Seaworthypackaging适合海运的包装Shockproof|damage|anticorrosive|rotproof|insectprooftechnique防震|防破损|防锈|防霉|防虫Special|dangerousgoodspackagingHandlingcharges处置收费Identification识别标志Shrinkwrap收缩膜cellulosewadding纤维填充物Orderpickingandstorageequipment牛皮纸kraftpaper瓦楞纸corrugatedpaper简答题1WhatIsLogisticsInformationSystem答：Logisticsinformationsystem(LIS)isdefinedasthe“people,equipment,andproceduresusedt ogather,sort,analyze,evaluate,anddistributeneeded,timelyandaccurateinformationtodeci sionmakers”.2Warehouse=placetostoreinventory?答：warehousingisarangeoflogisticsoperationswhichinvolvemultiplefunctionssuchasstorage ,packaging,etc.Warehouseisviewedasaplacetostoreinventorytofacilitatethemovementof goodsfromsupplierstocustomers.WarehousingisinvolvedinSCprocess:Sourcing/inboundlogisticsProcessing/manufacturingOutbounddistributionReverselogistics(returns,recycling,etc.)3Logistics,supplychain,transport物流、供应链和运输三者之间的关系？答Logisticsispartofthesupplychainprocessanditinvolvesthemanagementofthesupplychain fromstarttofinish. Transportistheconveyanceofgoodsorpeoplefromoneplacetoanother。
Business LogisticsReverse LogisticsDr. Juanling (Jenny) HuangWeek 7, 2011What is Reverse Logistics?The process of products, either purchased or used,1. Returned by customers back to the point of origin, i.e. Manufacturers or Suppliers.2. Sent to other manufacturers or material collectors as secondary materials for their manufacturing purposes. Hence, products may be returned to any point of recovery.ManufacturerSupplierWaste Disposal (Landfill)CustomersRetailer Closed-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC)3rd Party Provider Collection Inspection DismantleSecondary MaterialsReverse LogisticsRemanufacture RefurbishForward LogisticsRecycle Return ReturnIssues of Reverse Logistics•Goal :Resource reduction –Cost Benefit•Objective :Minimise costs of handling while maximising the value from the returned goods for reuse, remanufacturing, or disposal.•Key :Efficiency and effectiveness of the Reverse Logistics cycle.The Waste HierarchyResource Reduction Reuse RecyclingDisposal with Energy RecoveryDisposal in Landfill(Source: Carter and Ellram, 1998)Reverse Logistics Framework1)Why –Receiving: Drivers2)Why –Returning: Return Reasons3)What: Product Characteristics and Types 4)Who: Actors and their roles5)How: Processes and Recovery Options(Source: De Brito, 2003)Four Segments of Reverse Logistics•Remanufacturing / Reuse:High value technical productse.g. Computers, Printers•Recycle / Reuse:“Green” productse.g. Newspaper, Paper packages•Refurbish / Redistributed:Packaging, containers and pallets•Recycle / Dispose:Commercial wastee.g. Glass, PlasticsExecutions –Six ‘R’s by Manufacturers and 3PLs •Recognition–Recognise that a material resource is to be returned from a customer.•Recovery–Organisation must physically recover the material.•Review–Review what action to take.•Renewal–Product / material life-span extension.•Removal–Discontinuation of product line.•Reengineering–Reengineer the reverse supply stream(Rahman, 2004)Advantages of Reverse Logistics •Reduce financial and environmental burden by redesigning the packaging and logistics system for take back and reuse•Reduce consumption of raw material for packaging (annual bases)•Benefit from repeated customers,higher returns on investmentDisadvantages of Reverse LogisticsAdditional logistics costs:1. Financial2. Air emissions from transportation3. Ground transportation4. Warehousing5. Labour and Management6. Associated energy/environmental effects Future Solutions for Reverse Logistics •Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)•Central Control Distribution Centre •Joined 3PL and transportation operation •Information Flow: Related information of Product, Location, Utilisation, Legislative, Market, Process.(Ferguson and Browne, 2001)Case Study: Shedding Processes at The Sims MetalSustainable DevelopmentMeet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Sustainable Supply ChainManagement of raw materials and services from suppliers to manufacture or service provider to customer, and back withimprovement of the social and environmental impacts explicitly considered.(NZBCSD, 2004; Jorgensen and Knudsen, 2006)(The Bruntland Report, 1987)Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Definition:Business takes account of its Economic , Social and Environmental Impacts in the way it operates: Maximising the benefits and Minimising the downsides .It is the voluntary actions that business can take, over and above compliance with minimum legal requirements, for competitive interests of its own and the wider society .SustainabilityEconomic Social Environmental Level 1: Survival SustainabilitySubsistenceCapacity to solve serious problemsProtection of life support systems,Prevention of species extinction Level 2: Maintaining Quality of LifeMaintenance ofdecent standard oflivingMaintenance ofdecent social quality(e.g. vibrantcommunity life)Maintenance ofdecent environmentalquality Level 3: Improving Quality of LifeImproving standard of livingImproving socialqualityImproving environmentalquality(Sutton, 1998)ReferencesBruntland, G. (ed.), (1987), "Our Common Future: The World Commission on Environment andDevelopment", Oxford: Oxford University Press.Carter, C.R. and Ellram , L.M. (1998), “Reverse Logistics: A Review of the Literature andFramework for Future Investigation”, Journal of Business Logistics, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 85–102.De Brito, M. P. (2003), Managing Reverse Logistics or Reversing Logistics Management, PhDThesis, ERIM PhD Series Research in Management . Available at : http://ep.eur.nl/handle/1765/1132 [Accessed 25 July 2005].Ferguson, N. and Browne, J. (2001), “Issues in End -of-Life Product Recovery and ReverseLogistics”, Production Planning and Control, Vol. 12 Issue 5, pp. 534-547.Jorgensen, A. L. and Knudsen, J. S. (2006), “Sustainable Competitiveness in Global ValueChains: How Do Small Danish Firms Behave?”, Corporate Governance, Vol. 6 Issue 4, pp. 449-462.NZBCSD, (2004), *New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development+, “Implementinga Sustainable Supply Chain”, Business & the Environment with ISO 14000 Updates, Vol. 15 Issue 2, pp. 1-3.Rahman , S. (2004), “Reverse Logistics”. Available ata.asn.au/__data/page/210/PresentationApr04.pdf [Accessed 27 November 2004].Sutton, P. (1998), “The Sustainability -Promoting Firm”, Greener Management International,Autumn 98 Issue 23, pp. 127-152.Case Study Company1.Is there any Reverse Logistics / Recycling processes in the case company?2.How do they deal with their products returned by the customers?3.Do they have any activities concerning about being ‘Green’ and ‘Environmental Friendly’?4.Have they consider about CSR? In terms of current situation and future direction?Week 8 –Reading Week (Next Week)Read at least ONE Case Study from the Text Book Slack, et al., 2010 –Content List pp. Xi -Xii。
Reverse Logistics as Competitive StrategyReverse Logistics as Competitive Strategy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------by Edward J. MarienReprinted with permission of Cahners Business Information, Spring 1998Conventional wisdom holds that the flow of goods in a supply chain typically ends with the consumer. In reality, however, a number of supply chain functions occur after final distribution of the product to the consumer. Yet even waste disposal, probably the most basic post-consumer activity, is nowhere to be found on most supply chain flowcharts.This situation is changing, however, accelerated by growing consumer awareness of recycling coupled with more stringent federal, state, and local regulations on waste disposal. The overall trend is evident, for example, in the disposal regulations governing used motor oil, vehicle batteries, andtires. Increasingly, manufacturers and suppliers in these and other industries are being held responsible for their products once the consumer is done with them. In an effort to deal with this responsibility and the related supply chain complexity, many industries are beginning to build reusability into their products. And this, in turn, necessitates developing an infrastructure to handle post-distribution and post-consumption activities.Within this evolving environment, many leading businesses now realize that a reverse logistics system combined with source-reduction processes can be used to gain competitive advantage. As they take responsibility for post-consumer waste, they are striving to generate revenue or achieve cost savings or at a minimum, keep from losing money from regulatory compliance.Making Reverse Logistics ProfitableMany organizations are capitalizing on reverse logistics opportunities. Companies such as Eastman Kodak (reusable CAMeras), Hewlett-Packard (printer toner cartridges returnedfor refilling), and Sears (25 percent reduction in packaging) have implemented successful reuse and recycling programs. These initiatives not only have reduced the amount of waste fed into the supply chain and the landfills, but also have lowered operating costs for these companies.All of these organizations have begun to think of the reverse logistics process as investment recovery versus simply minimizing the cost of waste management. They have been able to recover their cost investments from one or more of the following areas: raw material and packaging procurement, manufacturing, waste disposal, and current and future regulatory compliance. Furthermore, many of the programs implemented by these leaders bring the added benefits of improved employee morale and public image.For these companies, the benefits outweighed the costs of their reverse logistics and source-reduction programs. Yet cost is a real issue at multiple points in the typical supply chain or to waste sites. All of the REs associated with these reverse flows bring cost implications. Returns and recalls are obvious examples. But other REs include refusals, reworks,recyclables, rejects, reprocessed overruns, reuse, remake, redo, residues, reorder, resale, and returnable shipping containers and pallets.These REs can be a real opera tional nightmare for companies’ costly to process and administer. The direct and indirect costs of correcting them can be staggering. In some industries, such as direct catalog sales, returns alone can run as high as 20 percent of sales.Supply chain professionals must deal with the strategic issues of how to handle these reverse logistics challenges at various points in the supply chain. One way is to shift the responsibility by minimizing the cash flow into the capital equipment, operating systems, facilities, and people needed to support such activities. Through this cost minimization approach, firms spend money on their primary business and on logistics activities that directly serve customers, consumers, government, and society.Another approach is to passively wait and be regulated into action. Companies can satisfy customer demands andgovernment regulations by acting in a passive, follow the rules manner. Although this approach minimizes costs, it continues to shift the burden of waste disposal to the general public.A more proactive alternative attempts to stimulate customer demand and reduce the cost to both the company and to society. As the automotive industry’s experience has demonstrated, battery returns can be a means of reducing waste management costs, while at the same time enhancing customer satisfaction and lowering production costs. By recycling 90 percent of the lead from used batteries, manufacturers have kept demand for new lead in check, thereby holding down costs to consumers.Another proactive strategy is to reduce the amount of materials used in producing and delivering products. The computer industry has had some success here by developing smaller and more powerful products. Less material is used in producing and packaging the goods; meanwhile, logistics costs drop along the supply chain. This source-reduction strategy benefits all supply chain members as well asconsumers.One more highly effective strategy is to reengineer how business is conducted. Through this paradigm shifting approach, firms step back and take a hard look at what values reverse logistics processes can add for consumers specifically and society in general. An insightful book on this subject is Jeremy Rifkin’s The End of Work. The author identifies activities that are changing the way in which business is conducted and discusses the impact on supply chain activities and costs.Rifkin offers many examples to support his thesis. One describes how music production companies now tap into communications systems to download new CD releases to computers in retail outlets, where consumers select the new release they want. A blank CD is sourced, the recording is made, the promotional package jacket is printed in color, and the CD is assembled for sale. Logistics costs drop sharply as flexible micromanufac-turing costs are increased. Think about the impact of this development on inventory costs and any close-out costsIndustry Segments React in Different Ways As these reverse logistics and waste-reduction strategies go from passive to active, they increase value for customers and build loyalty. With consumers becoming more concerned about the environment, firms must look beyond their shipping and receiving docks. They can gain real competitive advantage by rejecting the conventional notion that once the product is out the door, waste management becomes somebody else’s problem. The following section shows how some industries are strategically allocating resources to respond to the reuse and recycling imperative. The following classification scheme was developed as a means of identifying how different types of companies are responding to the environmental challenges. The following six categories of companies were identified: Category A High-technology companies characterized by high research and development (R&D) expenditures, low cost of goods, and low logistics costs as a percentage of sales. Firms in this category such as Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola have invested heavily in basic R&D for new product development and in process manufacturing R&D. These investments are leading to new products that use less material than the products they replace. And this, in turn, hasled to less waste generation and lower logistics costs. One interesting development finds film and digital processing moving closer to point of need or use, thereby reducing waste generation and improving customer service. Localized film processing has sped up picture processing and reduced costs. Retail clerks now operate in-store microproduction centers, saving transportation, logistics, and operating costs. Category B High-technology firms characterized by rapid product obsolescence, high costs of goods sold, and medium-to-high logistics costs. With their emphasis on minimizing costs to increase margins, these firms tend to leave disposal to consumers and salvagers. They typically concentrate on distributing to channel members and consumers, who then must deal with product disposal themselves. Among the companies in this category are Compaq, Dell Computer, and Gateway 2000. Category C High-technology firms with high R&D expenditures, low costs of goods sold, and low logistics costs as a percentage of sales. These companies typically are experiencing radical change. Companies in this category, which include IBM, are moving toward smaller processors with lower logistics costs. In the process, they are using fewer resources to distribute goods. These firms generally have lessproduct replacement in comparative time periods than Category A and B firms. Category D Companies characterized by high-end consumer products shipped direct-to-consumer; low-to-medium costs of goods sold as a percentage of sales; and low R&D expenditures, but high logistics costs. These firms, which include catalog companies s uch as Lands’ End and Spiegel, are faced with product returns that run 10 to 20 percent of sales. Once the sale is finally complete, the consumer is responsible for product disposition, with many of the items passed on to charitable organizations for reuse. Wastes from shipping materials are minimal. The main challenge is to deal with the aftermarket returned goods, a costly activity. Competitive advantage lies in knowing how to minimize the costs of returned goods and make it easy for customers at home to shop remotely for quality goods. These firms compete with local retail outlets, which make it convenient for consumers to shop for and return goods. Category E Firms selling low-end consumer durables with high costs of goods sold, high potential for polluting the environment, and relatively low basic and process R&D expenditures. These companies are highly motivated to find ways of dealing with the aftermarket. Indeed, most of themhave been regulated into action. Because of the high costs of goods sold, these industries have established systems to reuse or recycle products in manufacturing processes. Tire and battery manufacturers are among the companies in this category that have done this successfully. Category F Firms with products that incur low costs of goods sold, relatively low R&D expenditures, medium-to- high logistics costs, and comparatively little change. These firms generally exhibit little motivation to proactively manage wastes. They tend not to deal with reverse logistics issues until regulated into action. Among the companies included here are paint manufacturers and producers of beverage containers and shipping, packaging, and unitizing materials. As they bear the brunt of increased regulation, however, these organizations then become highly motivated to manage the aftermarket to capture and reuse materials in the production process.Paint Industry Poses Special Challenge What steps are specific industries within these broad categories taking to develop and implement reverse logistics and waste-reduction strategies? T o address this question for one such business sector the paint industry a research project was conducted at the University of Wisconsin in conjunction with the Sherwin-Williams Company(SW), a leading paint manufacturer. The team’s objective: to investigate alternative reverse-logistics strategies pertaining to the aftermarket for empty paint containers and residues. In selecting an industry not historically known for its proactive approach to waste management and conservation, the team sought to assess progress across a number of key activity areas. Which strategies have firms in the paint industry adopted on their own to enhance the environment and reduce wastes? What have they done in response to government regulations? What basic process changes have occurred and what strategies can firms with similar characteristics pursue? The research began with a review of waste-management literature from the public and private sector. T eam members then met with Sherwin-Williams employees at corporate headquarters who were addressing waste-management issues in post-distribution markets. During the initial research and information-collection phase, the team also conducted on-site plant and distribution center visits to review the company’s cons ervation and environmental control practices. The research methodology included limited benchmark investigations of other industries. Specifically, the team documented reverse logistics findings related to consumerand industrial vehicle tires; vehicle batteries; motor oils; alcoholic, soda, and dairy beverage containers; electronic equipment; and paper and corrugated wastes. Current practices at the retail outlets also were documented. Early in the investigation, the study team decided to focus on latex water-based paints. With SW and other paint companies strategically shifting more product development from solvent- to water-based paints, this seemed to be the logical focal point. Disposal of solvent-based product, moreover, already is tightly regulated and many reverse logistics programs for these products are well under way. As with many business sectors, the paint industry has been working to minimize the impact of its products on the environment, focusing primarily on the manufacturing processes. Water-based paints which are biodegradable and not harmful to the water supply have been substituted for solvent-based products wherever feasible. In the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) durable markets, for example, electrostatic powder processes now are used in coating automobiles, tractors, appliances, lawn equipment, and other products. This means less waste from the painting process as well as reduced air and ground pollution. Furthermore,recycling of the water used in manufacturing reduces both water usage and minimizes the potential for waterways and ground water pollution. In addition, the industry now is reworking paint overruns and residues back into the manufacturing processes. These are among the examples of how paint manufacturers have responded to more stringent environmental and conservation regulations, while demonstrating a social responsiveness and a desire to reduce costs. Yet while the industry has made important strides, it recognizes that even more needs to be done. The most pressing challenge revolves around what to do with those empty and partially filled cans, pails, and drums after the sale and use of products. Full paint containers flow through various marketing channels and supply chains to do-it-yourself (DIY) painters and to professional paint markets (PPM). Currently, the vast majority of the empty containers and applicators end up in landfills and the liquid residuals down the sewers. In most states, the manufacturers’ and retailers’ responsibility for disposition of this material ends when the buyer leaves the store. Traditionally, the residential or commercial user has been saddled with the task of disposing of these waste items. Yet that’s changing. Responsibility fordisposal is shifting to the channel members the suppliers, m anufacturers, and retailers. They’re being required to develop and implement recovery strategies across various points in the supply chain. As part of the effort to document this trend, the study team identified four segments of water-based latex paint residues and wastes: Segment production overruns or unsold latex in the distribution channel. The Sherwin-Williams representatives on the team felt that the industry had the mechanisms and infrastructure in place to handle product in this segment. The unused, uncontaminated paint could be transshipped to other stores, returned to plants for opening, and reintroduced into manufacturing operations, or sold to salvage markets for sale in volume at reduced prices. Segment 2-full cans of possibly contaminated paint that purchasers had returned to dealers. Though some of this paint was already tinted to user specifications, lenient customer-service policies allowed for return. Product in this category was either sold in the stores at reduced prices or sold to the salvage market. Neither alternative addressed the problem of cans and containers ending up in landfills. Segment 3-partially filled cans of leftover paint that users had stored for years. The shelf life ofmost latex paint is three years’ less if stored in un heated garages in cold climates. Industry surveys show, however, that many users keep old paint in rusty cans in their basements or garages for more than 20 years. Segment 4-empty cans, plastic pails, and drums. Steel and metal composition drums with capacities of five gallons or more can be readily recycled and thus were not included in the study. Empty tin cans can be salvaged for their metal content, though many metal recyclers do not want to deal with paint cleaning costs. Plastic pails are rarely recycled because of this composition and low recycling ratings. Most paint cans and plastic pails end up in landfills, therefore, taking up space and increasing disposition costs for local government. Most states and local communities still allow residential and commercial painters to trash their Segment 3 and 4 containers and residues in landfills, provided that empty and partially filled containers are first opened and dried. (A notable exception is the Canadian province of British Columbia, which has barred paint and containers from landfills.) Yet state and local agencies have begun implementing landfill regulations that force manufacturers and channel members to take responsibility for the reverse logistics of their paint products. These actionsinclude A ban on landfilling, requiring users to sort out the cans for user-site pickup. A ban on landfilling, with local agencies establishing designated drop sites within their communities. Manufacturers and local agencies then are required to establish a disposition process. (This is similar to the practice of returning used motor oil to designated drop-off sites.) A ban on landfilling, requiring dealers to establish a can deposit program. Users return the containers to the stores, which are responsible for disposition. Many states currently have a deposit program for beverage containers. T o illustrate how paint wastes can be managed, Segment 3 and 4 wastes (empty or partially filled containers) are picked up at the usage sites. The reverse logistics strategies involve the flow of paint containers and residues to a recovery center that sorts the materials and markets them to one or more of the following: salvagers that recapture the cans and residues for waste processes such as can processing; waste-to-energy or waste-to-elements recyclers; brokers that sell to the scrap metal and plastic markets; and reprocessing centers that blend leftover product into ÒgreenÓ paints used in limited applications. An alternative scenario is no drop-off sites or on-site pickups and a ban on landfilling of paintwastes. Leftover paints and containers now must go back to retail point-of-sale locations, and reverse transportation and logistics programs need to be initiated to handle the goods. For paint and containers in Segments 2-4, channel members require a reverse logistics process similar to that presently used for pallet returns. Many paint manufacturers operate private or dedicated fleets that could handle these pickups. These resources could be used to bring leftover and waste product back to manufacturing plants or to the parties indicated in the illustration. Author’s Note: The author acknowledges the contributions of Frederick A. Ristow, a former vice president and director of logistics for Sherwin-Williams Company, and Michael Bartley, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Grainger Center for Distribution Management.The Promise of Source Reduction Under either scenario presented, source-reduction strategies continued to surface as the most promising alternative for minimizing wastes and environmental effects while gaining possible competitive advantages. The basic source-reduction principles entail Making things smaller and lighter, thus resulting in lower logistics costs. Minimizing production and distributionoperations to reduce the amount of waste material generated. Reusing materials and containers more than once. Substituting materials that are environmentally friendlier. These source-reduction strategies actually can increase end-user satisfaction while reducing costs and wastes. Examples include Johnson Controlsâ initiative to make batteries that are just as powerful as-yet only half the size of the products they replace. Similarly, Sears â packaging reduction program, which cut the amount of shipping packaging in the supply chain by 1.5 million tons, saves the retailer approximately $5 million annually in procurement and disposal costs. The study team looked at source-reduction strategies from the customer’s perspective, considering paint-user values, wants, and needs. It began by investigating user buying and storage habits. The present paradigm is to sell paint to DIY users in gallons and quarts and to PPM users in five-gallon plastic pails. Increasingly, this product is being sold in retail outlets that have become mini-production sites. Through computer-controlled mixing, these outlets can provide a wide range of colors from several standard paint bases. T o paint a room, a user most often buys more than one gallon. Depending on room size, previous paint coatings, andthe desired shade of paint, a user may need 1.5 to 2.5 gallons, for example, to get the job done. The user typically washes the excess latex from the applicators, sending small residues down the drain, and the can or pail is dried for disposition. Leftover paint usually is stored somewhere in the house or garage. Why not provide a closer estimate of paint needs in other than one-gallon or quart containers? Why not use returnable containers and give the user a small plastic bottle of leftover paint for needed touchups? How about the retailer selling the paint to commercial users in returnable containers as is now done in many European countries? Many paint manufacturers already provide OEMs with liquid paints with plastic bladders from which the paint is sucked out much like toothpaste from a tube. Though the bladders still are landfilled, they take up much less space than solid containers. T o make these kinds of source-reduction techniques work, users would be required to get fairly detailed specifications on the job to be done. The dealer would estimate the needed amount of paint, mix it, and fill a three-gallon bucket, for example, or five-gallon pail fitted with a plastic bladder. The user would then take the paint and applicators home, and after completing the job, would return unused paint in alidded container and maybe even the applicators to the dealer. The retailer then would give the user a small plastic bottle of paint for touchups, and then drum the unused paint (assuming no contamination) for disposition to a reprocessor. The dealer would dispose of the plastic bladder locally and could clean the applicators for the next customer. Although this system could apply to any buyer, the feasible way to start such a program might be with PPMs because of the volume of paint they purchase and the frequency with which they visit the retail stores. Furthermore, commercial users should be amenable to returning containers to the store or even to a designated drop-off site particularly if this meant avoiding local fees for disposition of empty plastic pails and paint residues. Another source-reduction technique could incorporate paint concentrates, although this approach brings with it a number of challenges. From a marketing standpoint, the industry would have to convince consumers that paint from a concentrate is as effective as the regular product. Water quality is another issue. Will the concentrate result in uniformly effective paints when mixed with water of varying hardness and chemical levels? Although the concentrate strategy would be difficult to implement, it has wide-reachingimplications as demonstrated in certain other businesses and industries. Firms selling products such as window-washing liquid, to cite one example, are benefiting from successfully developing and marketing a Just Add Water version of their product. Again, this approach not only reduces the amount of waste going down the channel, but also cuts the associated packaging and logistics costs as product size and weight decrease. These are examples of source-reduction strategies that can dramatically affect the environment while reducing costs and improving customer satisfaction. In pursuing source-reduction strategies, Sherwin-Williams or any company, in fact should be able to generate consumer goodwill, reduce overall costs, and stay ahead of government regulations. In fact, the real leaders can actually influence the legislation. Needed: Reengineered Business Systems One central lesson learned from our research is that for source reduction to achieve optimum competitive advantage, cross-functional inter-company reverse business systems need to be in place. Note that business systems are stressed and not just reverse logistics activities. These reverse business systems must embrace such areas as remanufacturing operations, marketing and pricing, accounting and finance, and inventorymanagement as well as the reverse transportation and logistics functions. With robust reverse business systems in place, organizations can take full advantage of the reusability of their products while aggressively conserving resources. Businesses today have tremendous opportunities to control their destiny when it comes to waste disposal and management. Rather than be regulated into positions that may not be the most advantageous to the channel members, manufacturers and their customers can reengineer their businesses to better serve the ultimate consumers while reducing their own costs. Indeed, companies that take the lead in these efforts have the opportunity to create competitive advantage in the marketplace as consumers around the globe become more environmentally conscious. If manufacturers do not take the lead in these efforts, then their big channel customers or government agencies may di ctate the solutions. If they don’t make the necessary changes, moreover, their customers may take their business elsewhere. A proactive approach to reverse logistics is better from every perspective market, regulatory, and environmental. Author’s Note: The author acknowledges the contributions of Frederick A. Ristow, a former vice presidentand director of logistics for Sherwin-Williams Co., and Michael Bartley, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Grainger Center for Distribution Management.。
