Returns in process industries: a managerial perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The key objective of the paper is to present the results of a survey that captured a wide‐ranging view of reuse practices in process industries with the intent of determining current practice and the key managerial issues for reuse in process industries. The paper discusses the sources of products and material for which re‐use decisions must be made in process industry environments. It offers managerial insights for companies that seek opportunities to reduce their operating costs by reusing products, cleaning agents, and ingredients that can become available through a reverse supply chain analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used an exploratory survey methodology with manufacturing plants randomly drawn from a professional organization where the members stated in their profiles that they were employed at a facility that was primarily involved with process manufacturing. Both internal and external returns were analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques.

Findings

The results indicate that reverse networks for external returns must consider storage conditions and timing due to degradability. Also, tracking systems are necessary to monitor the product once it has left the facility due to contamination potential. Additionally, managers could benefit from development of a decision model to facilitate re‐use decision‐making.

Originality/value

The emphasis is on exploring the nature of re‐use in process industry plants and on bringing managerial issues to the attention of companies that are handling these returns and seeking to improve their performance on returns.

Citation

French, M.L. and Discenza, R. (2006), "Returns in process industries: a managerial perspective", Management Research News, Vol. 29 No. 12, pp. 769-781. https://doi.org/10.1108/01409170610717808