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Reverse Supply Chain and Its Effect on Customer Satisfaction: A Comparative and SERVQUAL Analysis of Retail Practices
Full text linkReverse supply chain (RSC) operations have become increasingly critical for retail firms seeking to enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and retain customer loyalty. While traditional supply chain research emphasizes forward logistics, customer satisfaction in reverse logistics remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between RSC processes and customer satisfaction using qualitative semi-structured interviews with six U.S.-based supply chain professionals. It applies Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and the SERVQUAL model to analyze the configurations of RSC conditions that influence customer experience. Four key drivers emerged: return process efficiency, communication and transparency, employee competence, and alignment with customer expectations. A truth table developed using fuzzy set QCA 3.0 reveals five RSC condition combinations that consistently lead to high satisfaction. Customer communication and a hasslefree return process were necessary in all successful configurations. This study highlights best practices, including flexible return options, use of return metrics, staff training, and clear return policies. It contributes to the existing literature by reconceptualizing the reverse supply chain as not merely a cost recovery or operational function, but as a strategic service platform for generating competitive advantage in retail logistics. Further, this research offers a novel analytical framework capable of identifying multiple high-performance pathways rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution. The emphasis on equifinality, or the possibility of different configurations leading to the same positive outcome, reflects the complexity and diversity of modern supply chain environments and aligns with the contemporary demands of supply chain managers
Saudi Aramco: Circular Economy and Sustainability in the Oil and Gas Industry
Full text linkThis paper explores Saudi Aramco's commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles, highlighting key initiatives that enhance environmental performance and local content development [1]. Utilizing an integrated approach, the paper examines how Aramco implements strategies related to climate change, resource efficiency, and community engagement. The findings illustrate the company's significant contributions to job creation, GDP growth, and supply chain resilience. The paper argues that Aramco's efforts can serve as a model for other sectors aiming to achieve sustainable practices
Optimizing Spare Parts Inventory and Logistics for Maximum Plant Uptime in the Energy Sector
Full text linkEquipments play a critical role in Oil Gas (ONG) operations. Failure of their proper and efficient functioning has direct and significant bearing on plant uptime, energy output and supply chain (SC) stability. This article delves into the mechanical failure modes and predictive maintenance techniques, to enhance spare part forecasting. It establishes the usefulness of predictive analytics in deciding optimum spare parts inventory levels necessary for ensuring cost rationalization for balancing operational cost and efficiency. The article focuses on the application of sophisticated technology for achieving maximum plant uptime
Consolidation of Electrical Service Guidelines to Accelerate Fleet Electrification and Green Supply Chain in California
Full text linkThe transition to clean and green energy is inevitable just like the changes in global climate, the former being the consequence of the latter. Time is of essence here. The U.S. Government is also pushing the speedier adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) all across the country to handle the menace of emission. Urged by ambitious policies and propelled by generous investments in clean energy, California is leading the way to fleet electrification. The accelerated electrification of fleet in California, demands consolidation of electrical service guidelines, an important impediment to speedier transition. Replacement of fleet vehicles with similar vehicles that are significantly low on emission mark an important milestone for meeting the stringent emission targets set by the state. Though local in implementation, this program has global ramifications due to its capacity to aid other regions transition to vehicle electrification to meet such worldwide emission targets, as commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement. This article identifies the obstacles to fleet electrification and recommends ways to consolidate electrical service guideline that can expedite the fleet electrification in California, a state that is a leader in green logistics, and hence promote green supply chain
Challenges of Implementing Reverse Logistics in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Full text linkReverse coordination is an essential component of sustainable supply chain management, enabling businesses to recover value from returned products while minimizing environmental impact. While large corporations have increasingly integrated reverse coordination into their operations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often face considerable barriers that hinder implementation. This study explores the key challenges SMEs encounter in adopting reverse coordination, using a qualitative methodology that combines secondary data analysis with semi-structured interviews conducted with logistics managers from ten SMEs across diverse sectors.The findings reveal six primary obstacles: financial constraints, lack of technical expertise, inadequate infrastructure, weak regulatory pressure, low customer awareness, and organizational resistance to change. These barriers are interconnected and reflect both internal limitations and external systemic factors. Despite these challenges, the research underscores the strategic potential of reverse logistics for SMEs, including cost savings, regulatory compliance, improved customer satisfaction, and new revenue opportunities.The study concludes with practical recommendations to support SMEs in overcoming these challenges highlighting the need for government incentives, targeted training, affordable technologies, collaborative logistics networks, and enhanced customer engagement. Addressing these issues through coordinated efforts can help SMEs realize the full value of reverse logistics and contribute to a more circular and sustainable economy
Operational Efficiency of CapEx Procurement: The Impact of Lead Time and Requisition Quantity on Delivery Performance
Full text linkA large number of lifestyle brands, such as Aarong, Yellow, Cats Eye, etc., are driving the apparel market of Bangladesh. Within this market, a huge number of capex procurements are required annually to meet companies' requirements. Each completed requisition includes a lead time, which is a critical factor impacting overall operational efficiency. This study determines the impact of the metrics, requisition quantity, and lead time on delivery performance. The purpose of the study was to discover the relationship between key variables that ease decision making and to establish the development of a concrete knowledge base intended to support strategies for managing diverse requisition quantity and lead time. Consequently, the study served the purpose of improving supply chain efficiency. To discover the relationship, supply chain and procurement theories were addressed. A total of 8,099 procurement records were analysed through the lens of a positivist research paradigm to ensure objectivity. A quantitative method was employed to conduct tests that generate accurate results supporting the purpose of this study. Predictions for the test were formulated to develop connection between lead time, requisition quantity on delivery performance. Chi-square tests were carried out to find out the connection. Findings revealed that the lead time and requisition quantity had a significant impact on delivery performance. Altogether, the study contributes to procurement and supply chain management literature by presenting evidence-based analysis into how operational factors and distinct item types may affect delivery efficiency
Circular Warehouse Operations: ESG-Driven Optimization through Reusable Pallets
Full text linkSustainability, a key concept being implemented in all aspects of commercial activities around the world, aligns with nations’ objective of transition to a greener and cleaner world. A key facet of this transition is “circular flow” or what is commonly understood as recycling. This article establishes the benefits of integrating the same principles in logistics, through a comprehensive analysis of an Environmental, Social, and Governance or ESG aligned circular warehouse model implemented across six GoBolt warehouses in North America. Combining reusable plastic pallets and Gaylords, waste compaction and corrugated recycling, and 5S-based (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) workflow redesign yielded an average annual savings of $54,100 per warehouse, with an estimated 139 tons per year of CO? avoided per warehouse. Additionally, there was 12% productivity enhancement due to reduced picker walking and standardized 5S practices. Comparison with benchmarks of CHEP, iGPS, IFCO, and IKEA indicates that an in-house circular model can deliver competitive carbon reductions and attractive payback periods
The Final Frontier of Logistics: Artificial Intelligence in the Last Mile Delivery
Full text linkLast-mile delivery (LMD), the most critical segment of the modern supply chain (SC), plays a vital role in shaping customer satisfaction but also accounts for the highest cost among all supply chain activities. Particularly in the context of e-commerce, it serves as a key differentiator while grappling with challenges such as rising customer expectations, urban traffic congestion, adverse weather, and sustainability concerns. This article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its subset, Machine Learning (ML), can be leveraged to optimize last-mile delivery. With the growing wave of digital transformation across the globe, this area is gaining increased attention. The article adds to the relatively limited body of research on this topic and concludes that AI and ML have the potential to significantly enhance supply chain efficiency, especially in last-mile delivery, by reducing costs, accelerating delivery speeds, and ultimately improving customer satisfaction
Enhancing Operational Performance in the Manufacturing Sector: A Review on the Role of Supply Chain Digitization and Visibility
Full text linkThe objective of this research is to comprehensively assess the impact of digitization and enhanced visibility in supply chain performance improvement of the manufacturing industry. The methodological approach adopted was systematic in examining contemporary empirical research and frameworks focused on supply chain digitization and visibility. The research shows that various indicators of performance are significantly improved by combining processes such as supply chain digitization with better visibility, including reduced lead times, more effective inventory management, and increased responsiveness in supply chain. Although many of these breakthroughs have been accomplished, there are still numerous practical challenges, like harmonizing data systems, protecting data, and dealing with resistance from the users. The study will be of value to the practitioners because it emphasizes the pivotal role played by blending the use of digital solutions with visibility practices in simplifying supply chain processes. The study suggests that the digital strategies to supply chain management could lead to greater resilience and adaptability, and as such, enhance better efficiency in supply chain management. This analysis provides a new insight into the combination of digitization and visibility in supply chains, a unified picture of the combined contributions to operational success
Optimizing Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Transportation & Logistics - Application of Compressors and Al-Driven Analytics
Full text linkLiquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transportation is not just a fascinating process but also a crucial activity in the international energy market. Countries across the world are switching over from coal and crude oil to natural gas to lower carbon footprint. But natural gas has to be transported, generally over long distances, from source to place of consumption and that to in the form of liquid. Conversion of natural gas into LNG facilitates its comparatively easy and safe transport, particularly where distances are large. The entire process of transformation and transportation is very complex, but demands study due to the growing importance of LNG as an alternative fuel – a crucial element in energy transition and sustainability. This article explores the role played by compressors in the transportation of LNG. The article while adding to the pool of literature on LNG transport optimization, establishes that compressors are vital to optimizing LNG transportation and logistics. This article also establishes the utility of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving profitability of the players. It shows how predictive analytics be useful in enhancing the efficiency and economy of LNG transportation through the churning of huge volume of data generated at every step of the transportation process and then use it effectively to improve performance