Reverse Logistics Operations in Automobile Industry: A Case Study Using SAP-LAP Approach

This paper sets out to analyze a case study of ABC, one of the leading manufacturers of automobiles in India to assess its current status of reverse logistics operations. A situation-actor-process (SAP)-learning-action-performance (LAP) model has been applied to analyze the case study. Literature review indicates that issues like regulations, top management commitment, competition in market, and state of art information technologies are needed for successful reverse logistics programs. Very few frameworks of reverse logistics have been reported in literature that give a holistic perspective of reverse logistics operations in automobile industry. Results of case study indicate that reverse logistics operations at ABC are mainly confined to warranty components to gain goodwill of customers. Also, financial constraints and lack of appropriate performance metrics were the chief barriers affecting reverse logistics operations at ABC. Results of study reveals that though Indian automobile companies have begun to embrace reverses logistics practices, ample opportunities for improvements are still possible. The present SAP-LAP framework is useful in understanding issues related to strategic, tactical and operational level issues of reverse logistics. Managers can gain useful insights by understanding the interplay among situation, actor, and process. The synthesis of SAP leads to LAP, which suggests improvement actions based on the gaps of present situation, actors, and processes which could be useful for logistics managers.

[1]  R. Shankar,et al.  Reverse logistics: insights from sectoral analysis of Indian manufacturing industries , 2014 .

[2]  Surendra M. Gupta,et al.  A multi-phase mathematical programming approach to strategic planning of an efficient reverse supply chain network , 2003, IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, 2003..

[3]  Subhash Wadhwa,et al.  Decision and Information Synergy for Improving Product Recovery Performance , 2010 .

[4]  Vedat Verter,et al.  Designing the Reverse Logistics Network , 2010 .

[5]  Sushil.  SAP-LAP Linkages — A Generic Interpretive Framework for Analyzing Managerial Contexts , 2009 .

[6]  Felix T.S. Chan,et al.  Analysis of Performance Focused Variables for Multi-Objective Flexible Decision Modeling Approach of Product Recovery Systems , 2012 .

[7]  Mudit Verma,et al.  Flexibility Focused Decision and Information Sharing Model for Product Recovery System , 2009 .

[8]  Ravi Shankar,et al.  Evaluation of market scenarios in automobile reverse logistics: a system dynamics approach , 2011 .

[9]  J. Farquhar.  Case Study Research for Business , 2012 .

[10]  Mark Ferguson,et al.  Closed-Loop Supply Chains : New Developments to Improve the Sustainability of Business Practices , 2010 .

[11]  K.K. Pochampally,et al.  A business-mapping approach to multi-criteria group selection of collection centers and recovery facilities , 2004, IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, 2004. Conference Record. 2004.

[12]  P. Johnson,et al.  Managing value in reverse logistics systems , 1998 .

[13]  Ronald S. Tibben-Lembke,et al.  Going Backwards: Reverse Logistics Trends and Practices , 1999 .

[14]  Sushil.  SAP‐LAP models of inquiry , 2000 .

[15]  J. Morland,et al.  A Case for the Case Study , 1991 .

[16]  G. Kovács,et al.  Stakeholder response to future changes in the reverse supply chain , 2006 .

[17]  Ravi Shankar,et al.  Reverse logistics operations in paper industry: a case study , 2006 .

[18]  A. Valle,et al.  Diffusion of nuclear energy in some developing countries , 2014 .

[19]  Judith Bell,et al.  教育与社科研究入门指南(第三版) = Doing Your Research Project , 1999 .

[20]  R. Yin.  Case Study Research: Design and Methods , 1984 .

[21]  Anjana Kak,et al.  Strategic Management, Core Competence and Flexibility : Learning Issues for Select Pharmaceutical Organizations , 2004 .

[22]  Parikshit Charan,et al.  Supply chain performance issues in an automobile company: a SAP‐LAP analysis , 2012 .

[23]  Sushil,et al.  A Technology Management Perspective On Collaborations in the Indian Automobile Industry: A Case Study , 2002 .

[24]  X. Sushil,et al.  Flexible systems management: an evolving paradigm , 1997 .

[25]  Bob Algozzine,et al.  Doing Case Study Research: A Practical Guide for Beginning Researchers. Third Edition. , 2006 .

[26]  Arshinder,et al.  Supply chain coordination issues: an SAP‐LAP framework , 2007 .

[27]  Harold Krikke,et al.  Revealing an invisible giant: A comprehensive survey into return practices within original (closed-loop) supply chains , 2013 .

[28]  P. Daugherty,et al.  INFORMATION SUPPORT FOR REVERSE LOGISTICS: THE INFLUENCE OF RELATIONSHIP COMMITMENT , 2002 .

[29]  C. Carter,et al.  REVERSE LOGISTICS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE INVESTIGATION , 1998 .

[30]  Shad Dowlatshahi,et al.  Developing a Theory of Reverse Logistics , 2000, Interfaces.

[31]  R. Shankar,et al.  ANALYSIS OF INTERACTIONS AMONG THE BARRIERS OF REVERSE LOGISTICS , 2005 .