Green Logistics and Market Advantage

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The element of logistical management formulates the majority of the functioning of business enterprises. The methods of logistical management are thus provided with greater emphasis so as to save costs and obtain the maximized measure of competitive leverage in the market. The external elements such as customers and governmental legislations also influence the logistics management processes. The imperatives of green technology utilization in terms of logistical management through adherence to the existing legislative stipulations, even in combat logistical management, have become apparent.The significance of logistics management has expanded with the implications of the imperatives of organizational engagement in the product and service offerings improvement as well as with the necessity of utilization of proper supply chain management mechanisms. The supply chain management design involves multiplicity of considerations pertaining to the economic and environmental aspects so at to constrict the adverse effects which could be imparted to the environment through the enhancement of industrialization processes of different work disciplines. The utilization of environmentally favourable technologies is also premised through the assessment of greater customer preferences which have emerged in favour of such green technologies regarding different businesses. Increasing emphasis is becoming concentrated on the processes of reverse logistics management and the associated methods have become the aspects of greater attention in comparison to other systems. The objective is to enhance sustainability to the greatest extent. Sustainability, from the operational perspective, indicates the significance of utilisation of environmentally favourable logistical elements so that the organisational cycle of development could be maintained further.

The current business disciplines are realigning with the trends of green logistical management and those of Reverse Logistics. It is necessary to outline the general aspect associated with such trends. As has been outlined by Mitra (2009), the prospect of generation of considerably greater measure of profit, brand image improvement and finally, customer satisfaction achievement are the core constituents behind the planning and application of reverse logistics. The adjoining benefits for the organisations are greater competitive advantage and reduction of production and service costs. Inefficiencies within the supply chain management process could emerge primarily from the utilisation of outdated and often, obsolete work processes and this leads to the expansion of inventory management complications and costs related to the work process management mechanisms. Thus, application of reverse logistics is significant to infuse the element of sustainability into such processes. The inability of the majority of the logistical networks in terms of handling of reverse channel based return products is a fact and this has contributed to the emergent trend of reverse logistics management outsourcing wherever the parent organisations could encounter complications and dearth of experience in managing such processes. The desirability of reverse logistics management services could be sustained is of the essence of importance. The underlying elements of the increasing shift of the concept of performance based reverse logistics towards a systematic execution emblematic of greater co-ordination management, centralisation and integration as well as better consolidation of operations, are multifarious. These could be identified as the increasing concerns regarding the progressive increase of the complications in the operational and environmental outcomes as well as the necessity to concentrate greater focus on the management of efficiency and delivery of value through the emerging themes of co-production and co-creation through the application of improved core competencies. Better strategic positioning in the current market scenario is another driving force. In spite of the fact that the potential of Reverse Logistics is considerably extensive in terms of performance increment and improvement of relationships, the realisation of the potentials for performance increment as well as improvement of the operational outcomes by the organisations concerning the management of reverse logistics has not been achieved to the expected measure. This is especially a fact regarding the management of the Sri Lankan Army. The most prominent rational behind such underutilisation of the concept of reverse logistics is the apprehension of loss of control concerning the organisational work processes since greater measure of tasks could become apparent at the various steps of the multi-layered organisational structures. The conventional reluctance in initiation of the formulation of changed organisational structures is another of such reasons. However, it has been a matter of under realisation of the potential of Reverse Logistics to improve the organisational outcomes in the armed forces. This could be further elaborated as the improvement of the element of customer and stakeholder satisfaction, reduction in the extent of the investment imperatives of resource capitals and constriction in the costs of storage, management of inventory and distribution of the available resources. These could pave the path for the sustainability. The Sri Lanka Army is the largest and oldest Armed Forces in the country with the history of 70 years. This government organization comprise with approximately 200,000 personals. Resent budget (2019 budget on 5th April) government allocate LKR393 billion (USD2.2 billion) for annual defence expenditure. In the year 2019, this amount could be calculated to have become 12.5% of the totality of the government expenditure and out of this entire monetary resource allocation, LKR356.4 billion has been perceived to have been spent on operations which have been recurrent in nature. These could be associated with remuneration provisioning and maintenance expenditure. On the other hand, the LKR 36.7 billion has been presumed to have been singled out for the purpose of being the procurement capital. The increment in the complete defence allocation for 2019 has been that of LKR 102.3 billion than the budgetary allocation for defence related expenditure during the year 2018 as the Bill of Appropriation of expenditures (Jane’s Defence, April 2019). The consequential attention towards the concept of reverse logistics management has been relatively a new one from the historical development perspectives in terms of the evolution of various strands thoughts and methods concerning the study of operational and disciplines associated with the Reverse Logistics Management aspects since the early 1998.

Example: The advent of the historical development of the processes of remanufacturing and recycling of various utilised materials corresponded with the 1940s, since, the WW II had ensured that a critical shortage of every crucial material such as rubber and different metals could prevail throughout the world. The trend had continued since then to the current age and this has resulted in the remanufacturing or reconstructing the critical automobile components such as the major proportions of altimeters, starters as well as generators. This trend has contributed to in the development of the automobile repair and remanufacturing industry. One specific previous theme in the form of reutilisation and recycling of utilised products could be observed during the 30 years long armed combat within the country of Sri Lanka. This emanated from the considerably long durations which were required for the order cycle times could materialise in terms of completion of resupplies to the Northern combat theatre. The units of the Armed Forces deliberately attempted to salvage and recycle the various utilised materials such as shoes and clothing belonging to soldiers which faced gradual dilapidation otherwise in the adverse operational conditions of the fields of combat. The intention in this context, of the Army, had been that of curtailing the lead times of equipment replenishment within the combat theatre and this resulted in the spare parts, clothing and footwear of the solders becoming increasingly recycled, repaired and repurposed.

The corresponding study paper has concentrated on the defining of the attributes of reverse logistics and on describing the practices of management of reverse logistics and identification of the various barriers in the proper implementation of such effective practices of reverse logistics utilisation. Furthermore, the study has also delved into the realisation of the necessity and scope of the implementation of sustainable networks of reverse logistics. The core research objectives have been to develop clarified understanding regarding the existing practices, the examination of such practices effectively and development of the comprehension concerning the associated trends involving the different attributes of Reverse Logistics management.

1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The conclusion of the combat operations within the country heralded in the situation where storages had surplus material which had exceeded the necessity measure of the Sri Lankan Armed forces considerably. The supplies which had been transferred to the Northern combat theatre for the armed forces while the combat operations had been underway, had become surplus since the Army did not have any utilisation for these as it had become a force for occupational duties and not of active combat. Disposal and returning of the supplies to various other areas had become necessary. The soldiers had been languishing at their staging areas and this had culminated in the situation where much of the supplies sent earlier had lost their utility. Sri Lanka Army Logistics system managed to sustain the soldier’s requirement during past years. Due to extreme conditions of the war scenario some areas were unattended. Reverse flow of the logistics nerve line in the Army is streamlining the logistics system which should sustain the Army and government needs as well. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the capital and recurrent expenditures incurred in the army with the existing country’s economic reform. This study gives an overview of activities and impact of on sustainability in the corresponding research study has attempted to put through the overview of various activities related to and the associated implications of the Reverse Logistics (RL) management systems concerning the sustainability aspect related to Sri Lanka Army.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

From a historical point of view, the comprehensive process of returns management has been related to extensive ambiguity for the Sri Lanka Army. This ambiguity has persisted in terms of the dearth of proper transparency in the cost incurrence prospects with even lesser visibility regarding the various products which could have been undergoing the process of selection and forward placement. The ambiguity has also persisted in the determination of the necessity of whether the products required repackaging, restocking, recycling, disposal or repairing. Similar insufficiency of information has been plaguing the placement of the products in the appropriate channels as well concerning forward or reverse ones. The product flow from the centre of logistics to the consumers, in this case the soldiers of the Army, does signify the traditional mode of forward logistics operations. On the other hand, the reverse logistics are indicative of the systems through which products are returned in either completion or in part including utilised materials to from the end user. Within the armed forces, this denotes the inclusion of redistribution process involving the warranty based recovery, repairing, value based recovery, refilling, reutilisation of products, returns based on service contracts and finally, the refurbishment of the existing equipment and other material necessary for the Army through replenishment of existing stocks. In this context, the primary difficulty for the Army, to utilise the reverse logistics systems, involves the maximisation of rates of recovery of assets as well as the selection of the most accurate measures of cost reduction to enhance the efficiency of supply chains. Increasingly, Sri Lanka Army reverse logistics should meet sustainable approaches to reduce government expenditure. Therefore, Sri Lanka Army need to practice sustainable Reverse Logistics system than keeping away from the required reducing recurrent expenditure and it is a present day requirement to manage a system which can be practice in great extent. Further, Army can look into go green concept as it is the largest government sector organisation.

1.4 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are,

1.4.1 Primary Objective.

The primary objective of this study is to explore Reverse Logistics systems available in the army and find the possible impacts for sustainable systems for the Sri Lanka Army.

1.4.2 Secondary Objectives.

i. To explore the possible aspects of reverse logistics available in Sri Lanka Army

ii. To see the factors effecting on sustainability

iii. To see the relationship between opportunities of reverse logistics on sustainability in the logistics of Sri Lanka Army

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Reverse Logistics is one of the endless burdens to the Army and it had been occurred from the beginning of the three decade long war. Besides, this research will be focused to find out questions need to be solved are,

What are the factors affecting on sustainability of the Sri Lanka Army?

What is the level of sustainability in the logistics toward Sri Lanka Army?

What are the opportunities available to explore the effect of Reverse Logistics available in the Sri Lanka Army?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to conduct a research through carrying out survey on existing sources and research papers of Reverse Logistics systems in the global phenomena and to analysis Sri Lanka Army Reverse Logistics System in order to find sustainable mechanism.Empirical Significance of the study is to cover the research gap with available resources. The post-war environment caused to increase requirement RL for the Sri Lanka Army, significantly. This practice is would be benefitted to follow all commissioned officers in the Army to explore much better options for green logistics surveys for national defence. Various business organisations face the requirement of recognising the potential of strategic efficacy achievement in terms of the reverse logistics utilisation. Thus, it could be outlined that the organisational inclination towards the effective utilisation of reverse logistics management has been on the rise. This has resulted in the enhancement of the trend of greater resource allocation towards the formulation of systems for reverse logistics management. In this context, the most significant strategic dividend could be identified in the form of expenditure of the monetary amount which could be necessitated at each of the stages of such process management. It could further be considered, on the basis of the extensive volume of the products which are returned at various industries, that the industries are increasingly concentrating greater emphasis on the formulation of product which could be returned and that returns are now considered to be the prime strategic competence on part of the manufacturing industry. It could further be acknowledged that, the industrial companies which have not generally considered effective practice of reverse logistics, to be off any consequence, could be opting, in the near future, in making greater investment in the development of return management systems to garner greater profitability. The prime reason could be identified as the possibility of achievement of considerable addition to the organisational bottom line through the management of proper reverse logistics systems. This study is enormously benefitted to the Sri Lanka Army and other sister services to wake and secure their logistics systems more sustainable way and also this will alert the responsible individuals, organizations. Further, this effort helps to initiate the imminent requirement to face the government budget cut down. Further, it benefits to government body to identify reasons, seek the preventive mechanism or methods, action to mitigate and obtain precautions for future.

REFLEXIVITY

The expected final outcome of this research study was to determine the impact of reverse logistics on sustainability in the Sri Lanka Army measures of an organization towards its reverse pipeline process performance and to realize the effects and sustainability measures on overall performance. Though the study is designed with reference to Sri Lanka Army, the ultimate goal of this study was to come up with a generalized concept on sustainable reverse logistics process in the organization while ensuring good ethical conduct throughout the research process. In this study, plagiarism was not supported. The due acknowledgements were made where necessary. Summarizing and paraphrasing methods were not used but conclusion means to acknowledge the authors. Sensitive information of the respondents and the organization was only used for the study purposes and was not published without consonant. Further, required permission from officials were obtained to get through to required respondents and customs and procedures in the organization were accepted with respect. All respondents were given a choice to voluntarily provide information to the questionnaire and their choice was valued.

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

The corresponding chapter has delved into the review of researched literature so as to develop effective study based familiarity with the various relevant sections of the research dissertation. The study of supply chain management is necessary to outline the available literature on the logistics management procedures. There are two different disciplines which comprise of the entire mechanism of supply chains. The initial one is the forward supply chain and the next one is the reverse supply chain systems. The scope of the literature review has been restricted to the assessment of the reverse supply chain management mechanism particularly since the entire research study is oriented towards the presenting the various theoretical constructs and practices which could be utilised to evaluate the various probable particulars regarding the management reverse logistics by the Sri Lankan Army. The literature review will be formed as per the conceptualization of the research and based on the research problem statement. The literature review manly focused to the past studies, records and previous researches done within the area of Reverse logistics, Concept of Reverse Logistics, Sustainability and Sustainability on Reverse Logistics. The literature review will be provided more detail about what others have done in the area under the above mentioned aspects. The purpose of writing the review is to identify the gaps in the previous studies.

2.2 THEORETICAL REVIEW AND EMPERICAL REVIEW

2.2.1 Reverse Logistics (RL). “Reverse logistics is a process in which a manufacturer systematically accepts preciously shipped products or parts from the point for consumption for possible recycling, remanufacturing or disposal.” Another definition by is that RL is “the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost effective flow of raw materials, in–process inventory, finished goods and related information from the point of consumption to the point of origin for the purpose of recapturing value or proper disposal.”

Figure 1 below shows the basic flow of reverse logistics and it gives a critical understanding for anyone to get basic idea of reverse logistics.

2.2.2 Concept of Reverse Logistics. The previous few decades have witnessed the gradual expansion in the significance of the concepts associated with the processes of Reverse Logistics (RL). The underlying reasons have been the impacts of current environmental regulatory legislations and global conventions, marketing implications of utilisation of the environmentally favourable technology as well as particularities associated with the financial practices. With the gradual increment in the legislative implications, the available options are fast becoming lesser and lesser for the business organisations other than to utilise the reverse logistics management services. The environmental issues have consistently gained greater significance regarding formulation of new operational paradigms concerning the strategic co-operation development between various components of any such business organisation as per the observations of Gonzalez–Torre et al., (2004).The integrative collaboration based multiplicity of aspects could be considered to be valuable sources concerning the performance increment regarding the reverse logistics management systems and the associated propensity of the organisations to perform the same(Ravi et al.,2005).

2.2.3 Reverse Logistics Areas. As per the opinion of Kaynaket al. (2014),the key aspects regarding the management of reverse logistics are five in number. These could be identified as the prevention of returns as well as the policies of warranty and repair based recovery, management of logistics, operations involving repair and refurbishment, reutilisation of materials through recycling the same and designing the products with specific emphasis on the environment friendly technological and componential applications.

2.2.4 Sustainability: The growth of interest in the sustainability concept has been exponential in the previous 20 years within the decision formulation executives within the various differential organisational structures. This has been properly highlighted by the multiplicity of publications concerning the technical disciplines including press releases and scientific study journals (Linton et al., 2007). Various issues such as the insufficiency of resources, the environmental complications caused by the industrialised nations (Tahvonen, 2000) as well as the political, social and financial uncertainties which have become prominent with the passage of each year (Schneider et al., 2010), have transpired in the addressing of the existing issues concerning the necessity of implementation of development which could be sustainable by the researchers from differing points of views.

2.2.5 Reverse Logistics Vs Sustainability. The research process has outlined the significant integrative value which is held by the logistics management processes in terms of the organisational operations. The emphasis has been so for the explicit reason that environmental degradation could contributed to by the improper management of logistics. Thus, the companies which specialise in the management of effective logistics have been attempting and developing, compatible services in between the profitability aspects and the considerations of the environmental sustainability. The different industrial disciplines are increasingly adapting to the implementation of measures of environmentally friendly logistics management processes. Achievement of success in this endeavour could bring forth the tangible benefits such as cost reduction and intangible advantages such as the enhancement of brand reputation.

In this context, it is understandable that Reverse Logistics management has to develop further considerably. The research process has included an endeavour of literature analysis concerning the salient features of the reverse and environmentally permissible logistics management services as well the defining of such attributes in the clearest of terms. The reverse logistics could be explained in the form of a procedure which permits the manufacturing companies to accept back the delivered products on the grounds of logical reasoning. On the other hand, the environmentally favourable green logistics is associated with the adaptation procedure through which business organisations have to transform their work processes into methods through which environmental friendliness could be infused within the logistics management chains. The United Parcel Service (UPS) based logistics management services involve both the forward and reverse product flows. The product return culmination, in this scenario, prompts the organisations to enquire and test the qualitative standards of the products. After this, various portions of the products or items could be outsourced in terms of remanufacturing. The research has attempted to derive the optimised costs for outsourcing of such products in terms of remanufacturing since the investigation of the costs of outsourcing in the context of the entire UPS logistics management mechanism has been beyond the scope of the study. The possibility has been that the statistical test could reflect the existing significance concerning the research topic, however, the extent to which this component has contributed to the entire process, would be difficult to quantify from organisational perspectives. The reason has been the element of the relative small volume which has been outsourced in exactitude (Lee, 2009). Thus, it is necessary that the managerial personnel are required to adopt rules of replenishments associated with the reverse logistics on the basis of ad hoc measures. The research has been able to propose and test a rule of replenishment which could co-ordinate the material and information flow, both in the upstream as well as in the downstream direction, accurately. It has been previously stated that the majority section of the business organisation currently have come to recognise the significance of the process of managing product return. However, it has been also observed that the situations where the companies have adopted any particular practice concerning management of such product return in the most optimised manner, have been few and far between(Russo and Cardinali, 2012). Thus, the proposed policies of ordering of products or merchandises could be presumed to be amongst the managerial tools which could be advocated concerning the effective reverse logistics management services. From a definitive standpoint, the replenishment regulation under proposition could be utilised as a tangible method through which the implementation of the effective and lean supply chain management strategies could be achieved as has been advocated by Mollenkopf et al. (2012). The rational of it could be identified as the permissibility of such a tool regarding the stabilisation of the supply chain management volatility. This could be achieved through the reduction of the inventory volume and limitation of the extensive variations of the placed orders as these could be forwarded to the suppliers while the supply chain management process could be underway concerning reverse logistics. Thus, it is the prerogative of the managerial personnel to generalise the conclusions derived from various findings in order to determine the actualities of operational deficiencies which could arise out of failing to properly implement reverse logistics. Such as process could then be utilised to design effective ad hoc orders as well as procedural tools of inventory management (Mario and Manfredi, 2012). The requirement of varying measures of formalisations could outline the different functionalities associated with the various processes reverse logistics management activities. The necessity is to investigate about the interdependence between the measure of enhancement of sustainable performance and such different reverse logistics management aspects, on the individual as well as combined application platforms. The effects of formalisation of the changing of processes of such supply chain management could be also brought under the evaluation. However, the necessity of certain duration of time undoubtedly exists concerning the implications of the implementation of all of the formalised operational procedures and rules to be evident. The associated measuresof complications are extensive concerning the development and implementation of reverse logistics program due to the fact the entire process is plagued by uncertainties. The primary challenges could be outlined as the numerous ambiguities and undiscovered contingencies which could have to be experienced during the development of the program of reverse logistics management(Kearney, 2004). It is primarily difficult to predict the flow of returned products and the related demand levels, within the entire ambit of the reverse logistics management structure. The availability of pre-emptive information is primarily non-existent and this causes severe difficulties concerning the quality, quantity and transportation of the products which could be returned from the markets. Only imprecise estimates could be formulated concerning the projections related to a host of different performance indicators. These could be outlined as the seasonal variations in the returns of the products, the presumptions concerning the measures to which the product designs and features could become appealing to the consumers and the fluctuation or variation of the demand cycle as well as the influence of such fluctuations on the overall reverse logistics management processes. In this context, the probable solution could be outlined as the assigning of pre-disposition codes indicating the rate of processes returns which could enable the determination of all of the options concerning the disposition of the entire management process (Rogers et al., 2002).

The options related to essential dispositions which have been so far effectively accumulated through the data derived from the in-depth interviews could be acknowledged as return to the stocks, return of the products to the manufacturer or to the suppliers, refurbishment of the materials and products, repairing of the same, reselling and referring back to the customer services, donation, balancing of the inventories, rejection and liquidation. On the other hand, the performance of the enterprises which have been utilising the reverse logistics, closely depends on the effectiveness of certain organisational procedural assets. These could be identified as the appropriate processes, capabilities and strategies. Apart from these, the measure of alignment perfection of the external and internal resources with the business environments, could also assist the organisations to achieve specific objectives and coveted results. The extent to which critical success could be generated does also determine the measure of success of managing reverse logistics systems. The critical success factors could be identified as the mission and vision of the organisations, the drivers of businesses and marketing strategies, the business requirements and contributions of the enterprises, the strategic process selection, the application of appropriate capabilities, the adherence to accurate perspectives regarding the organisational performance parameters and finally, the depth of managerial understanding regarding the contingency management aspects associated with reverse logistics management (Shaik, 2014). The majority of the designs of the reverse logistics management networks which have been highlighted at the previous literature discussion, had concentrated on the total cost minimisation aspects only. Multiplicity of often conflicting objectives could be outlined in terms of the management of actual business related problems. The efficacy of any aggregation method which has been utilised traditionally as a solution to transform various diverging objectives into a unifying one, could remain to be less than necessary if the assignment of weights could not be effective or correct. In this context, it could be outlined that advanced knowledge concerning the domains is also required for the acquisition of proper weights. To this effect, the Pareto based method of application of schemes based on the ranking through dominance, could be utilised for the purpose of achievement of solutions which are primarily non-dominated and thus, would be able to be utilised to achieve optimal balance in between the different trade-offs and the objectives. Apart from this, application of Genetic Algorithms could be effectual since these could as well obtain the most extensive measure of quality based solutions within a limited period of time. These solutions could as well be appropriate for the business environment which could imply the existence of multiplicity of objective since the natures of such businesses are based on the populations which they serve (Tonanont, Yimsiri and Rogers, 2009). The sustainable reverse logistics decisions in this network must be made frequently for a short horizon due to the potential hazards of the medical wastes to health and environment. The proposition of a genetic algorithmic evaluation technique has been outlined to minimize the risks and costs for the medical waste management problem efficiently. Although this may seem obvious, it makes more sense if we demonstrate this effect with comparison with the results of another method to optimize the model in future (Hejrani, 2013).

2.2.6 Reverse Logistics and Sustainability

One particular aspect of Reverse Logistics management is the necessity of this process to be aligned with the aspect of environmental sustainability. There are two objectives associated with such an aspect. The initial one is the simultaneous reduction of emissions which are adverse to the environment as well as the curtailment of utilisation of energy. The second one is the enhancement of profitability and greater efficacy of utilisation of the existing assets. Such processes are completed through the activities such as the consolidation of shipments, curtailing product returns, maximisation of freight tonnage on a per mile basis and through the optimisation of procedures through which asset recovery and disposition of production could be managed (Ryder, 2018). Sustainable operations on the corporate level have to consistently extend into the processes through which alliances with the partners of the supply chain management process could be achieved. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that “Direct interaction with supply chain partners can enable a company to reduce total inventory levels, decrease product obsolescence, lower transaction costs, react more quickly to changes in the market and respond more promptly to customer requests (Ryder, 2018).” According to Orr (1992), the increasing living standards and the world populations have magnified the consumption as well as the disposal rate of resources. Orr (1992) stated that it is estimated that on an average day, a carbon amount of 15 million tons are deposited to the air. Additionally, the size of tropical rainforest which is destroyed in an average day is about 115 square miles which result in a desert size of about 72 square miles. Eventually, nearly forty to a hundred species are eliminated while approximately 71 million tons of the area’s topsoil is washed away. Furthermore, 2700 tons of chlorofluorocarbons are released to the same environment on an average day while the population is increased by about 263,000 people (Orr, 1992). Corbett and Kleindrofer (2001) noted a growing concern on regional and local air impacts, climate changes, water and ground pollution from activities of industries that have hugely increased the relationship and interaction between operations and environmental management, resulting in reverse logistics. Corbett and Kleindrofer (2001) also say that there are political and economic justifications which highlight the relevance of reverse logistics research. Public pressure put on decreasing the effects of industrial operations on the environment has led into setting penalties and nonflexible standards for operations which are environmentally intensive (Corbett and Kleindrofer, 2001). Krikkeet al. (2001) claim that processing of end-of-life goods or products and waste materials to be replaced for raw material can save money in terms of either buying smaller amounts of raw materials or less disposal. In Europe for instance, the EU laws raise the responsibility of producers and product stewardship for various industry branches (Krikkeet al., 2001). These legislations force product manufacturers to develop recovery and takeback systems for products which are discarded. Measures like increased waste transportation restrictions, emission control, waste prevention, increased disposal bans, and tariffs supplement producer responsibility. There is also a high demand from consumers who want recycling and clean manufacturing. Consumers are increasingly expecting to have the ability to trade their old products for new ones. From a different point of view, retailers are also increasingly expecting product manufactures to create environmentally responsible recovery systems and reverse logistics. A properly managed program of reverse logistics should provide relevant procurement which is cost saving, transportation, disposal, and inventory carrying (Turrisi, Bruccoleri and Cannella, 2013). Corbett and Kleindrofer (2001) say that emissions that occur during transportation process causes significant environmental effects on all actions surrounding the life cycle of products. Fleischmann (2001) also point out that there is a large and increasing interest in reverse logistics. A very common model which is used in reverse logistics is the location-allocation design that is similar to the traditional-allocation problem model (Ammonset al, 1997). Almost all the models involved in this field have minimised processing and transportation costs while the costs associated with the environment are usually neglected. Most literature about reverse logistics focuses on the recovery systems of end-of-life products. These systems include B2C, Business to consumer and networks. There is also few research which talks about the processes of recovery for waste materials or by-products streams among industrial exchange streams that share significant waste stream (Mondschein and Schilkrut, 1997). Mondschein and Schilkrut (1997) claim that waste materials and by-products have potentially significant inputs for various industrial processes. Thinking of by-products and waster as having potential value as feedstock can allow for a model that has a high sustainability degree.

This level of sustainability can lead to markets which are mainly aimed at maximizing on the application and reuse of the waste and by-products as raw material. This direct application of good quality wastes as raw materials benefits the customer, the supplier as well as the environment and extends various products’ lifespan. The use and reuse of waste also delay their ultimate fate. It also decreases the use of virgin source products. Reverse logistics has obtained high attention in the previous decade from both industrial practitioners and academic researchers (Mondschein and Schilkrut, 1997). Persistent and severe environmental concerns, as well as government legislation, have caused motivation to follow further research in reverse logistics. At the beginning of the 90s, two studies were published about reverse logistics by the Council of Logistic Management. Stock (1992) first suggested the use of reverse logistics by society and businesses. Later after one year, Kopickiet al. (1993) demonstrated the various opportunities that could come from recycling and reusing. At the end of the 90s, many research had been completed on reverse logistics. Kostecki (1998) talked about the aspects of marketing of reuse as well as the extension of the life cycle of products. Stock (1998) evaluated how to begin and conduct products of reverse logistics. Rogers and Tibben-Lembke (1999) showed various businesses practises of reverse logistics applying comprehensive questionnaire by industries. Dowlatshahi (2000) found five different studies of reverse logistics like applications, company profiles, logistics, and quantitative models. Many studies, however, focus on quantitative and optimisation models of reverse logistics. Locklear (2001) demonstrated various techniques which can be used to find environmental costs value. One of the proposed values by Locklear (2001) is contingent valuation which involves external valuation that is based on the level which the public can pay for environmental protection willingly. Another technique that is proposed by Locklear (2001) is shadow pricing which applies existing regulations to measure the costs which a society can pay willingly for pollution to be reduced. Tellus Institute measured external costs in 1990 on seven air emission components including NOx and CO2 (Locklear, 2001). They based their six estimations on contingent valuation techniques. Their results which were in US dollars per pound found 0.012 for CO2 and 3.4 for NOx. Another example was provided by Pourmohammadi, Rahimi, and Dessouky, (2008) who assessed cost estimates for at least three scenarios of manufacturing in Air Conditioning and Heating Ventilation industry. Costs were calculated in the first scenario for Air conditioning industry applying virgin materials. The second scenario involved production costs estimation which used secondary mining materials that were recycled and reflected a cost reduction of 82% as compared to the first alternative. The third approach involved materials which were as a result of disassembly of air conditioner units which led to cost savings of about 88% as compared to the application of primary extraction materials. Hawkins et al. (2007) applied the Leontief input-output approach to assessing the effect of the environment on the whole economy as a result of production processes. Additionally, this model considered the impacts of the environment. Through the model, Hawkins et al. (2007) produced significant data linking greenhouses and criteria pollutant with activities of manufacturing in every industrial sector. The companies generally experience different advantages in the implementation of the outsourcing of the Reverse Logistics. Various companies which prefer outsourcing either partial or complete logistics services, always are diligent in the development and implementation of greater effective supply chain control processes. The objectives are to enhance quality measures, reduction of expenditure, increment in the transparency and improvement of the existing inventory management procedures. Concerning the element of reverse logistics, the onus has to be on the progressive increment of the efficiency and speed of product and material recovery, inspection, testing and ensuring the disposition of the returned products. Effective implementation of production dispositional hierarchy could assist in the minimisation of the implications generated from returns. This process could as well include the activities such as recycling, reusing and reduction. In a combined mode with the collaboration, integrative and evaluative approaches, such aims could assist the companies to manage reverse logistics in the manner through which sustainability of services could be maintained. The ultimate objectives are the enhancement of economic performances and development of sustainable practices concerning the processes under consideration (Hickford and Cherrett, 2007). Retailers consider reverse logistics as a life fact which is unavoidable. Regardless of the quality of the product or the level of customer satisfaction, there is a possibility of a product being returned (Aitken and Harrison, 2013). A returned product can either be due to factory error or damaged during shipping. A product can also be returned because of failure to meet customer expectations. Reverse logistics not only consume retailer money and time but also consume their resources. The advantage is that there are reputable, good third-party companies that can offer outsourced services of reverse logistics. Rather than handling internal returns, a firm can hire someone from outside who is specialised in reverse logistics (Aitken and Harrison, 2013). The individual or company can help free up money, resources and time allowing one to concentrate on their competency areas (Banks, 2002). The benefits of outsourcing not only reflect in a company’s bottom line but also avoid logistic challenges.

Outsourced reverse logistic is linked with enhanced customer satisfaction besides saved money and time. Customer satisfaction is improved through customer-friendly and efficient reverse logistic handling approach. It is crucial to have accommodated, and convenient return policies that keep customers to a firm satisfied because even though a customer might return an item, they might still have other future business engagements with the business (Banks, 2002). However, if the process of returning an item that was purchased from the business if difficult, or with restrictive return policies, customers might leave and never come back (Bing, et al, 2014). Despite the logistical concerns burden and profit loss, it is in the best interest of a business to keep lenient return policies. Even though such return policies can put a business in some level of predicament, they are necessary occasionally to keep customers satisfied and loyal in the current ultra-competitive and fast-paced online retail market. However, the process not only saddles the business with the burden of returned merchandise but also with products that have lost their value and which only take up more warehouse space (Bing, et al, 2014). Some of the items can, fortunately, be sold out on clearance if they are not damaged and are not perishables (Daugherty, Richey, et al, 2005). Returned items mean not only means the loss of value but also a firm has to pay its customer service workers as well as warehouse personnel among other people handling returns. These people divert resources which could be used better in other areas. Therefore, many companies prefer reverse outsourcing logistics as the most and best economical way as compared to handling the process internally. Outsourcing allows a different organisation to take on the responsibility thereby improving flexibility. A company is thus able to respond to new changes within the market allowing its success in the modern market (Daugherty, et al, 2005). Businesses recognise that the current market has customers who are armed with the internet and social media power and that these consumers can change their minds or decisions about the purchase of items almost suddenly (Fagundes, et al, 2017). Therefore, the business needs to become flexible so that they can meet the new demands. Because companies of reverse logistics are constructed on the changing nature of businesses, a company’s flexibility can be increased immediately without necessarily increasing their budget. Moreover, outsourcing allows firms to hire experts allowing the retailer to concentrate on the products which they provide (Fagundes, et al, 2017). The retailer thus does not deal with the internal hassle of returns because they can hire another company that specialises in such endeavours. Reputable companies that deal with reverse logistics know the challenges in the process and also understand how to maximise the best practices as they keep a low cost but still maintain customer satisfaction. With a great policy on returns, customers will continue buying from a business even after returning a product which did not satisfy them. Many consumers hate convoluted processes of returning items which they do not like. However, with outsourcing reverse logistics, the return processes become smooth for customers (Fagundes, et al, 2017). Retailers of different sizes like small or medium-sized firms experience a lot of challenges concerning handling internal issues of reverse logistics especially as compared to its worth. Outsourcing allows firms to save money, time and the challenges of dealing with returned items (Genchev, 2007). The reverse logistics firms can decrease the supply costs as well as valuable parts reclamation and can be a future supplies source for any business. Therefore, a business needs a strategy of reverse logistics that is dedicated which can deal with significant return volumes. With each item that is returned, a company receives more material which can be used as input. These raw materials can be applied in creating new products through recycling and thereby decreasing supplier costs (Genchev, 2007). Reversed logistic which is outsourced can help improve reputations through approaches such as going green which is a common trend in the current market (Gechevskiet al., 2016). Firms are searching for different new ways to lower their production of carbon footprints. Consumers are also willing to spend more on firms which are eco-friendly. Because the process of recycling is eco-friendly, reverse logistics can help improve the reputation of a company. A significant amount of businesses’ values is due to its reputation (Gechevskiet al., 2016). Therefore, with a strong reputation, revenue is significantly enhanced. Through reverse logistics outsourcing, a company provides its consumers with one point-of-contact where they can deal with warranty replacement, repairs and other needs that emerge after sales (Gechevski et al., 2016). Eventually, the business grows its customer service level which becomes stronger when a firm has dedicated people working on the needs of reverse logistics. A business can also concentrate on selling and manufacturing and repairing or managing in-house reverse logistic which also need space (Hazen et al., 2015). Reverse logistic needs a business to store items which are undergoing repair and may sacrifice the space in the warehouse for items that are yet to undergo the process of recycling. Because the demand for numerous different items has increased, the demand for space in the warehouse has also become important (Hazen et al., 2015). Therefore, businesses need to fully use all the available warehouse space on recurring orders and new sales and not replacements or managing repairs. Here, reverse logistics can help save money as they take the costs linked with fulfilment, management, and storage of all processes of reverse logistics thereby allowing a firm to concentrate on manufacturing and not repairs (Hazen et al., 2015).

Reverse logistics which is outsourced can also help save inventory management costs where one can devote their actual inventory management processes to actual inventory and not worry about reverse logistics transport and storage (Huscroft, 2010). The result is that a company reduces the number of delays or errors in shipping or transporting new products to its consumers. The business also becomes able to meet their delivery windows which are often ever-decreasing. Moreover, the product flow by means of a reverse logistics chain of supply is often inherently erratic, and it is almost impossible to track the product that consumers might return due to malfunction until the item is returned (Huscroft, 2010). Therefore, the concept of reverse logistic forecasting and predictive inventory-management could consume away the business’ profits. The minimisation of the impact on the operational efficacy is premised upon, by the managerial personnel, attempting the relevant steps through which uncertainty reduction could be effectively achieved. Such uncertainty is primarily related with the quantity and timing of product returns, balancing of the rates of return with various rates and ratios of demands and with the ensuring of predictability of material recovery (Huscroft, 2010). Furthermore, another complication which augurs addressing is the implication of non-compliance on part of the customers regarding the returning of distributed material or equipment on the overall efficacy of operations related to the reverse logistics management (Breen, 2006). The procedures associated with conducting planning and forecasting of future market trends are progressively made difficult in the context of the retail industry since the individual customers contribute their activities to the overall reverse logistical undertakings and this leads to the infusion of exponential variations in the differential scales and rates of return (Tibben-Lembkeet al., 2002). The potential of information to contribute to the reduction of uncertainties which are inherent to the logistics and supply chain management processes, could be considered to be extensive. This is a factual aspect for the firms which could be operating within the business environment where product return rates could be getting enhanced as well (Ketzenberget al., 2004). The ability of managing the inherent uncertainty within the systems which are associated with the recovery and reutilisation of the products, could be considered to be one of the core components of the task of planning activities related to the management of sustainable reverse logistics. This is especially critical in the context of non-homogeneous products and the non-compatibility in the standardisation of input based resources with the new components and conventionally utilised raw materials. In this context, the latest IT applications could be effective in terms of ensuring the proper selection methods which could be effective in terms of handling the inherent uncertainty (Fleischmann et al., 1997; Lee, Kang and Xirouchakis, 2001; Ambler and Kokkinaki, 2002, De Britoet al., 2002). Furthermore, the responsibility of maintaining the most effective method of reverse logistical management highlights the critical necessity to develop such capabilities through which manufacturing as well as logistics management enterprises could ensure such business objectives as Reverse Logistics management based operational efficacy management. In this context, the most decisive competitive leverage could be gained by any business organisation through the application of standardised and effective management of reverse logistics procedures. The intention is always to outperform competitors and even organisational peers and to capture as much market share as possible within the contextual market environment and industrial sectors. This requires the utilisation of greater superiority of management of logistics and the meeting of the customer demands to the greatest extent. During the past decades, the industries had not been able to decisively focus on the development and management of the reverse logistical processes and the consequential returns had been burdensome as well since the activities had been managed as exceptions and the critical operational processes had not been developed in an effective manner (Guide Jr, Souza, et al. 2006). The mutual benefits gained by the organisational product manufacturers or suppliers and by the customers could be considerable if proper development and monitoring of the implementation of the reverse logistics management processes could be achieved (Stock and Mulki, 2009). More often than not, it has been mentioned that most of the global business organisations extensively suffer from the paucity of effective information generation systems through which the support management of reverse logistics based operation could be ensured. Thus, the collection, processing and interpretation of the available information concerning the product returns have become increasingly difficult to manage. Forward channel data could be collected through the instituted information collection mechanisms, however, the same mechanisms remain underutilised while collection and validation performance of the data associated with the reverse logistics process. Such data is primarily related to the procedures such as tracking, disposition analysis, in-checking and management of product/material returns and the lack of such capabilities contributes to the shortcomings in the meeting and management of demands and preferences of customers in the most efficient manner. Data paucity is also responsible for the process forecasting mechanisms becoming progressively inaccurate as well. In this context, it could be considered that greater robust collection methods for available data and better accurate processing mechanism implementation could permit the associated organisational processes to develop the product management capabilities through which the product returns could be better managed. The development parameters have to be inclusive of the fact that reverse logistics management systems are necessary to be sustainable and this could be performed even without the active participation of original manufacturers of the equipment. The reduction of the impact of the industrial activities on the environment is premised upon the proper utilisation of the available capabilities of the service led business enterprises, to establish, in the most effective manner, the reverse logistics management systems. The expected operational results, concerning the development rates, have not still been achieved within the industrial sectors where insurers generally lead the reverse logistics management systems in terms of performance. The glaring dearth of the necessary technical information and knowledge concerning the testing as well as ensuring quality of the products which could be reutilised, has considerably limited the range of different segments which are significant to be utilised at the initial of stages of the projects under consideration. The involved organisations had to resort to new standards of testing and controlling of the processes due to the inadequate support emanating from the original manufacturers of the equipment (Du, Harrison, and Jefferson, 2012). Better profit and brand recognition as well as greater customer satisfaction could be garneted through effective planning and implementation of the most suitable network of reverse logistical management processes. As a direct outcome, the utilisation of an effective model of reverse logistics could enable any business organisation infinitely greater competitive leverage which could entail saving of costs and incurrence of greater amount of profit (Mitra, 2009). The attention being received by the reverse logistics method of supply chain management, as a comparatively new trend, has been growing in the previous few years. The underlying rationale has been the impact of regulatory implications and environmental legislations, competitive pressures, changing methods and motives of marketing and economic prerogatives. With the application of the newly formed legislative measures, the business organisations generally do not have any other option rather than to resort to the practices of reverse logistics management. The influence of the growing international concern regarding environmental degradation related issues has contributed to the formulation of new organisational paradigms of operations and thus, the RL practices have gained new significance in the strategic considerations of different organisations (Gonzalez, 2004). Increased performance measures could be effectively sourced from the variegated aspect of the collaboration based integrative services of different organisations which could be interested in the consolidation of respective processes of reverse logistical management (Ravi et al., 2005). The concept of green logistics has been defined by Sbihi and Eglese (2007) as the concept which is primarily concerned with the production and sustainability management of the goods and product distribution networks as well as performing the duties of environmental and social preferences of the global populace. Furthermore, the element of reverse logistics could be further explained as the procedure under which any organisation could accept back the delivered goods and products, albeit for specific reasons. On the other hand, green logistics management is premised upon the organisational work processes through which the adopting of greater environmental friendly methods of management of the chains of logistics could be utilised (Sbihi and Eglese, 2007).

This process requires the collection agents to pay visits to individual customers within their zones of allotted responsibilities and then collect various products and material which could have been utilised earlier and offering of particular incentives on the basis of quality conditions of such products is another of the tools utilised in this format of operations. The collection agents have to then perform the transfer of the products collected so far to the Initial Collection Point (ICP) which could be at the nearest. This could then result in the payment of a greater measure of incentive to the customers than the previously promised incentive amount. Furthermore, this model proposition is also reflective of the incentive which has to be paid to the individual collection agents by the owners of the Initial Collection Points. The core consideration regarding this entire process of research is associated with the determination of the most suitable location for emplacement of such ICPs so that the collection of the returned products could be management and the outlining of the best possible location for the Centralized Return Centres (CRCs) so that minimisation of the costs related to the reverse logistics management could be achieved including the costs of having to route the vehicles utilised for the collection purposes. The most judicious utilisation of the capacities of both of these facilities is necessary so that the customer convenience could be improved especially for those who could be of the disposition to willingly participate in the returning of the products to the collection points through the collection agents (Sheriff, Nachiappan and Min, 2014). As per the reports of Stock et al, the increment in the reception of the attention by reverse logistics has been palpable to the extent that the values associated with the returned products has been estimated at $ 100 Billion per annum within the U.S.A. In this context, the proper management of reverse logistics could be counted as the most significant component in the sustainable product development process. The influence of the same could be measured to be extensive over the elements of product lifecycle, sharing of information and the mechanism of decision support concerning the development of sustainable products (Shevtshenko, Bashkite, and Maleki, 2012). The salient attributes of reverse logistics could be outlined as being the process of plan formulation, application and management of control of the effective and active flow as well as storage of inbound goods which are secondary in nature. This is also inclusive of the associated information and the entire process is antithetical to the conventional management of supply chain based goods direction. The emphasis is always on the development of the best possible methods through which value could be recovered and appropriate disposal of used goods and products could be performed (Fleischmann et al. 1997). The concepts of both logistics and sustainability are combined effectively by the notions of green process based supply chain management. The weighted sum of all of the emissions of greenhouse gasses as well as the removal process based emissions as well, is the Carbon Footprint measure. This involves the systems of product and process mechanisms. This is expressed in the equivalent of Carbon Dioxide and is considered to be the standardised measurement element regarding the assessment of impact on the environment (Bing, Jacqueline, and Ruwaard, 2012). In the event that the returned product or material could not be remanufactured, resold or even refurbished, then, the disposal of the product or material becomes necessitated. Greater costs of disposal could be incurred during the entire process of disposing or manufacturing could involve various materials which could be hazardous in nature. This becomes the case especially when the resalable attributes could be in existence within the collected products in spite of their obsolescence in terms of their utilitarian value. Such obsolescence could be generated due to the transformation of trends or replacement of such products by updated elements during the backward movement of the original products within the pipeline. A specific review of the research performed on the differential characteristics regarding the reverse logistics management concept had been conducted throughout the duration of 1995-2005. This research outlined with clarity that the primacy of research conducted on such concept concentrated on the evaluation of aspects pertaining to operational and tactical considerations. These had been planning of production and management of inventories. However, coming across pertinent research regarding the strategic aspect determination of the process of reverse logistics is much more than difficult. The reason is that networks of reverse distribution do not pertain to the reflection of the symmetrical structure of the forward distribution networks. The majority of these have convergent structures in terms of networks to the opposite of divergent network structures (Fleischmann, et al.1997). Thus, the necessity is to introduce the framework of designing the supply chain management mechanisms which could be based on the programming of mixed integer linear approach. Furthermore, the demonstration of the strategies through which appropriate carbon management could be sustained, is also of great necessity since this could assist in the achievement of the sustainability of the management of costs incurred to fulfil the objectives (Chaabane, et al. 2012).

The design of logistics networks reflect the most significant parameter of the considerations related to the environmental issues. The intention in this regard is to ensure that a proper balance could be established between the impacts of environmental and profit based considerations. Thus, the application of the Multi-Objective Programming (MOP) could be proposed in terms of the ensuring of the concept sustainability regarding the formulation of an effective design of the network of management of logistics (Quariguasi Frota Neto et al. 2006). The essentiality of the reverse logistics based management of returns has been now paramount within the global economy. The value of product returns, during the year of 2012 had been equal to that of 8.77% of the entire sales generated in the USA retail industry. In an according manner, the evolution of the competency to conduct an effective reverse logistics management process within any business organisation is emblematic of the strategic approach of the business organisation in terms of the supply chain management responsibilities. The successful execution of such strategies, could transform the returns from the cost centres into tangible profits through the extension of the inherent productivity associated with the resources, materials and labour resources (Jayaraman and Luo, 2007; Andel, 1997). The available evidence is indicative of the fact that the business operational enterprises have been increasingly concentrating efforts on the formulation of the abilities of effectively managing the supply chain operations through further development of different competencies required for such aspects. The objective is to reap the gains of positive performance. Future research is thus necessary to properly gauge the possibilities of earning greater benefits which could bring forth the attributes of the reverse logistics management related organisational competencies (Ellinger,et al., 2012). Uncertainty, however, prevails over the fact that firms still experience difficulties regarding the proper formulation, deployment and management of such necessary competencies within the network of multi-organisational framework of supply chain management. This study is oriented towards enumerate the various aspects regarding this persisting problem and it is thus, expected off this study to bring forth the recommendations of future research possibilities through which reinvigoration of the existing solutions could be made possible. The areas of interest are management of returns, reverse logistics based operations, recycling and remanufacturing (Richey,et al., 2016). The recent researches into the examination and summarisation of the data available, regarding the context of the reverse logistics based sustainable management of returns, have outlined various factors which put under the scanner in the future research processes. The central issues in this regard are the determination and analysis of the factors which could assist in the process of better performance of reverse logistics based networks including aspects pertaining to customer support and environmental concern management (Huscroft,et al., 2013). There are various internal and external factors which researchers suggest that facilitate stronger reverse logistics such as customer demand, government regulations, policy entrepreneurs, top management support, incentive systems, stakeholder commitment, vertical integration and input quality (Rahman and Subramanian, 2012). It was concluded by Ho, et al. (2012) that external and internal factors significantly impact reverse logistics. Ho,et al. (2012) propose that human and financial resources play a significant role in reverse logistic implementation in companies while substantial resources cause little impact on reverse logistics practice. They claim that companies which have excellent relationship and collaboration with their business partners can employ reverse logistics more efficiently and effectively. There are global competitive factors, regulatory factors, strategic factors and organisational factors which also play a huge role in influencing stronger reverse logistics. For instance, Government support act and directives are critical factors for companies to implement reverse logistics (Hung Lau and Wang, 2009). Certification helps firms to begin and promote environmentally friendly business activities in their company and produce consciousness among their staff (Hung Lau and Wang, 2009). The necessity of empirical research studies is paramount in terms of building better comprehension into the factors such as the nuances associated with the development of reverse logistics networks and the supporting communication mechanisms through which the leveraging of the benefits derived from effective reverse logistics could become possible (Mollenkopf, Frankel and Russo, 2011). In this context Tippins and Sohi, (2003), have observed that the requirement is reflective of development of better IT competency such as the extent of the organisational knowledge regarding effective utilisation of IT applications to control, store and manage the organisational information. The emphasis has to be concentrated on the accurate and swift processing of returns based data through sharing of the information between various nodes of analysis and data processing. This could enable greater benefits in terms of the outcomes of reverse logistics management. Finally, the research also has suggested that such competencies have to be focused on the establishment of enduring information management systems so that inadequate infrastructural systems could be overcome in terms of IT based operations. This could as well reduce the overall costs in adopting technological novelties and deployment of the related equipment and hardware at the points of businesses (Jayaraman, Ross and Agarwal, 2008). Finally, it could be observed that such capabilities have to be premised upon the development of information systems, solutions to overcome the existing information technology based shortcomings and curtailment of the technology adoption and instillation based expenditure. Multiplicity of issues has been explored by the corresponding research process in terms of evaluating the competencies of reverse logistics management related to current business enterprises. Some of these issues have been deriving adequate benefits from supply chain management based on collaboration between various business segments and the development challenges of IT management criteria. The orientation has been towards supporting efficient and effective performance regarding reverse logistics management (Morgan, Richey and Autry, 2016). Resource evaluation has involved elements such as rarity and value, product substitution potentials and competitive abilities of market rivals and the ability to effectively utilise available resources. Any resource could be considered to be a dynamic competency or capability which could garner competitive leverage effectively only after successful fulfilment of these requirements (Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000).

The essentiality of rewarding outstanding performance is palpable in terms of establishment of the necessity and impetus organisational quality increment. This could be performed through particular actions of which the improvement of the competency of reverse logistics management (Lee and Lam, 2012; Srivastava and Srivastava, 2006). The prioritisation of the reverse logistics based operational competence development has been the prominent trend which has been consistently utilised by companies such as Estée Lauder (cosmetics manufacturer) and Caterpillar (leading equipment manufacturing organisation). The emphasis has been on the realisation of potential financial benefits (Jayaraman and Luo, 2007). Estée Lauder has been investing in the development of the system of proprietary reverse logistics management so as not to utilise the destruction or disposing of the products returned. The objective has been to recapture the value from various components derived from products which could be returned. In a similar manner, Caterpillar had developed the plant for remanufacturing which could permit the organisation to recapture latent value from returned products or from utilised or damaged or refurbished diesel engines. This plant has persistently constituted an additional source of revenue for the organisation (Jayaraman and Luo, 2007). In this context, it could be observed that the development of the competency to manage reverse logistics needs proficiency in multiplicity of unique and critical processes which could facilitate gaining the resources which could be specified by individual firm based operational aspects and could garnered greater revenue from product returns. Previous researches have consistently undertaken evaluation of various aspects associated with the process of returns such as management of repair, re-work, quality maintenance and scheduling (Autry et al., 2001). From a utilitarian standpoint, the reverse logistics associated technologies could be inclusive of the utilisation automated equipment for the purpose of material handling, registering entry and tracking of returns through computerised means, interchanging of electronic data and embedding of radio frequency emitting equipment within the entire process of returns management. All of such functionalities are emblematic of specific management reverse logistics in the most sustainable manner (Jayaraman, Ross, and Agarwal, 2008). The promotion of benefits related to sustainability management is primarily undertaken by multiple corporate entities for achievement of competitive differentiation through activities of reverse logistics and management of returns. Environmental consciousness and financial benefits are both integral to the practices of reverse logistics management. The direct outcome of it has been the increasing pressure imparted on the companies from the stakeholders to address concerns of sustainability in the process of supply chain management (Mollenkopf et al., 2007; Srivastava, 2007). The positive impact of practices supply chain management through environmentally sustainable manner could be noticed to be the financial benefits which could be effectively derived (Golicic and Smith, 2013). The achievement of efficiency, differentiation of products and quality is considered to be the most essential segment of reverse logistics management through the recapturing of value by companies from returned products (Carter and Narasimhan, 1996; Rogers and Tibben-Lembke, 1999). The development of efficient reverse logistics management capability by organisations could augur in the recycling and reutilisation of products which could generate tangible competitive leverage and could provide added advantages in the form of cost savings. Apart from these, other benefits are increment of focus on aspect of service quality enhancement which could generate greater ability to effectively achieve objectives (Hazen, Cegielski and Hanna, 2011). Establishment of greater proximity to customers in terms of supply chain management is also necessary. The competency of reverse logistics management could be pursued through the application customer driven approaches so that better adoption to the dynamic business environments could be managed. Customer expectations generally direct the evolution of product channels in the form of online booking and purchase of products, customer kiosks and others and the associated challenges are need to be researched in future. The guidance of resource allocation has to take into account the reverse logistics management process mapping (Min and Ko, 2008) as opposite to the supply chain management strategy being driven by customer satisfaction and demand management. Financial commitments and allocation of human resources are correspondingly dependent on the level of training of individuals so that the implementation of technology could be effective.

The combination of supply chain management improvement concepts with resources to manage returns is beneficial especially in terms of transparency management (Morgan, Richey and Autry, 2016). Other than this, the topic of sustainability is reflective of various social aspects as well (Carter and Easton, 2011). From a strategic point of view, sustainability is considered as the crucial factor of success regarding long term based business propositions (Kuosmanen and Kuosmanen, 2009). The orientation of future research would be the contribution analysis of reverse logistics in terms of sustainability of the companies. The significant components of such research would be addressing of environmental concerns, sustainability discussion and the triple bottom line of concerns of social and economic nature (Elkington, 1999). Reverse logistics start to play an essential role in adding to the footprint of sustainability. It has attained much attention at the management level as being critical in repositioning the business in the highly competitive and consumer-oriented marketplace (Simões et al., 2017). Marketing and sales executives additionally use it as a competitive tool which is very useful. Various leading companies in the world particularly tech firms like Hewlett-Packard and Dell differentiate their firms from others by providing end-of-life recycling services for their electronics. Moreover, numerous other large corporations and government agencies also buy from firms which have strong end-of-life equipment management programs (Huscroft, 2010). Being environmentally responsible and sustainable at the arena of the reverse logistics chain of supply is still a complicated matter. In domestic and international marketplaces, regulations and laws have become implemented to control the way manufacturers, recyclers, collectors, material processors and refurbishes should conduct themselves in a manner which is environmentally responsible (Leon, Paulson and Ferrer, 2013). For instance, Europe’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) as well as the 16 State E-waste regulations that were passed in the US have passed along robust messages that the matter of sustainability and environment responsibility is a crucial issue that is never to be ignored (Leon, Paulson and Ferrer, 2013). In the US, small stakeholder groups, state and Federal agencies, recyclers, NGOs and industry associations are developing the best management standards of practise known as responsible recycling for the recycling industry of electronics (McLeod et al., 2008). The standards set by responsible recycling demand for stringent and high systems of management, responsible management of materials such as items that have mercury, battery, circuit board and CRT glass, due diligence downstream, management of export control, management of data security as well as security management among refurbishers, recyclers, processors and remarketers (McLeod et al., 2008). The Reverse Logistics Association’s sustainability and environmental management committee or SEMC got developed to deal with two pressing issues affecting the business environment (Suzuki, 2000). It was first meant to offer a platform where corporations, service providers of recycling and refurbish or repair service providers and remarketers could share information, identify as well as come up with efficient approaches, guidelines, and frameworks of achieving environmental and sustainable accomplishments that are possible and later cause an enhanced bottom-line for their companies (Suzuki, 2000). The target area of focus for the committee was defining the actual sustainability meaning and that of environmental management control which is applicable in the arena of reverse logistics. To further explore the areas that involve reverse logistics like refurbishing, repair, remarketing and recycling, they believed it could lead to sustainability (Shaharudin, Zailani and Tan, 2015). They further intended to establish criteria which whose contributions can be estimated. Additionally, the committee aimed at acquiring an in-depth understanding of regulations and laws of the environment and which affect reverse logistics. They also wanted to gather a clearer understanding of the best practices of management for environmental management and sustainability (Shaharudin, Zailani and Tan, 2015). Lastly, the committee intended to collaborate with other reverse logistic agency committees like the standard committee in formalising documents which were developed by SEMC (Sun, 2017). It would be necessary for future research projects to consider the methods through which the addressing of the triple bottom line could be achieved within the ambit of reverse logistics by business firms (Morgan, Richey and Autry, 2016). Such an approach has complemented the process of application of a taxonomy of the practices associated with Logistics Service Responsibility. This process has been assisted through the broad based review of studied literature within the context of sustainability management and application of the same to the concepts of logistics management processes. The empirical analysis of such a taxonomy application has rested on 5 different categories. These are the sustainable packaging, social responsibility management, sustainability based transportation, proper management of warehousing and development of effective methods of reverse logistics management. Supply Chain Management based integration and strategic implementation of RL practices have certain limitations as well (Morali and Searcy, 2013). This contributes to the complications related to the supplier relationship management and innovative thinking as well as holistic efforts towards development of proper resolutions of these problems could be the key remedies from the organisational perspectives.

In this way, the development of strategies of supply and purchasing in the most sustainable manner could be achieved in the long term effect (González-Benito et al., 2010). The practices thus enumerated could be understood to have a greater scope in terms of the recycling including the processes such as scheduling and planning of production, management of inventory, reduction of costs and product excess, remanufacturing and recycling of products (Srivastava, 2007). Ultimately, the evolution of the lean process of manufacturing and production has been undertaken so as to better understand the context of sustainability. The strategy of lean production and management had been introduced by the Toyota automotive manufacturers and this represented the transformation from the systems of mass production to the perspective of production on the basis of Just In Time approaches. Womack and Jones (1996) had undertaken specific studies in the context of this philosophical approach regarding other companies as well. Their study had arrived at the conclusion that lean manufacturing could be outlined as a method of thought process development which involves the inculcation of the organisational culture by the organisational members. This system eliminates the potential of any waste such as equipment, components, materials as well as time consumption so that the concentration of the production process progression could be sustained on the production related essential operations only (Taj and Berro, 2006). Through the acceleration of the flows of inventory assets and through the effective implementation of the processes associated with cross-docking, the activities associated with collection and storage could be reduced as well. This contributes to the lowering of the warehousing based expenses (Bartholdi and Gue, 2004; Galbreth et al., 2008). Inventory management processes generally exclude the expenses associated with social and environmental processes and this is the reason that innovation based sustainable practices contribute to minimisation of fuel consumption and pollution curtailment (Goldsby and Stank, 2000; Murphy and Poist, 2003). In this context organisational changes in terms of the most appropriate behavioural and structural management based approaches are required to develop sustainable supply chain management mechanisms. Other essentials are the evaluation of the roles of employees and managerial personnel as well as the establishment of new metrics for the assessment of the personal involvement based influences regarding the performance management within the sustainability context. It is for the companies to implement the strategic decision regarding the introduction of the components of sustainability to the working processes as well as the investigation of the implications of emerging business performances in the most in-depth manner (Murphy and Poist, 2003). The decision formulation process could consider various points regarding the utilisation of such a progressive methodical approach (Mansouri, Lee and Aluko, 2015). The business entities could access the advantages associated with the factors of sustainable supply chain management. The various advantages could be outlined as savings of costs, improvement of workplace safety standards, gaining of supplier certification, management of waste, ISO 14001, delivery efficiency and standardisation of products and services. Such factors operate as catalysts towards enabling a culture of sustainability based approaches to be promoted and instituted. The challenges related to innovation could be experienced by the companies on multiplicity of approaches. These involve the challenges related to consistent and incremental innovation and radical innovative solution development criteria. However, the literature review and evaluated examples could attest to the non-conflicting nature of these aspects and the most significant deciding factors are capacities and resources. The strategic level based concerns related to sustainability has to be magnified throughout the organisational working architecture so that the tactical levels could as well be compelled to take cognisance of the significance of such concerns and the methods of management and thinking should be transformed in favour of development of mechanisms through which sustainability could be instituted at every working level of the businesses. For the various companies plagued by resource limitations, the progressive approach application proposition could be of interest concerning the transformation of logistical management processes into sustainability based practices. The concern regarding investment requirements associated with sustainability is also persisting. The outlining reasons are dual fold. The initial one is the incremental necessity of the business organisations to adopt greater sustainable working processes and the other one is the continuity of the economically detrimental effects of the global recession and this has been consistently affecting every industrial sector (Mansouri, Lee and Aluko, 2015). The manufacturing organisations of photo static copying equipments such as Cannon and Xerox have been investing considerable resources and efforts in the processes of remanufacturing of utilised machinery. The annual savings measure of Xerox has culminated in the volume of several hundred million dollars through the remanufacturing and reutilisation of the parts and equipment. In excess of 50 thousand tonnes of industrial substances had been diverted from the waste generation streams. Approximately 90% of the current equipment could be claimed to be able to be reutilised or remanufactured. Furthermore, approximately 70% of the cartridges produced by Xerox for printing purposes are retrievable for the purpose of recycling and reutilisation within the markets of USA and Europe (Berry and Rondinelli, 1998). In addition to this, 2 factories for remanufacturing of utilised copying machines have been underway for Canon at UK and USA (Virginia) since the year 1993. These factories are currently operating on the comprehensive approach regarding development of recycling methods for every copying component utilised by Canon. Since the 1990s, the toner cartridges have been consistently collected for the purpose of reutilisation. By the year of 1997, in excess of 20 million cartridges had been recovered from Asia and Europe by 3 different factories (Berry and Rondinelli, 1998). Throughout the chemical industrial perspective, various companies have been engaging consistently in the recycling of utilised carpets. An extensive recycling facility had been established at USA (Georgia) by DSM Chemicals and Allied Signals in a joint venture during 1999. The purpose had been to recover nylon based raw materials from wastes of carpets. The annual capacity of processing of the facility is that of 90000 tonnes and it required an investment amount of $ 80 million. The processing involves collection of the nylon carpet based wastes from 75 metropolitan areas within the U.S.A. The European carpet industry has cooperated with the study firms in terms of conducting a feasibility research of establishment of an identical system of carpet waste recycling at Europe albeit at a much expanded scale than that of the U.S.A based one (Louwerset al., 1999).

A system with much similarity is operated by DuPont at the USA. In 1995, a recycling plant had been constructed at Tennessee which had been oriented towards the processing of the recovered nylon material from industrial carpet manufacturing processes and the reutilisation of such material in various applications such as in the fibres for new carpets and as vehicle parts, has been prominent. Up to 1500 tonnes of material is generally processed by the facility per annum (Chandler, 1990). Kodak had initiated the process of taking back, reutilisation and recycling of singular utilisation disposable cameras in 1990 after severe criticism regarding environmental issues. The initial collected volume of such products hiked from 0.9 million to 61 million within the duration of 1990-1998. Kodak operates 3 recycling plants globally and new camera manufacturing utilises up to 86% of the older camera components (Toffel, 2003). The significance of recovery of products has been apparent regarding the macroeconomic strata as well. Instances could be mentioned as rates of recycling of glass, outlined through the consumption percentage determination, had increased from 5% to 26% in between 1980-1997 within USA. The growth measures in France during this period could be observed to have been from 20% to 52% and in Germany, from 23% to 79%. Within this period, paper recycling rates increased from 20% to 40% at USA, from 30% to 41% at France (OECD, 1999). Primarily, historical research in product recovery had evaluated the engineering as well as marketing aspects. Since the previous decade, the research based investigation into the logistics management aspects of recycling and reutilisation have been concentrated upon. The effects of product recovery are thus increasing being put under the scanner. The discipline of Reverse Logistics has been associated with the management of such effects in tandem with the issues related to managing conventional supply chains (Moritz Fleischmann, 2000). This specific term is utilised within the discipline of disposal of waste, recycling and hazardous material handling. This perspective also involves the logistics related activities such as reduction of sources, substitution and recycling as well as reutilisation of materials other than disposal (Stock, 1992). The implementation and controlling as well as planning process involves management of raw materials in the most cost effective manner, handling of the process inventories, finalisation of goods and products and management of related information regarding processes of production and consumption of such products. The intention is value recapture or properly disposing the products (Rogers and Tibben-Lembke, 1999). The ownership of secondary goods and products is integral to the consideration of Reverse Logistics. The secondary goods primarily refer to the products which could have been utilised and the original utility could have been exhausted in this respect. Thus, it could be identified that Reverse Logistics based operations are considerate of the derivatives which could have been generated through previous utilisation of products and goods, in either a planned or spontaneously realised manner. The underlying objective could be ascertained to be the maximisation of financial value derived from the product outcomes (Fleischmann, 2000). Furthermore, the inbound flow of logistics could outline an economically beneficial aspect since the returned products could be utilised to draw in resources at a cheap rate and the adjoining financial value could be recovered then. The utilisation of virgin materials, constructing of new products or even, purchasing new raw materials are greater expensive in comparison to the recovery of utilised products. The primary benefit could be drawn from the realisation of the added value of manufacturing which is associated with the recovery process and this outweighs the actual recovery of tangible materials. One exception to this observation could be outlined as the recycling of precious materials (Fleischmann, 2000). The market position of any company could be improved through the application of marketing trigger which could refer to the impact of management of Reverse Logistics. The competitive pressure in the current market scenario could compel the companies to reaccept products which could be in excess to the actual demand and refunding such take back solutions are also utilised by such companies to sustain their market image in comparison to competitors. On the other hand, the process of taking back utilised products and refunding the sender has become integral to the recovery of such product value and his process is also indicative of the corporate drive towards projection of a an environmentally responsible corporate profile. This has been a growing trend for different companies to subscribe to. The environmental responsibility reports produced these days from various companies consistently highlight and emphasise their policies and activities of reutilisation and recycling of collected and excess products.

The reverse logistics management initiatives are mostly justified on the premises of improvement of the brand image of any company on the environmental considerations. This form of justification is primarily not considered to be sufficient. However, additional benefits could be present in the effective management of reverse logistics in terms of financial advantages. In this way, the reacceptance of the utilised products could be considered to be the providing of the service facility of performing the responsibilities of waste disposal on behalf of the customers (Fleischmann, 2000). However, the producers have to bear the complete financial responsibility in spite of the responsibility of consummate processing of the collected and returned goods and products having to be managed by third parties to whom the products could be outsourced to. The effective solution could be determined to be the material recycling process since the economic gain potentials are non-existent as well as the adverse impact of existing environ mental legislations are extensive otherwise. As a specific example, the instances of take back legislative stipulations applied in case of Dutch electronics and the recycling of obsolete vehicles undertaken at Taiwan could be outlined (Lee and Lam, 2012). Packaging material which could be reutilised, such as roll containers, could be returned to their original manufacturers or senders such as the suppliers from the supermarkets. Otherwise, these materials could be transferred from the supermarkets to various alternative recipients as well. In most of the cases, the packaging material which could be reutilised, are owned by the providers of logistics services who also have to undertake the process of recollection of such products. The materials utilised for packaging have been categorically targeted by the different environmental legislative stipulations due to the fact that such material contribute substantially to the volumes of waste which then require to be disposed of. The ‘Green Dot’ system, utilised at Germany could be considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of such aspects which oblige the manufacturers to take their product packaging back as well as recover them in the most effective manner. The most significant component in this system is proper recycling of different products such as the plastic materials (Duales System, 2000). The process of reverse logistics management in the most sustainable manner could be contended to be an integral element in the system of management of solid waste. The issues related to logistics could be evaluated within the context of recycling of municipal waste, reutilisation of packaging material, taking back the utilised products as well as specialised services comprising of intervention by third party based recycling facilities. In this context, two specific case studies have been evaluated in detail and these are concerned with the initiatives, undertaken by the retailers, to reduce their production waste and to conduct recycling based on photochemical processes. The most significant aspects regarding the management of reverse logistics systems could be identified as infrastructure development of processing and collection of the materials, formulation of partnerships at the industrial levels and successful achievement of measurement of the performance indicators (Kopickiet al. (1993). De Kosteret al. (1999) have opined that the recycling mechanisms utilised in the entire spectrum of industries have been formulated as direct responses to the recent legislative development at Netherlands involving the take back processes. The primary source of criticism in this respect has been that of the mechanism of financing which does rely on the fixed fee of recycling which is changed on the consumers. Apart from this, the other source of criticism has been the issue of paucity of proper incentives in case of the utilisation of greater advanced measures of recovery of products. Lee et al. (1998) have researched on various systems of recycling which could be similar in terms of their disposition at Taiwan involving various categories of products including those of tyres, packaging, vehicles and electrical components such as batteries (Fleischmann, 2000). A number of simulation studies have been performed regarding the evaluation of the various policies of scheduling regarding the operations related to remanufacturing including the approaches oriented towards first arrival first service access and batching (Guide and Srivastava, 1997). Spengler et al. (1997) have also evaluated the networks of recycling performance management involving the industrial by-products which could be found within the steel industry of Germany. Various production facilities are utilised for the purpose of development of the production mechanism of steel. 0.5 Tonnage of production residue could be generated from the production 1 ton of steel and this much residue is required to be recycled so that compliance with the environmental legislative regulations could be ensured with the added responsibility of reduction of costs of disposal. In this context, the availability of different technologies could become effective in terms of management of proper recycling. The facilities meant to be operated for recycling management could be installed at previous designated locations which could manage the potential of having to operate at various measures of capacity levels. Such development of different facilities could correspond with the variations of the processing costs as well (Fleischmann, 2000). This could involve the designing of any system of logistics management for the purpose of reutilisation of transportation packaging. In this context, the considerations border on the formulation of a closed loop system of deposits for the development and reutilisation plastic containers which could be collapsible as well. These containers could be utilised as secondary packaging materials and could be rented as the same. The involved groups of actors are 5 in number. These can be identified as the central agency which could store a reserve of containers which could be reused, a provider of different logistical services who could be responsible for the maintenance of the storage, delivering of the containers as well as the collection of the same, the recipients and senders of such containers, the carriers which transport the containers when these are filled, to the recipients from the senders (Kroon and Vrijens, 1995).

Only minor steps of reprocessing could be required by items which could be reused and such steps are nothing else than inspection and cleaning. Such actions are considered to be able to bring forth the development of the structure of a network which could be comprised of a limited number of different strata of operations such as effective correspondence to the storage depots. Apart from this, the structure of a closed and looped chain of sequences could be considered to be the most effective and natural in terms of the absence of any distinction between the reutilisation aspects and the original usage aspects. This structure could be as well be applied for the management of different packages of products which could be reused such as the pallets, bottles, crates, containers and polymerised boxes (Crainicet al., 1993). This outlines the credibility of Reverse Logistics processes as inbound logistics since most of the reverse materials and goods are managed specifically by the parties who receive such substances. Apart from this, the task of having to bridge the gulf in between the previous owner of the product and the future owner of the same, has to be performed by the companies which consider responsibilities such as releasing the product for reutilisation, to be integral to the overall logistics management processes (Fleischmann, 2000) Direct and beneficial gains could be achieved through the utilisation of reverse logistics programs. Companies such as OEM’s could be benefitted out of this and the underlying processes involve constricting the utilisation of greater measure of resources which could contribute to cost curtailment, enhancement of the value of recovery and in reduction of the expenditure associated with disposal of products. Various independent operators do perform at the business process discipline of reverse logistics as well since the opportunities to reap financial benefits are exponentially extensive within discarded and superfluous product, good and material based markets which are most not united but exist in the form of dispersed segments (de Brito, 2004). Most of the products in the electronic industry are plagued by short span of life-cycles, however, the end of the life cycle of such products does not specify the economic and utilitarian value of such elements completely. As an instance, the trading processes performed by the U.S. business firm Re-cellular in recovering refurbished cellular phones and the gaining of economic advantages could be mentioned in this context (Guide et al., 2001). The recovery process does involve multiplicity of operational aspect such as disassembling, cleaning and then re-assembling of products. The entire process of recovery does generally occur at multiplicity of divergent levels despite the detailed design of operations. In this way, any product could be recovered completely through the repairing of it at the production level (Thierry et al., 1995). Upgrading and refurbishment of the products, such as large buildings and installations of similar kind, are performed at module levels. Regarding the processes such as component recovery, dismantling and then utilisation of the products and goods have to be performed so as to utilise the newly acquired parts either for the purpose of manufacturing of products of similar kind or for the remanufacturing of diverging product categories. The procedure of re-processing could as well be inclusive of the various segments of the recovery and retrieval processes. The material recovery cases require the sorting out of the products and materials for the purpose of grouping these as per their quality criteria. Thus, the input of raw materials could as well be utilised for the development of the ultimate recycled products. This could be better explained as the utilisation glass and paper pulp for the purpose of recycling of paper into tangible products. Furthermore, the process of energy recovery involved the incineration of various returned products and capturing of released energy and the utilisation of the same. The landfill operations involve the products which cannot be subjected to any of the above discussed processes (De Brito, 2004).

2.4 JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH GAP

The initial chapter of the research study has highlighted the background context of the concept of reverse logistics. The addressing of the necessary areas for the purpose of achievement of efficacious returns on reverse logistics has been also performed through the accurate identification of such areas. To add to this, the discussion has also taken under consideration that concepts associated with performance and management of such performance. The concept of performance measurement is primarily of a multidimensional nature and this is meant to assist in the enterprise decision formulation activities. Thus, this form of measurement activity is associated with the decision formulation problems which are primarily dependent upon multiplicity of criteria. The various key areas outlined in the literature review have thus been recognisable in terms of the enhancement of the understanding of the frameworks related to the reverse logistics performance along with the factors essential for such frameworks to become successful. This specific chapter has been able to contribute to the existing literature through the complication of all of the attributes of reverse logistics related strands of evaluation which have also covered the aspects associated with the activities of efficient and credible measurement of the outcomes of such logistics management as well as the decision formulation processes which accompany the same. Companies can employ the latest technology and models among other strategies to develop a reverse logistic system which can help them to stand out in the current highly competitive market and be more profitable. With the accurate analysis of reverse flow metrics like dollar value, present sales and the volume of items returned. A company can find problems in their system and convert their challenges into opportunities for their business.

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

The corresponding chapter is representative of the research methodology utilised in the entire research study. The research philosophy has been Positivism. The research investigations have been performed in the manner of scientific analysis and quantitative data collection. The research approach has been Deductive in nature and it has been formulated on research objectives, research questions and data collection as well as analysis methods. Survey method has been utilised as the research strategy and semi-structured questionnaire have been utilised for the purpose of data collection. The study research choice has been quantitative in nature due to the purpose and structure of the topic and the associated data collection process. A particular cross sectional time horizon has been utilised so that primary data could be collected from the identified research sample. The entire research study is formulated as an empirical study investigation and the conceptual framework has been formulated on the basis of the research objectives involving the testing of solution feasibility through empirical evidence gathering. The purpose of the data collection process has been to analyse and scrutinise the factors such as social, knowledge based and relative ones, which could be identified and indicated through the analysis of various dimensions of the research.

3.2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Conceptualisation has been utilised as the basis on which this research process has progressed since this indicates the specification of the concepts which are both abstract and refined. This also indicates the processing of a particular previously determined meaning concerning the conceptual analysis of the research purposes. This process has been framed Reverse Logistics as the Independent Variable and the Dependent Variable has been the element of Sustainability. This research begins with the problem on “is there any relationship between the Reverse Logistics and sustainability Sri Lanka Army? Therefore, the sustainability of Sri Lanka Army depended upon Reverse Logistics system. The dimensions which are going to be considered are redistribution of resources, warranty based recovery, repair, returns from service and product contracts, recall of products and equipment which have been utilised previously and the refurbishment oriented parts of such equipment, have been considered. Other considered dimension have been reselling or selling of raw materials as well as recycling of the products at the end of their lives. As per Figure 3.1, the independent variables indicating Reverse Logistics activities are selected as Replenishment, Reusability, Refilling, Refurbish, Repair, and Redistribution. This is based on the theory of the Reverse Logistics activities in Chapter two.

Further, as per figure 3.1; the dependent variable; Sustainability is measured through the indicator of Self-evaluation of officers in the Sri Lanka Army. This selection too is based on theoretical material which is stated under Chapter two.

3.3 FORMULATION OF EMPIRICAL MODEL

It is the objective of this section to show the relationship of Re verse Logistics activities and Sustainability. Figure 3.1 shows the relationship between Reverse Logistics activities and Sustainability. The below functions are consistence with the figure 3.1 of section 3.2 in chapter three.

Y = ƒ(x1, x2, x3, x4, x5 x6)

Where

Y = Vectors of Sustainability

X1= Vectors of Replenishment

X2 = Vectors of Re-usability

X3 = Vectors of Re-filing,

X4 = Vectors of Refurbish

X5 =Vectors of Repair

X6 =Vectors of Redistribution

According to the above functions, Reverse Logistics activities are functions of sustainability and Sustainability is affected by reduction of Reverse Logistics activities.

OPERATIONLIZATION

Operationalisation could be contemplated as the development of procedures, which are particular and specific in nature and these could have the outcome of enabling empirical observation achievement. The objective is to represent the various real world based concepts. Operationalization is the transformation of variables related to concepts, dimensions into measurable factors. In the operationalization, the concept indicated as dimensions will be measured by the indicators. Indicators such as recovery of value, redistribution of resources, warranty based recovery, repair, returns from service and product contracts, recall of products and equipment which have been utilised previously and the refurbishment oriented parts of such equipment, have been considered. Other considered indicators have been reselling or selling of raw materials as well as recycling of the products at the end of their lives. Considered variables in this study have been 2 in number. X = Independent Variables of the current study were the indicators of Reverse Logistics activities as shown in the conceptual framework above in Figure 3.1. Measures of indicators of Reverse Logistics Activities were used to collect required primary data as shown in the Table 3.1. Y = Dependent Variable of the study was Sustainability since the study is focused on the impact of Reverse logistics. The respective variable of reverse Logistics was Self-evaluation of the employee performance and this measure was used to gather data required for the study as shown in Table 3.1.

3.5 SAMPLE PROFILE

The population of the current study included all the commissioned officers in the Army. A portion of this population was used as the sample to collect data for the study. Since it was possible to collect information of the population (Sample Frame) through accessing the relevant headquarters, a Probability Sampling technique was adopted to enhance the fairness of data collection process. Further, Since student officers at DSCSC and Staff officers of Security Force WEST comprise with teeth arms, support arms and logistics officers of the Sri Lanka Army , Stratified random sampling method was adopted to extract a sample in proportion to the size of stratum of population. There were 130 personal from all units for the selected sample. It would be cluster sample which is convenient for the research to achieved desired objective. Inclusion criteria - personals included for the study, the commissioned officers of Sri Lanka Army, for the attitudinal survey. It was decided to include officers with minimum of 10 year service and who willing to provide verbal consent.

3.5.2 Base of Sample.

The basic technique of sampling has been that of Simple Random Sampling through the selection of a research sample involving a group of subjects who could be studied and this selection has to be derived from a larger sample. The selection of the individuals is premised exclusively upon the probability factor and the sampled members have equal measure of possibilities of getting selected within the sample. Simple Random Sampling has been utilised for the specific reason that probability sampling involves quantitative data collection methods. The non-representative subsets of considerably larger sample populations are utilised in Purposive Sampling. It is utilised to represent at particular aspect or purpose. Particular groups could be represented, such as logisticians. Non probability method is practiced for qualitative research therefore purposive sample is used in this research.

3.6 DATA COLLECTION METHODS

The study has utilised the research issue based problems as points of interest and various different methods have been utilised for the purpose of data collection through several avenues, personalities and institutes. The most significant methods have been the questionnaire, interview and governmental/non-governmental reports/records. The questionnaire method has been the primarily utilised method for the collection of data. The Primary and Secondary sources of data have been utilised and the Questionnaire based method has been the mainstay for the Primary data collection processes. Questionnaire had been distributed to the several logistics units of the Sri Lanka Army including amongst the supply officials and procurement officer for generation of the research data. Secondary data has been collected through the consultation of several academic texts and from peer reviewed books and journals and even from published researches, from websites and from previously conducted researches of different researchers.

3.7 DATA ANALYTICAL TOOLS

The data generated from questionnaire and the associated responses in terms of personal interviews were evaluated, assessed, coded and subjected to the SPSS(Version 22) and Excel data analysis software. The application of data analysis based statistical techniques such as mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, coefficient of variance, frequency distributions, skewness measures, correlation measures and regression analysis were utilised as per the available data set particulars with the research objectives in mind. Model fit analysis and Sample adequacy was measured using KMO test. Reliability of the data set was checked using Cronbach alpha which is the in-built feature of SPSS. Validity of the data set was measured by using expert validity test by Research Supervisor. Then, data were further descriptively analysed, and quantitatively analysed. Further, Univariate, Bivariate and multivariate analysis too were conducted for the collected data set. Finally, correlation, coefficient and significance level was analysed using 95% confidence level. These selections were backed by studies of Dwomoh, Owusu&Addo (2013), Abuga, Goeffrey (2013) and Cudjoe, (2011). Three forms of data presentation techniques are used in the current study. They are Textual Presentation, Graphical Presentation, and Tabular Method.

3.8 ETHICS

This research was done along with stipulated guide lines of Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), Kothalawala Defense University (KDU). Unethical or misbehavior practices were not accommodated to do this research. Research questionnaire will be adequately completed to come into conclusions. Nothing will be outsourced to complete this research unless otherwise guided by my supervisor of FGS, KDU. Questionnaires and other primary data will be discarded after completion of study.

3.9 CHAPTER SUMMARY

This study is a quantitative research which collects data using primary data collection tool(Questionnaire) from the commissioned officers in the Army. Methodology of the study was developed in order to explore Reverse Logistics systems available in the Army and find the possible impacts for sustainable systems for the Sri Lanka Army. Obtained data were analysed descriptively and quantitatively. Furthermore, Univerative, Bivartive and Multivariate analysis was designed and were presented by textual presentation, Graphical presentation and Tabular Method.

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION

4.1 INTRODUCTION

Under Chapter four researcher, discusses the data analysis and presentation aspects of the study, which was discussed in chapter three in conceptual frame work. The data collection was done through circulation of questionnaire. Data analysis starts with checking to ensure the completeness of data and removal of the incomplete questionnaires. The collected data analysed under SPSS21(Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software using Univarite (descriptive analysis), bivariate and multivariate (Inferential analysis), in which statistical tools such as ordinal regression model, model fit, factor analysis, correlation analysis, univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis methods have been used. The data collected from the sample and commissioned officers were analysed to fulfill the research objectives. The data sample had been evaluated to outline the adequacy, validity and reliability aspects. The corresponding chapter would be demonstrating the characteristics, statistics and analysis of the collected quantitative data from the research sample.

4.2 SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS

Prior to data analysis, it is important to identify the characteristics of the sample used for the current study. The sample size was hundred (n=130 out of which 77 commissioned officers were student officers at DSCSC, 25 were staff officers of Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, 15 were officers in the field from Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and balance from staff officers from Security Force WEST. The age characteristic of the sample dispersed over a range of 30 years with a maximum of 50 years and a minimum of 21. The work experience of sample employee (in years) at Sri Lanka Army had a range of 10 with a highest experience of 26 years and a lowest of 7 year.

4.3. SAMPLE STATISTICS

Prior to analysing the data, it was important to check the sample statistically to check sample adequacy, sample reliability, goodness of the fitness of the data set, significance of the data set and sample validity. The collected data of the sample of the study was thus checked with SPSS (Version 21).

4.5 UNIVARIATE ANALYSIS

Analysis of descriptive data can also be termed as univariate analysis. It tells about the general characteristics of the sample population. It is a simple method, where it refers to analysis of one variable separately in which uses the data to describe the population either through numeric calculations, graphs or tables. Thus the collected data is analysed using descriptive analysis such as percentages, frequency tables (frequency distribution), graphs, measures of central tendency (Mean, Median, Mode) and dispersion (variance, standard deviation). Through access to such data, the researcher can understand the sample population in a much better and effective manner. Sustainability was the dependent variable in this research; while the factors of redistribution, replenishment, refilling, reusability, refurbish and repair were the independent variables. The following table shows the descriptive statistic regarding data from various sources during the current study. The total sample size for each of the elements was 130.

4.5.1. Replenishment as a Factor

For initial analysis of factors one variable each has been considered from each independent variable. Replenishment is one of the independent variable; in those third party partners of the replenishment process has been considered with available statistics. Under mentioned figure 4.1 shows its movement.

From Figure 1, it can be observed that the majority of the participants replied in favour of agree and strongly agree, as they both received 32 replies each. This indicates that the participants think third parity partners should work within the cycle of replenishment. Twenty-one of the participants remained neutral, while 30 of the total participants replied that it is relatively crucial for the third-party partners.

4.5.2 Reusability as a Factor

Second independent variable taken in to consideration was Re Usability. Movement of respondents for importance of effectiveness of reusability are shown in Figure 4.2.

Based on Figure 4.2, the majority of the participants think that calculating the effective use after reusability should be considered well in advance is essential. It helps in determining reusability effectively and ensures that they are correctly used, and all the parties are happy and satisfied. Twenty-nine participants were neutral, while 28 of them ranked this process as highly relevant.

4.5.3 Refilling as a Factor

It is expected to consider refilling process as an effective method, responses for the third independent variable of refilling has been considered in factor analysis at Figure 4.3.

Figure 4.3 shows that the refilling process is a highly effective method and also helps in improving sustainability. 32 were neutral while 29 ranked it as very important. On this basis, it may not be wrong to say that the refilling process, after careful consideration and proper use can be useful in enhancing the sustainability of reverse logistics operations for the Sri Lankan army.

4.5.4 Refurbishing as a Factor

Refurbishing is an important factor where Army has largely involved. Figure 4 describes variable movement of research participants for refurbishing.

16 participants, as per Figure 4.4, strongly agree that the army is mostly involved in the refurbishment process. 41 more participants further support them. Only 40 participants agreed that the army is involved with the refurbishment processes. 19 were neutral, while only a handful of participants either disagreed or strongly disagreed. It can further be noted that the role of the army is refurbishment is of crucial importance.

4.5.5 Repair as a Factor

Repairs plays a wider role in Reverse Logistics in the Sri Lanka Army. Equipment repairs in the Army have many constraints in its performances. Figure 4.5 shows the Short Lead time is essential for repairs as an independent variable. Response shows impact of impression of end users of the equipment in the Sri Lanka Army.

According to Figure 4.5, 50 participants consider shorter lead times to be essential for repairs, while 27 strongly agree with the statement. 35 more participants show their support for the statement, while a total of 6 participants disagrees it, and 12 remain neutral.

4.5.6 Redistribution as a Factor

The forward flows of redistribution in reverse logistics are an important factor which has positive impact on dependent variable. Figure 4.6 shows its play in these research participants.

According to replies obtained for Figure 4.6, it can be observed that 44 participants think the movement towards redistribution in reverse logistics is essential, particularly from the standpoint of view of sustainability. 36 participants agreed, and 30 participants strongly agreed with the statement. 15 participants were neutral.

4.5.5 Sustainability

Sustainability is the dependent variable in this research and three areas has been discussed graphically for better understanding of research outcome. Figure 4.7 shows the saving resources is very important for sustainability of the organisation and figure 8 shows impact of sustainable reverse logistics process for environment.

From Figure 4.7, it can be noted that 47 participants strongly agreed that it is imperative to save the resources in order to enhance sustainability. 38 participants also supported this statement, while 13 remained neutral and 8 were not in favour of the statement. Thus, it can be said that by saving the resources, sustainability can be improved by a substantial margin. Environment is a vital factor for any research. Reverse Logistics activities may support environmental conservation and preservation has been vital for this research since it plays a vital role.

As per Figure 4.8, 43 participants strongly agreed that the activities of reverse logistics could support the process of environmental conservation and preservation. 20 participants were neutral, and 5 disagreed. On this basis, for conserving and preserving the natural environment, the Sri Lankan army should focus on reverse logistics and improve it. This can be the most effective way of attaining this objective.

Sustainability is known to all but it should inculcate within the system. In that education has more attention, research participants response for educating the personnel involved in logistics in supporting the sustainability could bring a positive impact is shown in Figure 4.9.

In Figure 4.9, it can be observed that 54 participants strongly agreed that educating the personnel in reverse logistics can bring positive impact and support the process of sustainability. 12 participants were neutral, and 4 disagreed.

4.6 CORRELATION BETWEEN VARIABLES (BIVARIATE ANALYSIS)

Bivariate analysis is performed only between any two variables, the dependent variable and a dependent variable in order to identify weather there is an empirical relationship between them. Correlation quantifies the degree to which two variables are related using “r” the correlation of coefficient or Pearson Correlation. Degree of relationship between any two variables was measured using Correlation. Correlation can be positive, negative or no correlation and the values lie in-between 1 to 0. In positive Correlation 2nd variable has a tendency to increase with the increase of 1st variable where as in negative correlation 2nd variable has a tendency of decrease with the increase in 1st variable and in zero correlation 2nd variable does not either increase or decrease with the increase in 1st variable. Coefficients values and its linear relationship parameters are shown in the table 4.10.

In the previous section of this report, the variables were analysed on an individual basis. However, in this section, each independent variable and the dependent variable has been analysed. Through such analysis, the researcher provides information regarding each of the independent variables in relation to the dependent variable. This provides a thorough amount of information regarding the research topic and various aspects related to it. The bivariate analysis, as the name suggests, at a time analyses two variables. By using such an analysis, the researcher can learn more about each of the independent variables and thus also provide an assessment as to how each of the functions with respect to the dependent variable. Such information can be of great use in the current study and can also inform the overall understanding of the readers. The relationship between sustainability and replenishment was analysed first. From the following Figure 4.10, it can be observed that there is a positive relationship between both the variables, while the other variables were kept constant.

The R2 was 0.412. On this basis, it can be said that sustainability can change by 41.2% if there is a change in replenishment. Therefore, more replenishment means more sustainability in the business, thereby enhancing its performance by a great margin.

Relationship between sustainability and reusability was analysed second. Reusability is an important aspect of enhancing sustainability. This is because, if the goods are reused, then it would reduce the negative impact on the business and thereby increase its sustainability.

From the Figure 4.11, it can be observed that the relationship between these variables is positive, as the scatter plot seems to be moving from left to right in an upward motion. The value of R2 was 0.445. This means that if the reusability aspect is changed, then there will be a 44.5% impact on the dependent variable of sustainability. The following Figure 4.12 shows the relationship between refilling and sustainability. Herein it can be observed that this relationship is positive. Any change in the independent variable will bring about a proportionate change in the dependent variable as well.

Refilling has been determined as an effective way of handling and managing the aspect of sustainability. It promotes and enables the concerned people to re-fill their bottles and containers, which then help in reducing the need for plastic bottles and other such forms of containers. It can be a very effective way of promoting sustainability in organisations and among individuals as well. From the following image, it can be determined that R2 was 0.447. This means that with a change in refilling aspect, there will be a 44.7 present chance of change in the dependent variable of sustainability. The next bivariate analysis was between refurbish and sustainability. Refurbishing is a process wherein the goods are reused, but only after they have been restored to a new condition. This entails repairing the various parts and cleaning some of the parts so that the gadget or tool can work effectively.

Refurbishing is considered as a very effective way of dealing with the situation of sustainability. It is also highly useful in terms of enabling organisations and individuals to use the existing tools and devices, thereby reducing environmental pollution by a great degree. Herein a positive relationship can be observed between sustainability and refurbish at Figure 4.13. It can also be considered as an indication that the people are inclined and ready to use refurbished products in their daily lives. It can provide a major boost to the aspect of sustainability and help in determining effective ways to improve sustainability, thereby reducing the negative impact of operations of business organisations. R2 was 0.473, indicating a 47.3present chance of change in sustainability with a change in refurbish aspect.

The fifth variable analysed here was the aspect of repair. It has been observed on a number of occasions that goods should be repaired so as to enhance their longevity and ensure that they are still operational and operable.

Repairing the products has a direct and close association with improving sustainability. The Figure 4.14 shows a positive relationship between the two variables. R2 was 0.305, indicating a 30.5% probability of change in the aspect of sustainability on account of change in the repair aspect. This further shows the close relationship between repair and sustainability. Thus, it may not be wrong to say that they have a direct relationship. By increasing repairs, sustainability can be further improved by a great margin.

The sixth relationship analysed herein was between redistribution and sustainability. Items which can have more life time can be used time to time. Those items can be considered for redistribution when proper inventory is maintained in the Army.

Herein a positive relationship can be observed between the two variables at Figure 4.15. Since the R2 was 0.424, there is a 42.4% chance of change in sustainability due to change in redistribution. By improving redistribution, the sustainability of operations of business organisations can be improved extensively, thereby further improving operations of the company as well.

4.6 ESTIMATION OF EMPERICAL MODEL

In this section, the focus was on analysing all the variables together, unlike in Univariate and Bivariate analysis. SPSS was used to conduct this analysis. In the following paragraphs, the analysis and interpretation of the analysis have been presented.

From the correlations table 4.6.2, the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable can be assessed. Such a relationship has been explained in the following table. Herein it can be observed that all the independent variables, i.e. replenishment, reusability, refilling, refurbish, repair and redistribution, have a positive relationship and impact on the dependent variable of sustainability. Replenishment will have a moderate impact on sustainability and improve it. In a similar fashion, reusability, refilling, refurbish, repair and redistribution will have a moderate impact on sustainability.

4.6.1 Parameter Estimate

In the context of the current study, it was imperative for the researcher to pay attention to the aspect of sample adequacy, reliability of the samples, goodness of the collected data sets, the significance of the data as well as their validity and reliability. In this regard, SPSS software was used by the scholar. To test the adequacy of the samples, the KMO Test was carried out by the researcher.

From the table, it can be observed that the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy came out to be 0.874 at 0.00 significant level. Therefore it can be said that the sample is well adequate.

Similarly, the reliability of the sample was also checked after thoroughly analysing its adequacy. In this regard, Cronbach’s Alpha value was checked by the scholar.

It was computed to be 0.899 for the seven variables considered in this research. On this basis, it can be said that the reliability of the samples was adequate, and it can be relied upon. This test essentially tests the reliability of the samples, which tells how well the sample data can present a general picture and also predict information about the population.

After having thoroughly tested the reliability and validity of the data, the researcher conducted aOrdinal Regression Logic Model Analysis. It helped in measuring the goodness of the fitness of the collected data sets. This was done by using SPSS software. The model fitting information has been shown in the following table 4.7.3. As can be seen from the table, the R Square value was 0.637. It shows the percentage by which the independent variable represents the dependent variable. This means that a change in the independent variables will have a 63.7% chance of bringing about a similar change in the dependent variable. Since all the dependent and independent variables were used in calculating this R Square, it can be said that it the value of R Square depicts a very good relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

The purpose of chi-square goodness-of-fit test is to determine the levels to which the data or score distribution concerning one categorical nominal variable could match that of the expectations associated with such distribution. This test could be utilised to assist in the determination of chance based differentiation of the distribution regarding the all of the scenarios which have been listed above from those of the expectations associated with such distribution.

The relevance of the fit test has been instrumental to highlight the compatibility of the sample data with the distribution method regarding the sample population. Such a population could be representative of the population with Weibull distribution or with usual distribution. This form of approach outlines the notion that the sample data could represent the entire data set which could be expected to be generated from the actual research population. With the violation of the parametric test based assumption, the utilisation of nonparametric tests becomes essential. Nominal variables are dealt through the chi-square test. This test is indicated as the “goodness-of-fit” test since this test enquires about the compatibility between the theoretical assumptions and the generated statistical data.

The R Square is utilised as the determination coefficient in the model of linear regression. It summarises the variance proportion regarding the dependent variable of the research and this is also associated with the independent or predictor variable. The larger R Square values generally indicate the greater variation could be outlined through the utilisation of this particular model to the maximum value extent of 1. The basis of Cox and Snell's R Square has been the comparison of the log likelihoods of the model and that of the baseline model. The maximum value of this theoretical approach has been that of less than 1 and this signifies the categorical results of the model, although it is considered as the perfect model. The adjusted version of the Cox & Snell R-square has been that of Nagelkerke's R Square. The adjustments have been those of the scales of the statistics which generally cover the entire range of variations from 0 to 1. The category is an effective one since this represents the dual R Square values as .587.

On the basis of algorithmic likelihood kernels concerning the intercept specific model and the full estimated model, another version has been considered in the model of McFadden's R squares. The emphasis would be on the comparisons between competing models of the same data sets since these statistics based models are mostly suggestive. As per the fundamental measures, the model with the greatest value in terms of the R Square statistic, would be the most acceptable. The R Square based values generally provide positive responses in the research.

The estimates of the data parameters summarised from the table could represent the effects of each of the predictors. It is inherently problematic to properly interpret the coefficients which have been represented in this model. The reason has been the link functional nature, the signs utilised for the covariate coefficients as well as the coefficient relative values utilised for factor levels. These could provide significant insights into the predictor effects within the model base. Independent variable such as Reusability replenishment redistribution refurbishment has a positive impact on sustainability whole repairing has inversion relationship. In case of reusability when reusability increase by 1 odd the sustainability goes up by 0.92 while replenishment goes up by 1 odd the sustainability goes up by 0.82. Further, when the redistribution goes up by 1 odd, sustainability goes up by 0.89 finally when the refurbishment goes up by 1 odd, sustainability goes up by 0.98. Finally out of all these variables the reusability replenishment redistribution and refurbishment being the positively interrelate has a significant. Out of this the refurbishment has highest impact, secondly reusability, thirdly redistribution, finally replenishment. However, the repairing has no any significant impact on sustainability.

4.7 CHAPTER SUMMARY

This chapter was focused on analysing the collected data from the sample of 130 Commissioned Officers serving in the Sri Lanka Army. Prior to analysis of the data, the sample characteristics were discussed. Quantitative analysis was carried out in this chapter. Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and multivariate analysis in quantitative analysis were conducted using both SPSS and MS excel. Univariate analysis was done using the mean, mode, median and coefficient of variance. The bivariate analysis was done using graphs prepared using MS excel. In multivariate analysis KMO test was used to check the sample adequacy and the sample adequacy of the current research was ideally adequate. Reliability of the sample was checked using the Cronbach’s Alpha and the reliability of the sample used for current research was well reliable. The R Square (R2) value was obtained through the model summary and the ANOVA significance table. The correlation matrix, Model fit and coefficient was also used to find the relationship between independent variable and dependent variable and the analysis proved all independent variables have positive impact of sustainability. Hence all research objectives were addressed in this chapter and the basis for discussion chapter and conclusion chapter were laid.

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION

5.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter focuses on the findings of the current research study and forms a platform to discuss, compare and contrast the findings of this study with related past researches and views of the researcher. Critical evaluation of research findings obtained through analysis of data in chapter four was done in this chapter.

5.2 DISCUSSION ON RESEARCH FINDINGS

5.2.1 Replenishment as a Contribution Factor for Sustainability

Reverse logistics is one of the best ways to manage customers of organisations. In this regard, most of the military logistics related functions adopt a specific way to manage it in a better and innovative way as well as propose order policy that is one of the best ways as an advocated managerial tool for proper management of the reverse logistics. On the other hand, the proposed replenishment rule is another useful tool, which is tangible, and it provides an opportunity to implement lean and global supply chain strategies (Mollenkopfet al., 2012). It further enhances supply chain dynamics stabilisation by controlling the variability of the orders placed to the suppliers in the reverse logistics management as well as by reducing inventory control. Operationally inefficiency in the replenishment can be resolved through implementing and designing the ad hoc order and inventory management tools as it enhances the performance under reverse logistics system (Mario and Manfredi, 2012). Replenishment has been practiced in the Army at all level of operations. Relationship of replenishment and sustainability shows highest level of impact each other and it is a realistic outcome. Requirements are vary in the field but time to time used items/ equipment/ spares need to replace to run the military operations. According to the results obtained in the current study, it can be said that environmental sustainability, indeed is a very crucial part of the operations of military organisations. It lays down the base for military establishments to improve their image and also ensure that their operations are ethical and environmentally friendly. According to Orr (1992), the increasing living standards and the world populations have magnified the consumption as well as the disposal rate of resources. In the context of the current study, the results clearly indicate that sustainability is a very important aspect and logistics operations of military, are heavily dependent on them. Therefore, to ensure that the Sri Lanka Army is able to create a positive image in the reverse logistics field and keep the various stakeholders happy and satisfied with proper replenishment process. Corbett and Kleindrofer (2001) said that sometimes there are political and economic aspects of sustainability as well. This means that sustainability is heavily dependent on political and economic situations in the country. In a country like Sri Lanka, If political and economic opinions do not support sustainability, and then there are very few chances for the Sri Lanka Army to be able to improve the same. This means that the Army needs political or economic support to conduct such activities that might eventually help in reducing its wastage and make it more sustainable. Advantages of outsourcing Replenishment to third party partners that outsource some or all of their logistics services are looking for better control of their supply chains to drive quality, reduce costs, increase visibility and improve inventory management. In this research observed that the majority of the participants replied in favour of agree and strongly agree for third party players to do replenishment in the Army. This indicates that the participants think third parity partners should work within the cycle of replenishment.For replenishment, this means increasing the speed and efficiency of recovering, inspecting, testing and dispositioning returned products. Sustainability can change by 41.2 percent if there is a change in replenishment. Therefore, more replenishment means more sustainability in the business, thereby enhancing its performance by a great margin. Continuous process of replenishment with well-established replenishment parks in the theatre of war may give proper assessment to the front line soldiers’ survival. Therefore, it directly affects the army whether they are at war or peace.

5.2.2 Reusability as a Contribution Factor for Sustainability

Reusability has positive impact of sustainability as per the study, in that there should be an audited procedure to find out percentage of equipment in the each field which are to be reused, with that sustainability can be gained with the organization at significant level. The independent variable of reusability was positively related to the dependent variable of sustainability means, Sri Lanka Army should reuse the tools, equipment etc. It will have significant impact on overall operations of the Army, as it would have to put more emphasis on the way machines and tools are used, in order to ensure that they can be used again, but in a better and more efficient and effective manner. According to Kroon and Gaby (1994), reusability is one of the aspects that directly link to sustainability. By using products, tools and machines again and again their full potential can be made use of and they can reduce the need for buying new machines and tools. This way total need of the Army or demand of the Army can be revaluated at large. That should be achieved by proper inventory maintenance for reusable equipment. Equipment which can be reused should have life time calculation for its life and how many times an item/ equipment can be used is very important when maintaining reusable items. Increased electrical and electronic equipment will limit the final disposal of it. It can be reused for many years and there is an incentive for and user who use the equipment with timely maintenance and service (Europa, 2006). This will enhance good practices of soldiers to limit the military expenditure on electronics and electrical goods. It will positively enhance the sustainable procurement system. The End of Life Vehicles (ELV) directive (2000/53/EU) is concerned with cars, vans, and three wheeled vehicles. It aims to reduce amount of waste from vehicle when they are scrapped; In this case Army can setup rising reuse, recycling of vehicle parts for maintenances of on road vehicles. It will reduce the spare part capital expenditure in the Army which impact overall sustainability of vehicle fleet and it will sustain the environment as well. In recent some years, the general public also has become extremely aware of logistics operations and the impact that it tends to have on the natural environment. Krikkeet al. (2001) claim that processing of end-of-life goods or products and waste materials to be replaced for raw material can save financial resources in terms of either buying smaller amounts of raw materials or less disposal. In Europe, for instance, the EU laws raise the responsibility of producers and product stewardship for various industry branches. These legislations influence the product manufacturers to develop recovery and takeback systems for products which are discarded. Therefore, enacted acts should be published in the Army for use of waste material and end use material for reusing purpose as raw material to sustain the environmental resources. There are direct advantages of developing the reverse logistics programme whereby dwelling the use of raw materials, adding value with recovery, reducing disposal costs and using renewable energy resources for the production of new organisational products are efficient to handle the production of the distribution of the companies (De Brito, 2004). For example, in the electronics industry, there are many products which have a short life cycle and the customers use this thoroughly. However, the parts of the electronics goods have high intrinsic economic value. As a result of this, the reusable process includes the reprocessing' steps such as cleaning and inspection which is useful for analysing the difference between `original use' and `reuse', and through this process, the manufacturers try to reuse of the materials successfully through recycling (Crainicet al., 1993). There are many forms of reusable goods such as reusable packages such as bottles, crates, pallets, plastic boxes and containers. The reverse logistics system in this regard is advantageous for bridging the gap between a former owner, releasing a product, and another future owner (Fleischmann, 2000; Kroon and Vrijens, 1995). According to Spengler et al. (1997), the German steel industry is also utilising the recycling technique for producing still and recycling steel for using as a raw material. The independent variable of reusability was positively related to the dependent variable of sustainability. This means that in order to improve sustainability, the Sri Lankan army should reuse the tools, equipment. It would have a significant impact on overall operations of the army, as it would have to put more emphasis on the way machines and tools are used, in order to ensure that they can be used again, but in a better and more efficient and effective manner. According to Bartholdi and Gue (2004), reusability is one of the aspects that directly link to sustainability. By using products, tools and machines, again and again, their full potential can be made use of, and thus they can reduce the need for buying new machines and tools. This way, the total need or demand of the army can be reduced by a significant margin; and thus, it can also improve the sustainability of operations of the army. Similar findings were obtained by Breen (2006) as well.

5.2.3 Re-Filing as a Contribution Factor for Sustainability

There is a significant association between the two variables of Re-Filling and Sustainability. In the context of the Sri Lanka Army, it can be said the refilling similarly, the data analysis of the current study showed that refilling is positively correlated with sustainability. The correlation coefficient, in this regard, was 0.664 means using the old containers and boxes to fill their various things like ammunition and other forms of supplies besides, refurbish also had a positive correlation with sustainability. It has been a facilitation model regarding providing assistance to decision formulation refilling of liquid Petroleum gas cylinders, vehicle batteries, rebuilt tyres, toner cartridges, computer related ink and ribbons etc for reusing in the army may give a sustainable life cycle of these products. Monitory allocation of the Army for these products has considerable impact of the total budget. Product returns greatly influence the design of the systems meant to reutilise products. The model of Reverse Logistics does project the product returns method as an exogenous one which could not be controlled by the business entities. This proposition is distinctive in terms of the permissibility of financial impetus to control the returns of products. The predictability encompasses the elements of timing, product quality and quantity as well as associated functions of logistics. This model is comprised of 3 different stages involving support provisioning to operational planning, control, management of demand, pricing mechanism and decision formulation (Guide and Pentico, D.W , 2003). This type of proposal can be validated to the Army for refilling process which has positive impact on sustainability to reduce capital investment and procurement of large stock of refillable items. Reverse logistics is intrinsically aligned with environmental sustainability. When companies maximize tons per mile, consolidate shipments, reduce returns and optimize product disposition/asset recovery processes, they are simultaneously reducing harmful emissions and energy usage, while increasing profitability and asset utilization.(www.ryderscs.com, 2010) It says, being the largest human resource organization in the government sector, Sri Lanka Army can directly involve with developing environmental sustainability having refilling management system which can be introduced to the logistics activities.

5.2.4 Refurbish as a Contribution Factor for Sustainability

Refursbish’s correlation coefficient came out to be 0.649. Refurbishing means restoring the products to their original condition or even better so that they can be reused. It was first meant to offer a platform where corporations, service providers of recycling and refurbish or repair service providers and marketers could share information, identify as well as come up with efficient approaches, guidelines, and frameworks of achieving environmental and sustainable accomplishments that are possible and later cause an enhanced bottom-line for their companies (Suzuki, 2000). The target area of focus for the committee was defining the actual sustainability meaning and that of environmental management control, which is applicable in the arena of reverse logistics. To further explore the areas that involve reverse logistics like refurbishing, repair, remarketing and recycling, they believed it could lead to sustainability (Shaharudin, Zailani and Tan, 2015). They further intended to establish criteria which whose contributions can be estimated. In this way Sri Lanka Army can reduce the cost of capital investment for new products and meantime soldiers can experience almost new product once refurbishment is done. It is with less spend but new product experience with low cost. During the current study, it was observed that all the independent variables have a direct relation with the dependent variable of sustainability. This shows that all these variables have a positive impact on the dependent factor. Therefore, to ensure that Sri Lanka Army is able to attain sustainability and reduce the overall negative impact of their operations, then they have to closely follow these variables and determine ways to use them. This level of sustainability can lead to markets which are mainly aimed at maximising on the application and reuse of the waste and by-products as raw material. This direct application of good quality wastes as raw materials is beneficial for the customer, the supplier, as well as the environment and extends various products’ lifespan. The use and reuse of waste also delay their ultimate fate. It also decreases the use of virgin source products. Therefore, Army may have their recycling product manufacturing establishments which have direct impact for the sustainability.

5.2.5 Repair as a Contribution Factor for Sustainability

Repair also had a positive correlation with sustainability with a coefficient correlation of 0.592.Results obtained from the current analysis show that reverse logistics is one of the very effective ways that can help in improving the aspect of sustainability and therefore help the Sri Lankan army to reduce its carbon footprint and the adverse effects of its operations. Thus, repair can be highly effective and help in improving operations of the army and make them less dependent on nature and natural resources. While carrying out the data analysis section, it was found that apart from repair and redistribution, all the other variables were positively related to the dependent variable of sustainability. The current results concur with the findings of Autry, Daugherty and Glenn Richey (2001) and Ambler, T. and Kokkinaki (2002). They found that repair and redistribution are more harmful to the environment because it involves extensive use of even more resources than what was used in the original purpose. Therefore, need to have more attention of such reverse logistics activities in the Army as well for betterment of the sustainability. Various companies experience the concerns related to management of product disposition and handling, packaging and component manufacturing. Legislations such as the WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), within the European Union, contribute to the restriction of utilisation of hazardous substances in the industries of electronic and electrical equipment manufacturing. The emphasis is on collection, recycling and reutilisation of such material. At the USA and at other countries, similar legal stipulations are under promulgation. Previous research outlines that positive incorporation of sustainability within the repair industry has not been achieved. However, the emphasis is on the incorporation of legal structures which could provide coverage to the repairing equipment as well as associated elements utilised within the armed forces so that positive results could be brought forth. Kodak had initiated the process of taking back, reutilisation and recycling of singular utilisation disposable cameras in 1990 after severe criticism regarding environmental issues. The initial collected volume of such products hiked from 0.9 million to 61 million within the duration of 1990-1998. Kodak operates 3 recycling plants globally and new camera manufacturing utilises up to 86% of the older camera components (Kodak, 1999). This is a critical experience in the world largest photography industry, if a such company would do repairs with used items Sri Lanka Army also can think about it in a sustainable way. Though Repair has less positive response by respondents to the research, it can be enhance positive response by introducing reusing spares for repairing equipment and machines with available used returned stock.

5.2.6 Redistribution as a Contribution Factor for Sustainability

Redistribution was also positively correlated with sustainability and had a coefficient correlation of 0.679. Reverse Logistics (RL) is considered as one of the best concepts of sustainable manufacturing which promotes resource recovery in an efficient manner. Many developed countries currently practice this concept in most of their industries; thus, saving significant amounts of virgin materials, and handle waste management problems effectively, De Silva, SHSPL(2016). Organisations perceive that the present market has clients who are outfitted with the web and web-based life control and that these buyers can alter their perspectives or choices about the buy of things abruptly. In this way, the business needs to wind up adaptable with the goal that they can satisfy the new needs. Since organisations of turn around coordination are built on the changing idea of organisations, an organisation's adaptability can be expanded quickly without fundamentally expanding their financial limit. This happened to Sri Lanka Army which has been expanded due to operational requirements at the last stages of Humanitarian operations. The strength of the Army rapidly increased 100,000 to 220,000. Also, redistributing enables Sri Lanka Army to employ specialists enabling the logistics units to focus on the items which they give. These results correlate to the current findings. Reverse logistics,which is redistributed can help improve notorieties through methodologies, for example, making strides toward environmental friendliness, which is a typical pattern in the present market, according to Gechevskiet al. (2016). Firms are looking for changed better approaches to bring down their creation of carbon impressions. Shoppers are additionally ready to spend more on firms which are eco-accommodating. Since the way toward reusing is eco-accommodating, switch coordination can help improve the unpleasant reputation of an organisation. A lot of organisations' qualities are because of its unpleasant reputation. Subsequently, with solid unsavoury reputation, income is essentially improved. Through a turnaround coordination re-appropriating, an organisation furnishes its purchasers with one point-of-contact where they can manage guarantee substitution, fixes and different needs that arise after deals. The current results are similar to the findings of Gechevskiet al. (2016).Inevitably, the business develops its client administration level, which ends up more grounded when a firm has committed individuals taking a shot at the necessities of turn around coordination. A business can likewise focus on selling and fabricating and fixing or overseeing in-house turn around calculated, which additionally need space. In recent some years, the aspect of reverse logistics has gained a lot of importance. It has become one of the key areas of focus for companies. According to Ryder (2018), reverse logistics is a way through which firms can optimise their operations and also effectively manage the aspect of environmental sustainability. This is mainly due to the reason that it enables companies to focus on reducing the returns and improve their recovery processes, along with reducing the emission of harmful gases and other such substances. Since the concept of corporate social responsibility has gained so much attention in the last few years, companies are giving more and more attention towards ensuring that they can improve their image and also reduce the negative effects of their operations on the environment. Reverse logistics has emerged as one of the ways that can help military establishments to improve their operations and also reduce their negative impact on the natural environment.

5.3 CHAPTER SUMMARY

This chapter was mainly aimed at comparing and contrasting the current research finding with the past researches. Findings of the current study was mostly supported by the past researches mentioned in chapter two despite of the differences in the focused environment, country or objectives. Further, reasons for the few contrasting findings that weren’t supported much by past findings were identified through this discussion chapter. However, a factor that was highlighted in discussing the current research findings in general was that all factors have positive relationship for the sustainability and weren’t either agreed nor disagreed with the questionnaire statements. This indicates a natural reluctance in out speaking the true conditions or a general unawareness on the questioned areas.

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter was designed to be the concluding chapter of the current thesis. This chapter was thus included with the concluding note of the research study. This also comprise of recommendations since it was a secondary objective of this study if any. Finally this chapter provides insight to future researches by suggesting further research opportunities.

6.2 CONCLSION

The purpose of this research is to examine the current state of reverse logistics activities in the Army, more specifically impact or reverse logistics on sustainability and provide recommendations for the Army to follow sustainable reverse logistics operations. This research also aims to stimulate further research within the area of sustainable reverse logistics operations. Distinctive level of acknowledgement is essential to lead the reverse logistics activities productively and, in such manner, the connection between the staff of the Army should be improved and supportable performance ought to be examined regarding taking apart in sustainable reverse logistics approach. There are numerous areas throughout the reverse logistics where sustainability can be implemented. Implementing sustainability requires a great deal of creativity; however, benefits that can result are shown as worth of the effort. Review of extent literature reveals increased attention in the field of reverse logistics. Initially, reverse logistics was used to reverse direction. Then literature on reverse logistics started to include environmental aspects. There are different vulnerabilities for which the execution procedure of reverse logistics just as the changing procedure of formalisation become confounded for the administrators under reverse logistics activities of the associations as there exist several numbers of unclear factors in the reverse logistics framework. In such manner, the interest of the clients just as the profits of the items is unreliable by the operational chiefs under the reverse logistics framework because of inaccessibility of the data identified with quality, amounts, and steering of the item returning from the field. In the reverse logistics framework, the projection of regular spikes consequently, request of the item highlights structures of the items favoured by the buyers, the variance of the interest among the clients in the field and the impact of reverse logistics can be evaluated through statistical surveying. Through overseeing reverse logistics, it is feasible for the army to oversee ecological supportability as it gives a chance to the combinations to boost tons per mile, minimize returns and upgrade item attitude/resource restoration forms, unite shipments, they are at the same time diminishing destructive discharges and vitality use, increment gainfulness and improve resource usage. In this ongoing period of globalization, it is significant for the associations to oversee corporate social duty to make the logistics operations maintainable and give the positive ecological impression and through green inventory network. Reverse logistics is simple for the organisations to verify future supportable improvement. The relationship between sustainability and replenishment was analysed first. The R2 was 0.412. On this basis, it can be said that sustainability can change by 41.2 percent if there is a change in replenishment. Therefore, more replenishment means more sustainability in the business, thereby enhancing its performance by a significant margin. Relationship between sustainability and reusability was analysed second. Reusability is an essential aspect of enhancing sustainability. This is because, if the goods are reused, then it would reduce the negative impact on the business and thereby increase its sustainability. Refilling has been determined as an effective way of handling and managing the aspect of sustainability. It promotes and enables the concerned people to re-fill their empty cartages, bottles and containers, which then help in reducing huge cost involved in computer and photocopier toner/ink, the need for plastic bottles and other such forms of containers. Refurbishing is a process wherein the goods are reused, but only after they have been restored to a new condition. This entails repairing the various parts and cleaning some of the parts so that the gadget or tool can work effectively. Refurbishing is considered as a very effective way of dealing with the situation of sustainability. It is also highly useful in terms of enabling organisations and individuals to use the existing tools and devices, thereby reducing environmental pollution by a high degree. Herein, a positive relationship can be observed between sustainability and refurbish. It can also be considered as an indication that the users are inclined and ready to use refurbished products in their daily lives. It can provide a significant boost to the aspect of sustainability and help in determining effective ways to improve sustainability, thereby reducing the negative impact of operations of military organisations. R2 was 0.473, indicating a 47.3 percent chance of change in sustainability with a change in refurbish aspect. All six elements have a positive relationship with the dependent variable of sustainability. Independent variables of replenishment, reusability, refilling, refurbish, repair, and redistribution share a positive and direct relationship with sustainability. Change in replenishment will have an 18.3 percent chance of bringing change in sustainability. Similarly, reusability, refilling, refurbish, repair and redistribution will have percentages of 22.1, 19.3, 22.8, 22 and 14.3 respectively. Further, the p-value or the significance value of replenishment, reusability, refilling, refurbish, and repair is coming out to be less than the critical alpha value of 0.05.

6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

The Army strategy for the environment speaks to such an adjustment in Army thinking. It speaks to a noteworthy progression in the Army's valuation for the association between the central goal, the network, and the earth. Reverse logistics inside the military has been in presence since the cold war. This research paper talked about reverse logistics as it is connected towards the Sri Lanka Army. Six primary subjects were talked about in this research study. They incorporate the present meaning of reverse logistics as it applies to the military, the present employment of turn around coordination in the military, and lastly how reverse logistics in the military can bolster a steady green culture inside the association. The usage of a reverse logistics framework is certainly not another idea. Associations have been executing useful reverse logistics plans without having an official name for their activities. Deliberately, a reasonable Army is a creative Army that can quickly adjust to future difficulties, and an Army that has the help of the nation it protects, regardless of whether in war or harmony. The establishment for such a manageability ethic is now installed in the Army fundamental beliefs that move to act with uprightness: making the right decision — lawfully and ethically. There can be short and long term recommendations that an Army can use to implement sustainability within their logistics operations.

6.3.1 Short Term Opportunities

Start Today

It is the time for the Army to progress towards the institution of sustainability with immediate effect.

Start Simple

There is a multiplicity of simple activities which the Army requires to attend to regarding management of investment. These are the study of the armed forces facilities and comprehending efficiency measures. Such measures could be implementable with immediacy and these could as well contribute to the facilitation of creativity and engagement of tradesmen. Commitment from the management higher echelons is required since sustainability is required to be instituted from the top as the necessity of resources could be managed by such personnel only. This further requires management based expansive commitment which could encompass all of the units and sections involving sustainable operations.

6.3.2 Long Term Opportunities

Stay ahead of Government Regulations

The management echelon has to foresee the impending governmental measures which could prove to be problematic regarding operations of military logistics management and the points of their applications. Proactive intervention is necessary from the higher echelons of the management services which could enable the Army to develop effective competitive advantage in terms of costs, resource utilisation and time management in tandem with existing regulations. The conducted research could recommend that the Army is required to conduct further research in management of sustainability with the best possible swiftness through the implementation of internal practices. The emphasis has to be on the short terms based practices and the extension of the same in the long run externally through the logistics based operations. The initial step towards the long term based objectives could be the development of an accurate delineation of the supply chain of the Army which could assist in the identification of opportunities and development of greater effective concepts regarding the measuring of services and products. This is significant regarding the completion of pre-requisites concerning the development of a participatory framework of implementation of sustainability based reverse logistics management. Another significant recommendation could be the utilisation of a balanced scorecard of sustainability practices. This could be utilised as a benchmarking tool for the efforts of the Army to manage sustainability in comparison to other governmental services. The emphasis would have to be on the improvement of services of the Army concerning the differentiation of the institution from competing government services through cost reduction.

This perceptual approach could protect combat readiness, improves sustainability advancement and trust measure expansion. The outcomes of globalisation had been competition development, technology utilisation, expansion of the ranges of products and establishment of the services necessary for meeting populace demands. The negative effects of the same have been resource depletion and environmental degradation. Thus, precautions have been developed for environmental protection and raising of consumer awareness so that greater acceptance of environmentally friendly products could be utilised. The companies who are addressing waste and sustainability have become more preferable by the consumers. Moreover, these developments have directed the companies to reverse logistics by which they will have an environment-friendly image, managing government funds and thereby having good relations with consumers, which will lead to protect and continue their market share. Reverse logistics frameworks are fundamental to the correct evacuation and transfer of build-up and unserviceable things. Reverse logistics is a doctrinal inventory network term portraying how side-effects and different materials are returned through the first production network to reuse, repair, or guarantee appropriate transfer. The business retail industry is progressively concentrating on reverse logistics is to trim costs, drive benefit, and increment client administration. The Reverse Logistics Executive Council characterises Reverse logistics as "the way toward arranging, actualising, and controlling the productive, understanding stream of crude materials, in-process stock, completed merchandise and related data from the purpose of utilisation to the point of cause to recover esteem or appropriate transfer." From this definition, one can unmistakably relate this to Army coordination and how the Army can start setting up the framework to encourage retrograde tasks. A few advantages of Reverse logistics are a cleaner domain and reusing or reallocation and possible money related recuperation of hardware. Notwithstanding, this does not imply that Reverse logistics needs to stop and enable the materials to gather to unmanageable reserves. This is actually why logisticians should adequately deal with their present supply chains: to limit the measure of retrograde things gathering at all areas all through the battlespace. Utilising replenishment zone rearward paths may help units in two different ways. To begin with, it recognises prerequisites for reversing, empowering units to be increasingly proactive in submitting air development demands and improving their permeability of material development for arranging. Next, it furnishes units with a sorted-out administration apparatus to guarantee that no vehicle returns vacant and wastes essential assets. Activities related to reverse logistics may be vary from unit to unit, but overall Army is one organisation which imparts huge government money to sustain its troops and other resources. Therefore, research provides reliable findings for sustainable reverse logistics system is much needed for sustainable Army at a large frame. Reverse logistics plays a vital role in the Army’s perspective since the Army is funded by government for its activities. Therefore, relationship between reverse logistics activities and sustainability proves that there is a need for sustainable reverse logistic pathway for the Army.

6.4 FURTHER RESEARCHABLE AREAS

There are several opportunities and areas that the future researchers can pay attention to, regarding the current topic of study. One of the critical opportunities for future scholars could delve into the topic of reverse logistics and social sustainability. Through this topic, researchers can focus on the functionality of reverse logistics and how it can help societies to become sustainable. In such a study, the researcher will have to determine the standards of sustainability followed by the army and its impact on modern-day societies. Such a study can help in revealing the carbon footprint of armies and how they can use reverse logistics to reduce such adverse impact on society as well as the natural environment. This study has been based on quantitative analysis of reverse logistics factors which proves Replenishment, Reusability, Refilling, Refurbishment, Repair and Redistribution has positive impact for sustainability. It is recommended to carry out qualitative research on qualitative aspects of the same which may provide wider range of explanation for reverse logistics activities in the Army for developing more sustainable reverse logistics frame work.

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