Reverse logistics is an important process that is often misunderstood. Reverse logistics can cause considerable cost, but provide numerous opportunities. Many organisations do not understand the correct processes and procedures to follow and how to manage reverse logistics efficiently. The focus of this study was on best practices in reverse logistics. A best practice framework was developed to help organisations overcome problems and manage their reverse logistics more efficiently. This study adopted a mixed method research approach with both qualitative and quantitative elements. A comprehensive literature study was conducted to develop a conceptual best practice framework in reverse logistics and a survey was conducted to seek inputs from industry in South Africa to refine the framework into a workable instrument in practice. The study concluded that the best practices identified in literature have proven to be important in practice, and applying such practices will enable organisations to manage their reverse logistics more efficiently. / Business Management / M. Com. (Logistics)

Reverse logistics is an important process that is often misunderstood. Reverse logistics can cause considerable cost, but provide numerous opportunities. Many organisations do not understand the correct processes and procedures to follow and how to manage reverse logistics efficiently. The focus of this study was on best practices in reverse logistics. A best practice framework was developed to help organisations overcome problems and manage their reverse logistics more efficiently. This study adopted a mixed method research approach with both qualitative and quantitative elements. A comprehensive literature study was conducted to develop a conceptual best practice framework in reverse logistics and a survey was conducted to seek inputs from industry in South Africa to refine the framework into a workable instrument in practice. The study concluded that the best practices identified in literature have proven to be important in practice, and applying such practices will enable organisations to manage their reverse logistics more efficiently. / Business Management / M. Com. (Logistics)

Analysis of the supply chain is necessary to improve performance. For this reason, supply chain management (SCM) has received a lot of attention recently and supply chain design (SCD) is a concept that forms an integral part of the adoption and implementation of SCM. Effective SCD contributes towards better supply chain integration (SCI) which, in turn, contributes towards improved supply chain performance. The focus of this study is on the analysis of SCD practices. Designing the supply chain structure is a complex and demanding undertaking that needs to be aligned with the needs of the supply chain’s end customers, because their needs ultimately have to be satisfied. This study proposes a conceptual framework that has been developed from literature to assist organisations in the analysis of their SCD practices, with the aim of improving supply chain performance. The conceptual framework was exploratively tested by means of empirical research to determine whether it can be used as an assessment tool to assess the SCD practices of organisations. The study concluded that the conceptual framework that was developed in this study can be used as an assessment tool with which organisations can analyse their SCD practices. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

本研究係利用經濟部投資審議委員會2007年「華僑及外國人投資事業營運狀況調查表（非服務業）」問卷資料，以1,013家僑外資在台非服務業廠商為分析對象，運用Probit Model進行實證分析，由廠商規模、行業分類、廠商成立年數、國際化程度、技術來源、在台設立區域營運總部、業務種類多樣化、兩岸經貿政策進一步鬆綁及降低關稅，儘速與他國簽署FTA等各個面向，探討兩岸經貿關係更加緊密後，影響僑外商在台子公司運籌中心地位之決定因素為何。經實證結果發現，國際化程度、技術來源、在台設立區域營運總部、業務種類多樣化及兩岸經貿政策進一步鬆綁等變數為影響僑外商在台子公司運籌中心地位之決定因素，除技術來源為在台自行研發之變數呈負向關係，傾向於採行降低及不變之營運策略外，其他變數皆與僑外商在台子公司運籌中心地位呈正向關係，傾向採提升之營運策略。 / This research made use of the 2007 Ministry of Economic Affairs Investment Commission survey entitled "Chinese and Foreign Investment Enterprises Operating Conditions Survey (non-service)" and targeted 1,013 non-service industry overseas foreign manufacturers in Taiwan as research subjects. The Probit model was used to carry out an empirical analysis based on the firm size, industry classification, the year the manufacturer was established, the degree of internationalization, technology source, established regional operational headquarters in Taiwan, business type diversity, steps taken to relax and lower tariffs and promptness in signing FTA and other oriented documents, with other countries. This study discusses why there were influencing factors in the decisions of overseas foreign investment subsidiaries in Taiwan logistics center positions after cross-strait economic and trade relations became closer. The empirical results show that the degree of internationalization, sources of technology, the establishment of the regional operational headquarters in Taiwan, business type diversity and further relaxation of cross-strait trade policy variables are the impacts of overseas subsidiary of foreign logistics center’s factors in determining status. In addition to the fact that the variables of technology sources developing on their own in Taiwan showed a negative relationship and tend to adopt reduced and unchanged operation strategies, other variables are compatible with overseas business subsidiaries in Taiwan logistics center position and showed a positive relationship and tend to enhance the operational strategies adopted.

Thesis (M. of Military Art and Science)--U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2007. / "A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Military Art and Science, General Studies." Title from cover page of PDF file (viewed: May 29, 2008).

In an ever-changing world where economic growth is inter-alia dependent on the export of bulk minerals, the risk and the severity of risk incidences in the bulk mineral supply chain should be minimised. In South Africa the export of coal is a large contributor to the GDP and any risk to this supply chain will directly affect its contribution to the GDP. Although all the stakeholders in the bulk coal export logistic chain manage the risk in their own domain, the bulk export logistic chain represents a supply chain structure where the risk of one stakeholder influences the risk of another stakeholder. Therefore, to reduce the total risk, an integrated risk management framework for the bulk coal export logistic chain is required. This study investigated the risks and the risk management processes in the bulk coal export supply chain. This logistic chain was chosen based on the monetary value the chain represents and the contribution to the GDP. A qualitative research design was used with one-on-one interviews and content analysis of risk management policies and procedures to obtain the data. The study revealed that there are risks that could not be managed on an individual stakeholder level and therefore an integrated risk management approach that considers the total bulk coal logistics export chain is required. / Entrepreneurship and Supply Chain, Transport, Tourism and Logistics Management / M. Com (Logistics Management)

Analysis of the supply chain is necessary to improve performance. For this reason, supply chain management (SCM) has received a lot of attention recently and supply chain design (SCD) is a concept that forms an integral part of the adoption and implementation of SCM. Effective SCD contributes towards better supply chain integration (SCI) which, in turn, contributes towards improved supply chain performance. The focus of this study is on the analysis of SCD practices. Designing the supply chain structure is a complex and demanding undertaking that needs to be aligned with the needs of the supply chain’s end customers, because their needs ultimately have to be satisfied. This study proposes a conceptual framework that has been developed from literature to assist organisations in the analysis of their SCD practices, with the aim of improving supply chain performance. The conceptual framework was exploratively tested by means of empirical research to determine whether it can be used as an assessment tool to assess the SCD practices of organisations. The study concluded that the conceptual framework that was developed in this study can be used as an assessment tool with which organisations can analyse their SCD practices. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

The Eastern Cape Provincial Administration has, since the promulgation of the Supply Chain Management Policy Framework in 2003, been challenged with the implementation of the said Policy.Some departments have progressed better than others, but all of the provincial departments have been challenged in one way or another.It was therefore, necessary to research the reasons for the erratic implementation process by the different departments. An analysis, based on answers provided by senior officials of the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration in an interviewing process, was needed to get an understanding of the challenges the departments are faced within the implementation process. In order to provide quality goods and services, this dissertation aims to evaluate the implementation process, provide insight to the challenges that the departments are faced with and offer recommendations on how to remedy these challenges. The lessons learned from this research study will assist the provincial departments to re-engineer their implementation processes and move forward to greater success and embracement of the Supply Chain Management policy Framework.

Only a few middlemen linking chemical intermediate product supply to world tyre productions have managed to survive new direct business models. In fact, the only region, where the practice of using a middleman in the supply chain of tyre production, for a certain primary manufacturer, is in South Africa. Tyre producers in other world regions, similar in market complexity to South Africa, have experienced the elimination of the middleman. Hence the question of this research, why is the middleman in the supply chain of tyre production in South Africa still a better option than that of direct business models? To begin with, the thesis stated that the middleman in the supply chain of South African tyre producers delivers better value than that of the direct business model. To prove/disprove this thesis, the principle that value is a trade-off between what you get for what you give was the basis of this research (Zeithaml, 1998). Further, a model was developed, from secondary literature, to conceptualise this trade-off to provide evidence to prove/disprove that the middleman provides greater value than value from the direct business model. From this point, the research approach was to collect data through interviews to find out the most important aspect of value created by the middleman. Data collected were analysed, using the structure of the model as a guide, to find evidence of the trade-off. This analysis provided evidence that the relationship between the middleman and the tyre producers in South Africa and between the middleman and primary product supplier is the value that the direct business model cannot replace.

Mit der Entwicklung der Logistik von einer Dienstleistungsfunktion zu einem Führungskonzept besteht die Notwendigkeit, im Rahmen des Logistikmanagements komplexeren Anforderungen aus einem dynamischen Unternehmensumfeld zu begegnen. Dazu gehören veränderte Kundenanforderungen und Wettbewerbsbedingungen, oder auch der Umweltschutz. Logistische Prozesse, deren Umweltleistung sich bisher eher im Hintergrund der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung befand, sind umfassenderen umweltbezogenen Anforderungen ausgesetzt. Bestehende Zeit-, Raum- und Flexibilitätsanforderungen können jedoch unter den gegebenen Rahmenbedingungen durch alternative, ökologisch gestaltete Logistikprozesse nicht erfüllt werden. Um diesem dynamischen Umfeld gerecht zu werden, ist der ständige Wandel selbst ein Merkmal erfolgreicher Unternehmen und - insofern die Logistik einen elementaren Bestandteil des Unternehmens verkörpert - ihrer Logistikkompetenz. Methoden und Instrumente des Logistikmanagements, die bisher zur Verfolgung logistischer Erfolgsfaktoren dienten und den Erfolg der Logistik bestimmten, werden in dieser Arbeit auf ihre Eignung zur Unterstützung des Umweltschutzes betrachtet. Es wird am Beispiel von Entsorgungsunternehmen untersucht, wie die Logistikkompetenz durch die Anwendung logistischer Erfolgsfaktoren verbessert und das Logistikmanagement ökologisch ausgestaltet werden kann. Erprobte Denkweisen und Gestaltungsprinzipien des Logistikmanagements sowie Erfolgsfaktoren der Logistik werden auf Unternehmen der Abfallwirtschaft übertragen. Die Entwicklung eines Modells für die prozessorientierte Gestaltung der Entsorgungslogistik manifestiert eine neue Sichtweise, die Entsorgungsunternehmen als Logistikdienstleister in der Abfallwirtschaft in den Mittelpunkt stellt. Mit diesem Prozessmodell wird eine systematische Situationsanalyse der Durchführung der Entsorgungsaufgaben vorgenommen. Die Ergebnisse der empirischen Untersuchung ermöglichen die Leistungstransparenz und die Leistungsbewertung der Entsorgungslogistik sowie ein Vergleich der Logistikkompetenz mit Unternehmen anderer Branchen.