Background: Establishing closed-loop supply chains is essential for the development of a future circular economy. This concept not only applies to the products within the supply chain but also to their packaging. Presently, traditional packaging follows a linear disposal approach, leading to waste production and a heightened environmental impact in numerous supply chains. Consequently, it is critical to examine the factors influencing current decisions on Returnable Transport Packaging (RTP) and to identify factors that can support its adoption while incorporating its context. Purpose: This thesis aims to explore the barriers, drivers, and enablers of the implementation of RTP in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry. Method: In this research, an interpretivist inductive research approach is employed. The study involves conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews across five distinct cases. These interviews are meticulously analyzed following the methodology outlined by Gioia et al. (2013), dividing the findings into 1st order categories, 2nd order themes, and aggregate dimensions. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing the implementation of RTP in the ICT industry. It identifies a majority of barriers over drivers, with 13 barriers across six categories and seven drivers in three categories. These findings emphasize the need for supply chain managers to address challenges such as process and flow control, environmental issues, cost considerations, company priorities, stakeholder pressure, and decision-making. Additionally, the research highlights the importance of environmental benefits, stakeholder pressure, and competitiveness as drivers for RTP adoption. Key factors for effective RTP implementation include infrastructure, technology, human resources, consistent demand, and appropriate stakeholder engagement. The study underlines the critical role of technological context as a supportive element in integrating RTP within various aspects of the supply chain. This research offers valuable insights for managers seeking to balance environmental, economic, and managerial perspectives in implementing RTP in ICT supply chains.

This thesis is a study for analysing costs affected by packaging in a producing industry. The purpose is to develop a model that will calculate and present possible cost savings for the customer by using Volvo Logistics Corporations, VLC’s, returnable packaging instead of other packaging solutions. The thesis is based on qualitative data gained from both theoretical and empirical studies. The methodology for gaining information has been to study theoretical sources such as course literature and articles, as well as through interviews and consolidation with staff at Volvo Logistics Corporations office in Gothenburg. The model is constructed in Microsoft Excel and consists of six different sheets. The first sheet is a front page that summarises the costs calculated in the other sheets and presents the possible cost savings. After the front page there are three sheets with calculations for the costs in different scenarios, Today’s Situation, VLC Packaging Solution (Pre implementation) and VLC Packaging Solution (Post implementation). The first sheet, Today’s Situation, presents the result of the model that will calculate the customers’ current costs that are associated with packaging. The different costs presented in the model are costs for unloading, repacking, today’s cost for an internal packaging solution, quality related costs, one-way packaging costs and the costs for other packaging solutions. The next sheet, VLC Packaging Solution (Pre), presents an estimation of the cost for thecustomer when using VLC’s returnable packaging system. The estimation will serve as an investment tool, for calculating possible cost savings compared to the present situation. The different costs that will be discussed are handling costs, quality related costs, distribution cost, transaction cost, and investment cost. The third and final calculation sheet, VLC Packaging Solution (Post), presents the actual costs for the customer after the implementation. When the costs have been calculated they will be used to evaluate the actual cost savings for the customer. The last two sheets are a data sheet, which consists of data needed for the calculations in the previous sheets, and an instruction sheet where there are instructions to the different calculations in the model. The conclusion shows that the objective to create a model for calculating the costs for different packaging systems and present possible cost savings is fulfilled.

<p>This thesis is a study for analysing costs affected by packaging in a producing industry. The purpose is to develop a model that will calculate and present possible cost savings for the customer by using Volvo Logistics Corporations, VLC’s, returnable packaging instead of other packaging solutions.</p><p>The thesis is based on qualitative data gained from both theoretical and empirical studies. The methodology for gaining information has been to study theoretical sources such as course literature and articles, as well as through interviews and consolidation with staff at Volvo Logistics Corporations office in Gothenburg.</p><p>The model is constructed in Microsoft Excel and consists of six different sheets. The first sheet is a front page that summarises the costs calculated in the other sheets and presents the possible cost savings. After the front page there are three sheets with calculations for the costs in different scenarios, Today’s Situation, VLC Packaging Solution (Pre implementation) and VLC Packaging Solution (Post implementation). The first sheet, Today’s Situation, presents the result of the model that will calculate the customers’ current costs that are associated with packaging. The different costs presented in the model are costs for unloading, repacking, today’s cost for an internal packaging solution, quality related costs, one-way packaging costs and the costs for other packaging solutions. The next sheet, VLC Packaging Solution (Pre), presents an estimation of the cost for thecustomer when using VLC’s returnable packaging system. The estimation will serve as an investment tool, for calculating possible cost savings compared to the present situation. The different costs that will be discussed are handling costs, quality related costs, distribution cost, transaction cost, and investment cost. The third and final calculation sheet, VLC Packaging Solution (Post), presents the actual costs for the customer after the implementation. When the costs have been calculated they will be used to evaluate the actual cost savings for the customer. The last two sheets are a data sheet, which consists of data needed for the calculations in the previous sheets, and an instruction sheet where there are instructions to the different calculations in the model.</p><p>The conclusion shows that the objective to create a model for calculating the costs for different packaging systems and present possible cost savings is fulfilled.</p>

[pt] A preocupação com o esgotamento de recursos naturais, acrescida de legislações cada vez mais restritivas no descarte de materiais, fez com que modelos de negócio baseados na reutilização de itens ganhassem força em comparação aos baseados em descarte. Nas cadeias de distribuição do tipo closed-loop, a gestão de itens retornáveis permanece como ponto de grande preocupação para seus gestores, dados os altos investimentos realizados nestas populações, contrastando com a relativa baixa atenção dada ao desenvolvimento de técnicas de gestão. O controle individual de itens retornáveis com a utilização de tecnologias como identificação por radiofrequência (RFID) mostra-se como a solução para alguns destes desafios. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a viabilidade desta aplicação dado o atual estágio de maturidade da tecnologia RFID, identificar os fatores críticos de sucesso através da análise de estudos de caso envolvendo aplicações similares, e propor uma abordagem integrada para a indústria de distribuição de gás liquefeito de petróleo (GLP) no mercado brasileiro. Tendo a tecnologia atingido um grau adequado de maturidade, com soluções integradas disponíveis no mercado, os principais desafios deste tipo de aplicação passam a envolver questões organizacionais, como a gestão da mudança, similarmente à implantação de tecnologias bastante maduras, como sistemas de gestão integrados. / [en] Concerns with the exhaustion of natural resources, combined with growing legal restrictions on waste disposal, has drawn attention to business models based on the reutilization of items, in comparison with the disposal-based models. In closed-loop supply chains, the management of returnable items remains as a major challenge for its leaders, due to the significant investments made on these populations, contrasting with the relatively low attention given to the development of management practices in this area. The individual control of returnable items with the use of the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology emerges as a possible solution for these challenges. The objectives of this research are to evaluate the current maturity level of the RFID technology, identify critical success factors through the analysis of related case studies, and propose an integrated approach for the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution industry in Brazil. Having reached a satisfactory maturity level, with integrated solutions available in the marketplace, the main challenges of such applications move towards organizational issues, as change management, similar to the implementation of more mature technologies, such as enterprise resource planning systems.

The diploma thesis focuses on optimizing the flow of returnable packaging within the group. Based on the analysis of storage, information flow and management of returnable packaging in a chosen company and evaluation of present theoretical approaches to the packaging management suggest a modification in the packaging management to optimize logistics costs.

Title: The disappearing crate Context: Return logistics is an often forgotten but essential part of a company’s supply chain. As growing supply chains become increasingly complex, increased demands are placed on efficient logistics to create a competitive advantage over other parties on the market. ICA Sweden is currently using returnable packaging containers (RPCs) from Svenska Retursystem for transporting goods to their stores. The goods are sent via pallets and returnable packaging containers from a central warehouse or an external supplier. Empty packaging are then sent back to Svenska Retursystem. Each time a RPC changes hands, a debit fee is charged. When the RPC changes process owners, they transfer the debit fee to the next operator in the flow. If there is a loss of returnable packaging containers between two operators, a cost is incurred on this operator. The stores are charged through a so-called logistics cost, which can amount to about 0.7-0.9% of the stores' annual turnover. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to map the logistics process between the central warehouse and the stores and identify deficiencies in the process. Furthermore, the purpose of the study is to develop improvement proposals to reduce the negative balance of returnable packaging containers and reduce logistics costs for the stores. Method: The study has a comparative design of qualitative nature that adopts a critical realism approach. The research approach is deductive with a theoretical frame of reference as a starting point for the empirical material. Furthermore, the empirical material has been analyzed using pattern comparison. Results: The study has identified a number of different reasons why there may be a negative balance of returnable packaging containers at many ICA stores. Broadly speaking, we concluded that the problem stems from returnable packaging containers not being traceable. Human error throughout the process can also cause a mismatch of the administrative and physical flows. Improvement measures such as working with Lean, 5S, introducing RFID technology and investing in own trucks are discussed. / Titel: Returlådan som försvann Bakgrund och problemdiskussion: Returlogistik är en ofta glömd men likväl en viktig del av ett företags försörjningskedja. I takt med att växande försörjningskedjor blir alltmer komplexa ställs också ökade krav på en effektiv logistik för att skapa en konkurrensfördel gentemot andra aktörer på marknaden. ICA Sverige använder sig i dagsläget av returlådor från Svenska Retursystem för transport av varor till sina butiker. Varorna skickas bland annat via pall och returlådor till butikerna från ett centrallager eller en extern leverantör. Tomgods och tomemballage skickas sedan tillbaka till Svenska Retursystem. Hos varje aktör i ledet av de som använder returlådan debiteras en pantavgift. När returlådan byter processägare debiterar de nästa aktör i flödet. Sker ett bortfall av returlådor mellan två aktörer, uppstår en kostnad för denna aktören. Butikerna debiteras genom en så kallad logistikkostnad som kan uppgå till ca 0,7-0,9% av butikernas årliga omsättning. I dagsläget upplever många ICA butiker detta problem. Syfte: Syftet med denna studien är att kartlägga logistikprocessen mellan centrallager och butik samt identifiera brister i processen. Vidare är syftet med studien är att ta fram förbättringsförslag för att minska felsaldon och reducera logistikkostnader för butikerna. Metod: Studien har en jämförande design av kvalitativ art som antar ett kritiskt realism synsätt. Forskningsansatsen är deduktiv med en teoretisk referensram som utgångspunkt till det empiriska materialet. Datan för det empiriska materialet grundar sig på primärdata insamlat via semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Vidare har det empiriska materialet analyserats med hjälp av mönsterjämförelse. Slutsats: Studien har identifierat ett antal olika anledningar till varför det kan uppstå ett negativt saldo av returlådor hos många ICA butiker. I stora drag handlar det om att returlådorna inte kan spåras. Orsaker som mänskliga fel genom processen kan orsaka att det administrativa och fysiska flödet inte stämmer överens med varandra. Förbättringsåtgärder som att arbeta med 5S, införa RFID teknologi och investering i egna lastbilar diskuteras.

Limited asset visibility is a key problem in the management of returnable transport items (RTIs) like reusable containers, pallets and kegs. One tool to increase asset visibility is radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. However, RFID requires high investment cost and intensive efforts for implementation. In this study, we investigate the added value of using RFID technology for the management of the RTI pool in a closed-loop supply chain setting considering both costs and benefits. We have conducted a case study in a company which has recently started an RFID application in its closed-loop supply chain of RTIs. The aim of this case study is to identify and understand how an existing RTI pool is managed and the impact of using RFID technology on the management of such an RTI pool. In order to quantify the added value of RFID technology in RTI pool management, we search for the minimum cost solutions both without and with the use of RFID technology in a problem environment similar to that of our case study using the simulation optimization method. We also analyze the impact of using RFID technology on RTI pool management in terms of several performance measures, including RTI pool size, RTI lifetime, RTI trippage and the cycle time for RTIs to complete one trip in the closed-loop supply chain. In our study, we develop a number of discrete event simulation models of the identified closed-loop supply chain of RTIs operating with our predetermined decision rules for the RTI pool management using the simulation software Arena. We then develop our simulation optimization model in OptQuest for Arena in which the discrete event simulation models are embedded. The results from the simulation optimization method show that the added value of using RFID technology is mostly positive and it depends on the severity of the problematic issues in the closed-loop supply chain, as well as on the extent of improvements that RFID brings about.

This diploma thesis focuses on proposal of possibilities when applying logistic technologies in food supply chain of the MADETA, a.s. The thesis describes material and information flow in the supply chain, including determination of key factors for successful implementation of chosen technologies. A part of the thesis deals with the proposal for a change in the way of preparing orders for customers of independent market, including stating of expected costs and savings when realizing the proposal.

This thesis deals with economy of treating with municipal waste. The municipal waste, which is generated by citizens makes burden not only on public and private budgets, but also on environment. Importance of this burden rise regarding to continuous growth of volume of the municipal waste. This fact implicates need to set up cost efficient and permanent achievable solution. Nowadays there is a suggestion, prepaderd by the Ministry of environment, which suggest using returnable PET bottles, which are important part of the municipal waste. Potentional implementation of returnable PET bottles doesnt have influance only on yield of this type of waste, but it is connected with other parts of the municipal waste such as biological degradable municipal waste and mixed waste. Content of this thesis is presentation of the economic analysis of alternation for treating with three most important parts of the municipal waste on backround of fullfiling conditons set up by European union.

This diploma thesis deals with the transport packages in Škoda Auto a.s.The aim of the thesis is to show the importance and problematic aspects of planning packages in the proces of logistics planning in the automotive industry. In the first part of the thesis are described the automotive industry as a whole, the packaging industry, its history, current trends, package types and functions, materials for their production and life cycle of the package. In the second part are introduced firm Skoda Auto, a.s.including its history, current information on the financial condition and produced quantity. There are described the types of transport containers and the process of their planning.On the example of the project CKD GAZ - Yeti is explained the development process of transport containers and then general management ot packages in circulation.