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This article systematically organises and reviews peer-reviewed journals up to July 2011 to access progress in the scheduling of remanufacturing operations. The simple (infinite capacity, no part commonality, and deterministic parameters), single product remanufacturing scheduling problem is solved using reverse material requirements planning. Material requirements planning and performance-based objectives of the 1990s were replaced by cost-based integer programming models that can achieve solutions to size-restricted problems. Product deterioration is identified as an additional complexity and methodologies are discussed that address this important issue. The synthesis of the literature reveals the importance of buffer inventories in addressing remanufacturing uncertainty, the advantages of 'simpler' disassembly release mechanisms and due date scheduling rules, and the improved performance of Kanban over 'push' scheduling and flexible Kanban over traditional Kanban. The most recent trend is the development and testing of several promising heuristic methodologies that can address larger and more complex, scheduling situations. Further study is still needed to address the formidable combinations of finite capacity, part commonality and stochastic parameters and, as Kim, Lee, and Xirouchakis (2007) note, the need to address backlogging, multiple periods, and the necessity to integrate disassembly process planning with disassembly scheduling.

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The business world has long encouraged OR/MS academics to engage in more real-world problems and solutions. A recent empirical study has led to some enlightening possibilities as to how academics perceive the advantages and disadvantages of empirical versus conceptual research, and what strategy the business community can follow to promote more empirical research.