Learning from Returned Products in a Closed Loop Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Product returns are a source of valuable information that can be used by firms and supply chains to improve products, services, and decision making. However, firms are struggling to maximize the value of this information, and the extant scholarly literature is scattered among various research streams. Using a systematic literature review, the state-of-the-art of product returns informational value research and limitations in the current body of work were examined and future directions for research suggested. Three types of informational value were identified, namely operational information, product related information, and customer-related information, along with four value-creating factors, namely strategic information system (IS) decisions, organizational learning, information sharing, and technological solutions. Implications for practitioners are discussed. Lastly, the limitations are discussed, along with recommendations and directions for future research work.

A Bibliometric Review of Two Decades’ Research on Closed-Loop Supply Chain: 2001-2020

“…It concerned the investigation of the models which are designed based on the game theory. Ritola, et al [27] illustrated the large variety and high potential of valuable information that can be attained from product returns and CLSC processes. Furthermore, a set of value-creating factors were uncovered by this study.…”

Learning-based dynamic capabilities in closed-loop supply chains: an expert study

“…This study built on the recent efforts to increase scholarly understanding regarding CLSC value creation (Ritola et al. , 2020; Schenkel et al.…”

“…This study built on the recent efforts to increase scholarly understanding regarding CLSC value creation (Ritola et al, 2020;Schenkel et al, 2015;Koppius et al, 2014) and knowledge value chain (Gaimon and Ramachandran, 2020). More specifically, we aimed to advance insights into the potential of product returns information (Jayaraman and Luo, 2007;Mihi-Ramirez, 2012), by applying the DCs view into a new functional domain, namely CLSC management.…”

“…We adopted the following procedure. First, the initial interview questions for the study was developed from existing literature on CLSC value creation (Schenkel et al, 2015;Ritola et al, 2020), DCs (Teece et al, 1997) and organizational learning (Salge and Vera, 2013). Second, we assembled a panel of experts suitable to elaborate on and to contribute to the topic at hand.…”

“…A customer always returns a product for a specific reason, be it a commercial return, end of use return or end of life return. Understanding the reason for any given return is the primary source of the CLSC informational value (Ritola et al. , 2020).…”