The Barriers to the Practice of Reverse Logistics: The Delphi Technique as a Methodological Approach

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 541 - 564, 30.06.2023

Yeşim Can Sağlam

Abstract

Reverse logistics (RL) extends the life of the product with a circular economy approach by recycling raw materials or semi-finished products or by performing maintenance and repair. Although RL activities have recently attracted considerable attention from researchers, the practice of RL is relatively scant in real life. In the literature, the barriers to RL practice have been investigated in the context of many countries and different industries. However, in this domain, there is a lack of study to find out which barriers exist in the context of the Turkish manufacturing industry. This paper's purpose of identifying the barriers hindering the practice of RL in the Turkish manufacturing industry based on practical life insight. In order to realize the research purpose, the Delphi process consisting of three stages was carried out. In the first stage, literature reviews were made and expert opinions were taken, and obstacles were listed under 6 main headings: barriers related to management, barriers related to infrastructure and technology, social and cultural barriers, barriers related to law and legislation, financial and economic barriers, and barriers related to knowledge and ability. Then, the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Delphi study were carried out by using the survey method with twenty managers who are competent in their fields. The result of the research indicates that management-related barriers (reluctance of supply chain members to reverse logistics, resistance to innovative methods, etc.) as well as infrastructure and technology-related barriers (deficiency of new information systems, lack of human resources, etc.) are most common barriers in the Turkish manufacturing industry. Based on the literature review, solutions to cope with these critical barriers have been discussed. Issues such as providing the support of the top management, cooperation between the members of the supply chain on RL, training, and motivation of the employees were emphasized.

Keywords

Reverse Logistics, Sustainability, Circular Economy, Delphi Process, Reverse Logistics Barriers

Tersine Lojistik Uygulamalarının Önündeki Engeller: Metodolojik Bir Yaklaşım Olarak Delfi Tekniği

Abstract

Ters lojistik, hammadde veya yarı mamul ürünlerin yeniden üretilmesi veya bakım ve tamirinin yapılması yoluyla geri dönüştürülerek döngüsel ekonomi anlayışıyla ürünün yaşam ömrünü uzatmaktadır. Tersine lojistik faaliyetleri son zamanlarda araştırmacıların büyük ilgisini çekmiş olsa da, gerçek hayatta tersine lojistik uygulamaları oldukça yetersizdir. Literatürde, tersine lojistik uygulamalarının önündeki engeller birçok ülke bağlamında ve farklı sektörlerde araştırılmıştır. Fakat ilgili alanda, Türk imalat sanayi bağlamında hangi engellerin var olduğunu ortaya koyan bir çalışma eksikliği vardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, pratik yaşama dayanarak Türk imalat sanayinde tersine lojistik uygulamalarının önündeki engelleri belirlemektir. Araştırma amacını gerçekleştirmek için üç aşamadan oluşan Delfi süreci yürütülmüştür. İlk aşamada Literatür incelemeleri yapılarak uzman görüşleri alınmış ve yönetimle ilişkili engeller, altyapı ve teknolojiyle ilgili engeller, sosyal ve kültürel engeller, kanun ve mevzuat ile ilgili engeller, mali ve ekonomik engeller ve bilgi ve yetenekle ilişkili engeller olmak üzere 6 ana başlık halinde engeller sıralanmıştır. Daha sonra alanında yetkin yirmi yönetici ile anket yöntemi kullanılarak Delfi çalışmasının 2. ve 3. aşamaları gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucu, Türk imalat sanayisinde yönetim kaynaklı engeller ile (tedarik zinciri üyelerinin ters lojistiğe karşı isteksizliği, üst yönetimin ters lojistiğe kendisini adamaması, yenilikçi yöntemlere karşı direnç gibi) altyapı ve teknoloji kaynaklı engellerin (ters lojistiği kolaylaştıracak yeni bilgi sistemlerinin ve teknolojinin eksikliği, insan kaynağı eksikliği, sınırlı tahmin ve planlama imkânları gibi) çoğunlukla yaygın bir şekilde görülen engeller olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca çalışmada, literatür taramasına dayanarak bu kritik engellerin üstesinden gelmek için çözümler tartışılmıştır. Üst yönetimin desteğinin sağlanması, tedarik zinciri üyeleri arasında ters lojistik üzerine işbirliği yapılması, çalışanların eğitimi ve motivasyonu gibi konular üzerinde durulmuştur.

Keywords

Ters Lojistik, Sürdürülebilirlik, Döngüsel Ekonomi, Delfi Süreci, Ters Lojistik Engelleri

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