آنالیز ریسک در شبکه لجستیک معکوس با استفاده از روش تصمیم گیری چند معیاره ترکیبی Analysis and prioritisation of risks in a reverse logistics network using hybrid multi-criteria decision making methods

1. Introduction Reverse Logistics (RL) focus on how to take back the returns and recover them efficiently and economically. Over the last decade reverse logistics had a significant economic impact on industry as well as society (Krumwiede and Sheu, 2002). Proper handling or returns also has important customer service implications. The existence, effectiveness and efficiency of service management activities such as repair services and value recovery depend heavily on effective RL operations (Tibben –Lembke and Rogers, 2002). The effective management of RL operations increases profitability. Recycling is a product recovery option that involves techniques for creating new materials from wastes. Chen et al. (2007) observed recycling as a sub-process within reverse logistics to reduce the solid waste volume generated by the disposition of consumer products normally at the end of product’s life-span or due to defect. Both recycling stations and centers will increase their market share and become integrated to the whole remanufacturing industry by collaborating with remanufacturing businesses (Zhang et al., 2017). The advantages of recycled materials are that they generally have a lower carbon footprint than raw materials converted into finished goods through a carbon intensive process (Ravi, 2012). Bing et al. (2015) re-design a reverse supply chain from a global angle on household plastic waste distributed from Europe to China. Klausner and Hendrickson (2000) suggested that firms combine recycling operations with reusing or remanufacturing operations in order to stay profitable. Plastic recycling is a legal requirement and can yield environmental benefits. Wong (2010) confirmed that the recycling of post-consumer plastics has less environmental impact than the use of crude oil to produce virgin plastics. However, plastic collection practices vary in different countries which have an impact on the network structure of reverse logistics for plastic waste. The CO2 emissions due to the production of virgin polymer are 6 kg per kg of polymer while it is 3.5 kg for that of recycled plastics (Wong, 2010). Polyethylene Teraphalathate (PET) is used as a raw material for making bottles for packaging soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and edible oils.