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    Reverse logistics-- The Warehouse Ltd as a case study : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2007) Sachdev, Deepak Amar
    Supply chain perspective identifies with systems thinking, as its emphasis is on holistic management. Supply chain tactics and strategies include decisions on the activities of planning, procurement, production, logistics, warehousing and sales (including returns). Given the differences between forward and reverse logistics, it is important to structure reverse logistics accordingly to derive maximum benefit. Customer returns is a key component of reverse logistics for any retailer. This thesis takes a case study approach to the customer returns processes of reverse logistics, at The Warehouse Ltd. (TWL), New Zealand. The approach is one of description of customer returns related Reverse logistics processes to meet the objective of "what is happening?" at the largest general merchandise retailer in New Zealand. Thus research presented in this thesis relates to an in-depth description of the reverse logistics process. Also presented is an analysis of overall return trends, department levels and grouped data for Jan 06. There is a seasonal trend of peak returns post Christmas and the returns show a decreasing trend. At TWL, the reverse logistics process starts at the returns desk. The customer brings the product to the returns desk at a store, based on the nature of product it may then return to the sales floor or the stockroom. From the stockroom, it may be sent to a repair agent or the reverse logistics distribution center or to landfill. When it reaches the reverse logistics distribution center (RDC), based on the reason of return and the state of the product it is either allocated for landfill, supplier credit or auction. Conclusion, management comments, options and potential further research areas are included.
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    A study of value creation through the use of 3PL and 4PL partners within the white goods manufacturing industry of China's domestic market : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Gao, Shengjun
    Purpose – Over recent years many businesses have recognised that there are strong competitive advantages in adopting outsourcing of logistics functions to logistics providers worldwide. The aim of this research is to understand how Chinese white goods manufacturers utilise contract logistics to increase their profitability and customer service level. Design/methodology/approach – An interview-based approach was utilized to collect data from three of the leading Chinese domestic white goods manufacturers in mainland of China in 2011. Within-case study and cross-case study were the data analysis methods used in this study. Findings – Logistics Service Providers (LSP’s) do significantly and directly increase Chinese white goods manufacturers’ logistics performance efficiency and effectiveness, and in turn, increase their profitability, and indirectly increase customer service levels. Research limitations/implications – Findings are based on senior managers’ personal understandings and responses from three selected manufacturers, therefore personal biases and references could have possibly occurred. Due to time and financial limitations, only three manufacturers were selected from the many possible industry providers, so care needs to be taken not to assume that findings will always be completely representative of the industry. Practical implications – Competition in the field of white goods manufacturing has become more intense than ever before. Chinese white goods manufacturers need to spend all its resources on its core businesses, in order to increase competitiveness, and leave non-core business functions to outside contractors such as outsourcing logistics functions to a third party logistics (3PL) provider.
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    Dynamic routing with competition : foundations and strategies : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Operations Research at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) Johnston, Mark Richard; Johnston, Mark Richard
    Operations Research studies a wide range of problems, including long-term, strategic, business planning and short-term, operational, logistical planning. Long-term business decisions revolve around the market demand for goods or services, whereas logistics focuses on efficient scheduling of production and distribution. However, vehicle routing and scheduling problems in a dynamic environment require short-term, operational planning in conjunction with computationally expensive, short-term tactical considerations. This thesis investigates a model of competition in the distribution of goods to customers, in which a number of independent carriers compete to deliver goods to a fixed set of customers. Assuming that the price and quality of the goods are consistent, each customer is indifferent towards which carrier actually delivers the required goods, but will only accept delivery from the first to arrive at their location. The main source of uncertainty is planning for competition against other independent carriers. Firstly, we consider the basic elements of competition vehicle routing and scheduling problems, and propose a Reference Model for Competition Routing Problems, synthesising the literature from vehicle routing and game theory. The general problem involves a number of independent decision makers, each representing a carrier company with a private fleet of vehicles, and a fixed set of customers to be serviced. We also formulate the Competitive Prize Collection Problem (CPCP), involving two independent decision makers with one vehicle each. The CPCP encapsulates the core elements of competition within a two player version of the Prize Collecting Travelling Salesman Problem. Secondly, we consider which strategic, tactical, and operational planning elements are important in the design of strategies for effective performance on the CPCP. We propose a Strategic Planning Architecture (SPA), i.e., a strategy framework based on hierarchical planning at nested planning horizons. This incorporates strategic and tactical planning engines based on modelling the decision problem at each planning horizon as a multiple stage game. Dynamic monitoring processes match these strategic plans to the predicted and observed movements of the opponent. Strategies which implement the SPA are designed to cover a range of planning horizons and problem sizes. A series of computational tournaments on problems of different sizes and characteristics suggests that strategies which address contingent planning, cognizance of opponent, and planning based on existing natural structure, are the most effective of those considered. In the process, benchmark sets of robust strategies, and challenging problem instances, are established against which the effectiveness of strategies may be evaluated. The significant conclusion is that for small problems, strategic considerations are more effective than routing, but for large problems, routing considerations are more effective than strategic. Problems in between require a balance between strategy, response, and routing considerations. Routing only is not sufficient; response requires good strategic information. The CPCP remains a deceptively simple problem which is computationally demanding at all scales of planning, from small problems to large problems. There is considerable scope for the study of further strategies, especially those able to classify, learn from and adapt to, the observed behaviour of the opponent, and for extrapolating these results to a richer set of competition routing problems.
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    The logistics of milk collection : an exploratory case study between New Zealand and Brazil : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for a degree of Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Massey University, Palmerston North Campus, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Pimenta, Luis Carlos Queiroz
    Logistics has became one of the most important activities for all companies where has been treated as strategic function to gain competitive advantage over a companies' competitors. Agribusiness as any other business is also using logistics tools in their supply chain to reduce their chain cost and more important to improve their business efficiency as a whole. Transportation is one of the logistics activities that most influences price of product which in some cases can represent 25% of the final price. Milk collection for a dairy business plays an important part in the overall performance of the company. A poor milk collection system jeopardise the entire chain as it is the first stage of the manufacturing process. The main purpose of this work is to identify and describe the possible differences and similarities between a Brazilian and New Zealand Dairy Company regarding their logistics of milk collection. Even though the two companies are in the same business segment they are inserted in different environments/markets therefore need to deal with different issues regarding milk collection such as companies' structure, milk production's cycle, and routing and scheduling applications. However, both understand the importance of the logistics activities and apply tools in their chain to improve their efficiency. Due to its size and market share the New Zealand Company has a better collection system in place than the Brazilian Company. Both have implemented some changes in the last few years that brought some improvements for their milk collection.