Remanufacturing is gaining ground in modern societies due to their pursuit of more circular economies. Together with substantial economic and environmental opportunities, their closed-loop supply chains incorporate additional degrees of uncertainties over traditional supply chains. A key source of uncertainty is that related to the condition of the returns, which may significantly affect the profitability of the industrial actors involved. This uncertainty is typically accommodated in closed-loop supply chains by presorting the returned items, i.e., quality grading. This presentation explore show these practices impact the dynamic and economic performance of closed-loop supply chains. To this end, we analyse the effectiveness (customer service) and efficiency (bullwhip effect, inventory levels) of these supply chains through control-theoretic techniques. From this perspective, we discuss how such supply chains can be dynamically designed to reduce cost, improve product availability, and create a stable working environment.

Borja Ponte is a Lecturer in Business Administration at the University of Oviedo (Spain). Before that, he worked as a Research Associate at Cardiff Business School (2017-2018) on a Circular Economy project with several organisations, such as the European Remanufacturing Network and British Telecommunications, and a Lecturer in Operations Management at The Open University (2018-2019). His research revolves around the dynamics and economic performance of supply chains. His latest research primarily focuses on closed-loop supply chains, which a regaining strategic importance as stepping stones towards economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

Recording available on the ReTraCE ITN YouTube channel and slides HERE.