ABSTRACT

Increasing the understanding of the management of closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) is fundamental to accelerate the much-desired transition towards the circular economy. From this perspective, we investigate the value of proportional order-up-to policies (POUT) policies and the adjustment of their inventory controllers in these systems. These policies are often used to improve the performance of traditional supply chains due to their ability to cope with the damaging bullwhip effect; however, they have not been sufficiently studied in CLSCs. Through a difference equation modelling approach, we show that POUT policies are also a valuable instrument for enhancing the CLSC dynamics. Specifically, we find that the POUT model outperforms the traditional order-up-to policy in a hybrid manufacturing/remanufacturing system, yielding significant cost savings. To optimise the key trade-off between order and inventory variability, the tuning of the inventory controllers needs to consider not only the cost structure of the CLSC but also the average return rate. Specifically, managers should react to increasing levels of circularity by lowering the setting of the controllers’ time constant. In the light of our findings, we suggest two strategies for aligning the calibration of the POUT controllers and the forecasting methods to increase the economic performance of CLSCs.

摘要

增进对闭环供应链（CLSC）管理的理解，对于加速向循环经济过渡的迫切需求至关重要。从这个角度出发，我们研究了按比例订购策略（POUT）策略的价值及其在这些系统中的库存控制器的调整。这些政策由于能够应对有害的牛鞭效应而经常被用来提高传统供应链的绩效。但是，在CLSC中尚未对其进行充分的研究。通过差分方程建模方法，我们表明POUT策略也是增强CLSC动态的有价值的工具。具体来说，我们发现POUT模型在混合制造/再制造系统中的性能优于传统的按订单订购策略，节省大量成本。为了优化订单和库存可变性之间的关键权衡，库存控制器的调整不仅需要考虑CLSC的成本结构，还需要考虑平均退货率。具体来说，管理者应通过降低控制器时间常数的设置来应对不断增加的循环性。根据我们的发现，我们提出了两种调整POUT控制器校准的策略和提高CLSC经济效益的预测方法。管理者应通过降低控制器时间常数的设置来应对不断增加的循环性。根据我们的发现，我们提出了两种调整POUT控制器校准的策略和提高CLSC经济效益的预测方法。管理者应通过降低控制器时间常数的设置来应对不断增加的循环性。根据我们的发现，我们提出了两种调整POUT控制器校准的策略和提高CLSC经济效益的预测方法。