In this project the reverse logistic network structure is optimised. In
general, this involves choosing efficient locations for (reverse
logistics) facilities as well as the optimisation of good flows between
these facilities. In this project, it concerns the installment of
remanufacturing processes for one product line, where there is a choice
from two locations in Venlo (NL) and one in Prague (Czech Republic). It
also involves optimisation of external transportation between these
locations. The study is meant to verify whether the strategic decision
of Océ to move remanufacturing activities to the Czech Republic is also
economically feasible. For the optimisation, a Mixed Integer Linear
Programming model is developed. We optimise on total operational costs
and compare several scenario's. Differences in economic costs between
the three locations mentioned above appear to be small. Although labor
costs are lower in the Czech Republic, transportation costs increase
because part of the logistics (including inventory management) remains
in Venlo. Hence there is no economic motivation for installing recovery
activities in Prague. It is advised to either keep all processes in
Venlo, or to move the entire supply chain (including forward logistics)
to the Czech Republic.
 

• Ph.D. Thesis, Twente University, May 28, 1998, Chapter 6.
• "Business case Oce: reverse logistic network re-design for copiers", OR Spektrum (1999), 21 pp. 381-409.
• “Casestudy: logistiek herontwerp van een remanufacturing keten voor kopieer machines bij Océ”, handboek Reverse Logistics, Kluwer, Deventer, pp. C 3010-1 / C 3010-34, edit. A.van Goor et al., 1999 (in Dutch)