Chileshe, N; Rameezdeen, R; Lehmann, S and Hosseini, M r (2014) Reverse logistics (RL) implementation among contractors in Australia: Practices and barriers. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK.
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the perceptions of Australian contractors concerning the prevailing practices and barriers to the implementation of reverse logistics (RL). A review of literature identified 18 practices and 16 barriers to the implementation of RL. Using a triangulated data collection approach, 6 semi-structured interviews and 49 questionnaires were used to collect data. The quantitative survey data was subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics with correlation analysis to examine the strength of relationship among the barriers, whereas content analysis was employed for the interview data. The results indicated the following barriers as most significant: (i) lack of incorporation of salvaged materials by designers; (ii) regulation restrictions to usage of recovered materials and components; (iii) potential legal liabilities; (iv) higher costs; and (v) longer time associated with deconstructing buildings. Relative to the prevailing practices, the top five ranked were as follows: (i) reduction of waste on projects; (ii) clearer understanding of the benefits; (iii) clearer understanding of the challenges; (iv) clearer understanding of the different aspects of reusing building materials; and (v) Enhancing the green image of the organisation. The results of the interviews also confirmed the findings from the survey, and identified the following barriers: (i) lack of support from the government in terms of financial incentives to increase the competitiveness of reused and salvaged items in the market; (ii) The attached stigma and resistance of supervisors, designers, and some authorities towards using salvaged and reused materials; and (iii) Technical barriers associated with usage of salvaged materials. The majority of the interviewees identified economic issues as the major drivers of RL practices. The identified barriers could be used as a Ôroad mapÕ for the development of appropriate solutions for the successful implementation of RL, and to improve the environmental related decision making processes of the contractors.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | reverse logistics; barriers; supply chain management |
| Index terms: | supervisor, statistics, reverse logistics, implementation, questionnaire, building material, regulation, competitiveness, content analysis, decision-making process, correlation analysis, designer, survey, Australia, interview, financial incentive, liability |
| Subjects: | practitioner, profession, data collection methods, mathematical modelling, contractual arrangements, data analysis and analytics, economic analysis, building materials, Geography, supply chain operations, statistical analysis, political science, liability law, market analysis, decision analysis |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Governance, Procurement, Design Practice, Legal Issues, Supply Chain Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here