By Robert Gordon
Program Director, Reverse Logistics Management at American Public University

Success does not come easily. Even people touted by the media as overnight sensations have usually been honing their craft for years before making it big, laboring in obscurity before achieving notoriety. There is no shortcut when it comes to achievement at the highest levels.  

By Dr. Robert Gordon
Faculty member, American Public University

When completed, RLBOK will become the official standard for reverse logistics operations in the same manner as the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is the standard for project management.

Starting a few years ago, military logisticians became the leaders in the biggest reverse logistics operation in history. They are poised to return thousands of containers and equipment from the Middle East back to the U.S. Those military logisticians are rethinking new ways to load and track and trace inventory as it returns–this is called reverse logistics.

By Dr. Oliver Hedgepeth
Program Director for Reverse Logistics Management, American Public University

Whether it is referred to as recalls, recycling, reuse, return, or sustainment, these activities are all forms of reverse logistics. Reverse logistics is big business, and the website of Reverse Logistics Association (RLA) lists just some of the many types of jobs available.

By Dr. Oliver Hedgepeth
Program Director for Reverse Logistics Management, American Public University

For those readers thinking of starting a business, you should seriously think beyond the basic supply chain business model and consider the extra revenue stream that is possible from what you might think of as the waste products of your business.

By Dr. Robert Gordon
Faculty member, American Public University

What’s most compelling is that Amazon’s announcement doesn’t address potential benefits to the reverse logistics field that drones can offer in the near future. In fact, Amazon might be missing out on a huge potential market.

Reverse logistics has to do with returns, recycling, and project management; but the answer doesn’t just stop there. In this podcast Dr. Oliver Hedgepeth, Program Director for Reverse Logistics at American Public University, explains the transformation that products undergo through reverse logistics, and dives into the importance of education for professionals in this field.