When you order a product for delivery, the management of the route that it takes — from its creation to its final stop on your doorstep — is referred to as logistics. Products make several stops along their way through the supply chain: they may end up in a storage warehouse, go through a packaging phase, and then spend weeks in the back of a heavy haul carrier truck.

Reverse logistics refers to what happens after that product arrives at the end consumer: how it could potentially be reused, how it should be disposed of after use, and any other way where an expired product can create value. Companies should be interested in how their reverse logistics affect their supply chain because returned products fall under their jurisdiction.

Flip It And Reverse It

Companies must handle returned items with care and consistency. They must:

• Ensure the product gets shipped back to them correctly.
• Test the quality to identify the flaw.
• Document any problems.
• Dissassemble, repair, recycle, or restock the item.

The main point of custom reverse logistics services to figure out why the product was returned — if errors were made, they need to be identified to prevent the same problem from occurring to future consumers.

In the end, reverse logistics offer several benefits: they can reduce costs because everything is planned out ahead of time; provide faster service which can help restore a customer’s faith in the brand; boost customer retention rates (the faster a problem is resolved, the more likely the customer is to stay with the company); and recover the loss of investment in your failed product by fixing and restocking the unit, scrapping it for parts, or repurposing it in a secondary market.

However, it can be hard to manage your reverse logistics workflow if you’re unfamiliar with the techniques, or are otherwise predisposed with projects and more dire areas of focus. Hiring a company to take care of the nuances of the process ensures that you’re getting the most bang for your custom reverse logistics services buck. Since Canada is expected to put around $2 billion into its transportation infrastructure — a key aspect of both traditional and reverse logistics — in the coming decade, it’s worth the time and money to figure out if your current reverse logistics workflow is effective for your company.

If you’re looking at safety consultant jobs, you’ve probably already decided you know enough about the safety consultancy field. You might think you’re ready and know exactly what to expect once you find work consulting on construction safety, but think again. There are plenty of hidden secrets that come with careers as a safety technician or specialist. Here’s exactly what you can expect with your first safety consulting job, so you can decide once and for all if managing safety is the career for you.

• Rewarding work, but not easy work: Knowing that you’re going to be helping the companies you consult with as a safety specialist can be incredibly rewarding. Because of you and the work you do, people are going to be safe and healthy doing their jobs, and that information can provide extra motivation. However, don’t expect an easy ride; you’re likely to work fairly hard, between learning regulations, getting certified if you aren’t already, doing plenty of work directly with companies, and more.
• Check on the payday: Safety consulting can be as financially rewarding as it is emotionally rewarding. Jobs in risk control can pay well once you’ve gotten started. Occupational health and safety specialists have a median annual salary of $73,600. However, this number will vary depending on who you work with, the contracts you take, whether you work full-time or do contract work exclusively, and so on.
• Not everyone will listen: For the most part, the companies you work with will take your advice and listen to your recommendations on how to improve and make the work environment safer for all employees. However, there is the off-chance that your advice will not necessarily be listened to or taken fully into account. This can create an incredibly frustrating situation that can potentially leave you with more work to do as a result. Be prepared for a few speed bumps on your road to success.

Still interested in a career in safety consulting? Convinced that safety specialist careers will be the best choice for you? Contact us today for more information on finding work in safety consulting, occupational health, and environmental health.