Comparative research on operation models of reverse logistics

Through mathematical modeling, this paper analyzes three operation models of reverse logistics including manufacturer take-back, retailer take-back and third party take-back. The optimal solutions of the take-back price, the take-back quantity and the profit of manufacturer a resolved from these models, and two inferences are obtained from the comparative analysis of these optimal solutions. Furthermore, because the take-back market competitive situation is influenced by the residual value of take-back products, the market environment can be divided into two different styles that are referred as to competitive market and regulative market. The brief analysis of the two markets characteristics shows that the two inferences are suitable for both them.