A Conceptual Model for VMI in ReverseSupply Chains

The importance and role of reverse supply chain in gaining competitiveadvantage has been recognized especially in recent years. However the highcosts of implementing and installing these chains works as an impediment formanagers. Collaboration as a key to success in supply chains can be a way todecrease the costs and make reverse supply chains economically attractive.This paper proposes a conceptual model for collaboration between reversesupply chains in accordance with VMI in forward supply chains. Firstly aconceptual model is defined by introducing members and assumptions neededfor that. Then a collaborative process for collection and routing betweenmembers of these chains and a heuristic method using modified tabu search forfinding the best routs are defined. Finally an example is solved for someseparate reverse supply chains once in the case of isolated chains and then forthe collaboration between them in the suggested form of this paper