Return logistics systems
A consequence of the use of returnable containers is that, after a container has
been used for carrying products from a sender to a recipient, the container has to
be transported from the recipient to the next sender, who need not be the same as
the first one. In addition to transporting the containers, the return logistic
system also involves the cleaning and maintenance of containers, as well as their
storage and administration.
In the remaining part of this section we examine the possible design of the
system. Lützebauer[9] distinguishes three types of systems: switch pool
systems, systems with return logistics, and systems without return logistics[10].
Switch pool systems. In a switch pool system every participant has his own
allotment of containers, for which he is responsible. Thus cleaning, control,
maintenance and storage of the containers are the responsibility of each poolparticipant.
Pool-participants may be the senders and recipients, or the senders,
carriers, and recipients of the goods.
In the first variant only the senders and the recipients have an allotment of
containers. A transfer of containers takes place when the goods are delivered to
the recipient. The carrier either transports containers filled with goods from the
sender to the recipient, or empty containers from the recipient to the sender. In
this variant the sender has to guarantee that, in the long run, the number of
returned containers equals the number of containers sent out.
In the second variant the carrier also has an allotment of containers. A switch
takes place at every exchange of containers. On picking up a containerized load
from the sender, the carrier gives the sender a corresponding number of empty
containers. Hence, in this case the sender bears no responsibility for
administering the return flow of containers.