Bachelor of Arts in Reverse Logistics Management

This course outlines basic study and research techniques, the use of libraries, and the importance of research methodology and analysis for the social sciences. It is a writing intensive course that requires a sound understanding of written communication. Students enrolling in this course should be familiar with proper citations and documentation, grammar and syntax, organizing their writing, and parts of a paper. (Prerequisite: ENGL101 or ENGL102).

Pre Reqs: Proficiency in Writing(ENGL101),Effectiveness in Writing(ENGL102)

Microeconomics is an overview course that covers how households (consumers), firms (producers), and governments interact in competitive and other markets to set prices, and determine what and how much is produced. Key concepts introduced include the role of scarcity and choice, incentives and competition, and the law of supply and demand.

Introduction to Macroeconomics is a survey course that builds on the topics covered and skills developed in ECON101 (Microeconomics) in order to present a complete picture of the economy. Macroeconomics shows how consumers and markets fit into the overall or aggregated economy and provides a framework to assess government policies. Key topics covered will include economic cycles (growth and recession), economic indicators and measures and interest rates and money supply.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s wide range of practices in reverse logistics applications in manufacturing, retail and in the military. It includes the many definitions related to reverse logistics, the different scope, practices, procedures and processes of reverse logistics as compared to forward logistics. It explores the various dilemmas practitioners face in designing a reverse logistics system. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships among the components of reverse operational logistics are provided. This course is intended for students and professionals working in reverse logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course provides students with an overview of sustainment of materials recovered from waste management programs. Students will study environmental regulations and their impact on company’s plans to dispose of unused or waste materials into landfills or recycling programs. Students will gain a perspective on how reverse logistics can work to improve the environment to help increase the value of the company’s products, and increase revenue in the process. The student will evaluate the direct and indirect impact of reverse logistics operations and the impact on the local and regional and world environment. The “green” movement will be explored as a competitive advantage. The student will study various recycling processes for various products, from automotive to clothing to food and beverages.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore how tracking and tracing technology, such as GPS, bar codes and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags can be used in reverse logistics operations for returns, recalls, recycling and waste management. Case studies of today’s best practices in reverse logistics technology used in manufacturing, retail and in the military will be studied and discussed. Packaging technology and the growth of new types of packages to reduce waste will be examined. A comparison will be conducted on how different technology is used in processes of reverse logistics as compared to forward logistics. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships regarding the use of technology to capture data for products flowing in the reverse logistics system. Data synchronization and the issues of interfacing legacy software systems or information technology systems will be explored. This course is intended for students and professionals working in reverse logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course demonstrates the 21st century importance of strategic reverse logistics planning in contributing to corporate profits, customer service enhancements leading to higher sales and a marketing weapon to gain sustainable competitive advantage. The importance of moving information becomes equal to the movement of goods but is different when working in forward logistics compared to reverse logistics operations. Federal and state regulations regarding waste management and the handling of recycled materials will be examined. Managerial perspectives are offered on aligning corporate planning, technology, financial controls and reverse logistics performance measurement. Students will also gain an overview on the interaction among stakeholders in the public and private sectors in aligning public policy with global uncertainties when implementing reverse logistics operations.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore the financial management components needed to develop best practices in reverse logistics applications in manufacturing, retail and in the military. A systems view of total life cycle cost will be calculated and compared to the benefits or value added by incorporating a reverse logistics process to manufacturing and retail operations. Students will analyze a potential reverse logistics case study to determine the short and long term financial implications to the company and to the environment. The student will examine how to define the problem and the core assumptions that define the problem space. This course is intended for students and professionals working in an organization that uses or is considering using reverse logistics.

This course provides students with an understanding of sustainability and environmental issues and programs for today’s logistics and supply chain manager. Students will examine recycling activities of several corporations and examine “green” technology initiatives from using energy-efficient lighting to using wind and solar power. Legislation and regulations will be examined and discussed that place boundaries on greenhouse gases in manufacturing and in retail operations. International impacts on U.S. policies and programs, such as Cap-and-Trade will be examined in relationship to similar programs in other countries. The definition and potential impact of global climate change will be discussed. The student will examine how different manufacturing and distribution companies are complying or not with the Carbon Footprint concerns.

This course provides the student with a coherent and integrated framework for understanding aggregate reverse logistics activity, based on micro and macro-economic principles. The student is presented examples and case studies to examine reverse logistics activities in the United States. Students will discuss and provide their own evaluation of key variables, including patterns of demand, to be considered in generating or creating reverse logistics value and costs. Overall, this course balances traditional transportation and logistics economics theory with real-world reverse logistics demands. Topics that are discussed and analyzed include reverse logistics regulations, tariffs on moving goods across borders, the impact of interstate commercial policy on past and emerging reverse movement of goods and services policies, international trade barriers and benefits, reverse logistics impact on exchange rates, and how to view investment strategies that impact customer service in manufacturing and retail industries.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in reverse logistics applications in manufacturing, retail and in the military. It includes the nature, scope, practices, procedures and processes of reverse logistics as compared to forward logistics. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships among the components of reverse operational logistics are provided. This course is intended for students and professionals working in logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation about leaders, the leadership process and motivation. Topics include the theories of leadership and motivation, leadership power, leader behavior, leadership characteristics, the role of gender, substitutes for leadership, and dysfunctional leadership. MGMT312 serves as a self-assessment of the student's own leadership and motivation skills, knowledge, and attitudes and addresses the questions: Who am I as a leader? What are my most distinguishing leadership traits? What leadership style am I most comfortable being around? How do I influence others? and How do I motivate others?

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in reverse logistics applications to the food production and distribution industry as well as the beverage industry. The student will study new container and packaging designs, such as the TEDSBOX, to help eliminate the spoilage factor of food and beverage movement in a reverse logistics operation. The issue of food and beverage is complex with many solutions from retail grocery giants. How to process returned food and beverage items will be explored and options discussed. Field survey of a grocery store or commissary near the student will be encouraged in order to obtain the unique language used in each type of retail store. Recycled food and beverage items will be examined in order to reprocess basic ingredients, such as sugar, to be resold in the marketplace next to virgin sugar. This course is intended for students and professionals working in manufacturing and retail reverse logistic who are concerned with returns and unsalable products.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in reverse logistics applications to consumer electronic (e.g., cell phones, TVs, iPad, laptops, etc.) production and distribution industry. The issue of e-waste will be explored as part of the environmental impact on people. Case studies of e-waste will be discussed along with policies and procedures for curbing environmental impacts. The issue of consumer electronic returns and recycling is complex with many solutions from major computer manufacturers and retailers. How to process returned consumer electronic items will be explored and options discussed. Recycled electronic parts such as precious metals will be examined in order to reprocess these basic components, such as computer chips or special wiring, to be resold in the marketplace next to original raw or processed materials. This course is intended for students and professionals working in manufacturing and retail reverse logistics, and policy makers, who are concerned with returns and consumer electronic products.

This course provides students with an overview of today’s best practices in reverse logistics applications in manufacturing, retail and in the military. It includes the nature, scope, practices, procedures and processes of adding a reverse logistics operations center to a forward logistics supply chain. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships among the components of reverse operational logistics are provided. Case studies of Central Returns Centers are examined and core assumptions derived to help define the steps to follow in setting up a Central Returns Center. This course is intended for students and professionals working in logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course focuses on the organizational use of hazardous materials, including, the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) impact of their use on the organization engaged in reverse logistics operations, such as waste management, recycling and returns management. Issues raised include the overall economic, social and environmental costs of chemical and electronic parts usage. Emphasis is on actively reducing chemical use, chemical wastes and toxic metals from consumer electronic equipment. A set of industrial applications will be used as an informal standard to create a working model adaptable to any organizational entity considering reverse operations. Full life cycle management is emphasized and the relationship between daily operations and compliance training will be examined for a reverse logistics operation. This course is also a study of the managerial and social issues associated with hazardous materials consumption as a result of returns, recycling and waste management of products.

This course provides students with a systems-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in product recalls in manufacturing and retail. There appears to be no one standard set of practices or steps to follow for recalls. Each time a recall is voluntary or is issued by a company or the government, different procedures seem to be followed. This course will examine case studies of recalls from the food and beverage industry, consumer electronics, automotive, toys, and home appliances and furniture. The student will examine these cases to discover a set of procedures or steps that are common and those that are unique. This course is intended for students and professionals working in reverse logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course provides students with a data-centric view to explore what is seen as today’s best practices in capturing and securing reverse logistics data. Students will study why there is a need to manage excess inventory, why outsourcing this process may be profitable, how and why to access secondary markets for products, and how best to record and track the data for returns. The student will study methods of preventing products from entering the reverse logistics chain and one method of managing such a process. However, when the product does enter the reverse logistics process, the data capture at the entry point and along that chain become an expense if not properly managed and synchronized with data from the forward supply chain. The student will examine the role of 3PL in reverse logistics, the impact of distressed and fake merchandise, and how they contribute to the triple bottom line of the company. A practitioner approach is used to explore and examine the management functions and the interrelationships among the components of reverse operational logistics. This course is intended for students and professionals working in returns logistics, retail business management, general management, transportation management, supply chain management, and corporate and military decision makers.

This course is a case study approach to understanding how reverse logistics is implemented in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. Each geographic area will be explored following one type of product. The student will explore and discover the different cultural, economic , political and procedural barriers that are common, from internal and external company factors. Transaction cost economics will be used to define the different approaches used by these countries. Problems encountered in each country as reverse logistics applications are implemented will be discussed. Students will learn how reverse logistics concepts are viewed in different countries.

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for undergraduate study in the online environment. Students will be introduced to learning theory, the tools available in the online classroom and campus, and online research. Identification of personal learning style allows students to improve their study/learning techniques and prepares them to succeed in college level courses. Students will be introduced to formatting and citation styles. APUS policy and procedure is addressed. There is an emphasis on written communication to assist students in the transition to the online environment.

This course allows students majoring in Reverse Logistics Management (RLM) to analyze specific issues of defining the various components of reverse logistics operations both domestically and internationally. This course will provide students with the opportunity to complete an approved academic research project that demonstrates knowledge of a selected applications area in reverse logistics management. The project, chosen on a specific topic, will be completed by each student in the course.