Reverse Logistics

Definition

The process of moving goods from their final destination back to the origin for the purpose of return, repair, refurbishment, recycling, or disposal. In time-critical logistics, reverse logistics commonly applies to defective parts that must be returned to the manufacturer for analysis and replacement — such as AOG components, failed semiconductor tools, or medical devices under warranty. The return shipment often requires the same OBC/NFO urgency as the original delivery, especially when the defective part must be analyzed before a replacement can be manufactured.