Consumer Electronics Committee
Charter
!===============The Consumer Electronic
Products Committee is organized to promote
and share knowledge across the industry and
continually explore new ideas to achieve total optimization of Consumer Electronics reverse logistics
practices including green procurement, product returns processes, refurbishing and depot repair (as
applicable), reverse logistics to maximize recycling, minimize waste, and emphasize green disposal. The
committee will strive to improve awareness across organizations through education, workshops, white
papers, and direct communication on best practices, development of standards, common practice and
member experiences.
The Consumer Electronics sector crosses virtually all industries and has monumental impact on reverse
logistics and disposal issues. The Consumer Electronics Committee will seek to support the reduction of
product returns, standardize tracking, shipping and transportation methods, potential recovery by
repair, refurbishing and recycling, and emphasize the importance of green disposal to meet and exceed
federal, state and local mandates related to environmentally friendly disposal. The reverse logistics
piece of the retail consumer products industry has many stake holders whom have a vested interest in
producing higher quality products, minimizing product defects and potential product recalls. Consumer
Electronics returns have a tremendous financial and obligatory impact on OEM’s, Manufacturers,
Dealers, product distribution partners, product distributors, service support organizations, customer
service organizations, Refurbishing and depot repair centers, and recycling and disposal opportunities
and methods.
Focus Areas for the Consumer Electronics Committee
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Provide an ongoing forum for RLA members to discuss all aspects of retail consumer products in
the broadest definition of product support "from product conception to final product
disposition".
Be a repository of case studies on the effectiveness of Consumer Electronics quality, green
procurement, product repair & recycling, and product disposal as it relates to brand loyalty,
customer satisfaction, and bottom line profit.
Catalog common issues associated with Consumer Electronics across all vertical industries and
begin to standardize methods to support the various reverse logistics issues related to
Consumer Electronic Product returns and opportunities to repair and recycle products, minimize
waste while emphasizing green disposal.
Catalog common, cultural, and local issues associated with global retail consumer products by
country/region applicable to understanding and creation of efficient and cost effective
processes.
Facilitate the creation of profitable business models and processes for OEMs and Manufacturers
and other producers of consumer retail products, to expand green procurement and disposal
efforts. Review items including non-product costs associated with packaging materials, user
Reverse Logistics Association
March 1, 2011
Consumer Electronics Committee
Consumer Electronics Committee
Charter
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manuals (online or DVD versus paper) etc. Utilize six sigma and early product defect detection
methodologies to strive to constantly improve the quality and safety of manufactured products,
thus minimizing the need for product returns related to poor product quality, safety issues and
product recalls.
Be a repository of common practices for the accounting and financial treatment of Consumer
Electronic Product returns and reverse logistics costs and impact on bottom line profits
throughout the Consumer Retail Product Industry spectrum.
Understand the relationship between product quality and reduced product returns. Strive to
develop and standardize best practices to minimize costs associated with product returns and
reverse logistics costs.
Be a source of common best practices for all aspects of reverse logistics for consumer retail
products across all touch points within the product and industry scope as outlined in the
consumer retail product committee charter.
Promote continuous improvement of methods and processes to minimize the cost of consumer
retail product returns at all levels of the product distribution cycle.
Take a leadership role by encouraging all parties to consider cost-effective repair and recycling
of products, including product refurbishing to minimize product returns and reduce disposal
costs and waste while addressing environmental concerns related to product end of life issues.
Reverse Logistics Association
March 1, 2011
Consumer Electronics Committee