Outsourcing Reverse Logistics: Evaluating Strategic Decision Factors using Novel Combined SWOT and Grey AHP Approach

According to the increasing importance of competitive advantages in recent years, the importance of reverse logistics has doubled. Because of the complexity of reverse logistics system (RL) and also focus on the core business, then the organizations are acted to RL outsource. Therefore, the mistake in assessment of the most important factors in RL decision leads to failure of RL outsources. The present study was paid to identify and evaluate the most important factors of reverse logistics outsourcing strategic in Dena industry manufacturing company in 2013. In this research, the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) was used to identify strategic factors of RL outsourcing. On the other hand, in order to measure the importance qualitative factors SWOT analysis was applied of the developed grey analytical hierarchy process (GAHP). However, application of grey data in the assessment of linguistic variables in fact was a way to deal with uncertainty. The model validate was examined in a case study which was indicated the high reliability of hybrid model. The results showed that in terms of decision-makers’ point of view, risk sharing in RL outsourcing decision was much more importance than cost reduction factor.