Message from the Publisher

Students are Driving Academia to higher levels in Reverse Logistics

14 years ago when I started RLA the level of education on the subject was minimal.

Today many of the number of supply chain academics added content on the subject of RL. The first University, American Public University offers both bachelors and masters degrees online for those are already in field of RL.

Six years ago a young student came to serve as an intern in Singapore at our conference that we hold each year in Asia. She was working towards her Masters Degree in supply chain and became enthralled with the subject of RL. She decided to make that her practice in the future, today Dr. Panda has her degree in reverse logistics. We’re seeing students moving out on their own to drive to the highest level of academia to write their thesis on the subjects of reverse logistics.

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This ground swell in academia must not remain strictly in the field of education. Industry must take upon themselves the responsibility of educating themselves and recruiting those PhD’s, Masters & Bachelors degree students into their organization. Informed departments can resolve the reverse logistics issues before they find complacency jettisoned then into the virtual world of retirement. RL is in every company and there should a department managing both internal and external relations for RL. Companies like Dell today dig deep into their vendor base so they really understand the multiple layers of vendors impact to RL.

We encourage all to reflect on this process of Reverse Logistics and if you don’t have a specialist in place today it’s never too late to go and learn something about the process. Employee a consultant, or spend some time at our conferences and rub shoulders with those who have already implemented RL. Make a change before your company finds itself becoming an albatross.

Best Regards, Gailen Vick, Founder & Publisher www.RLA.org

Gailen Vick founded the Reverse Logistics Association in 2002. His market research found that over $750 billion was being spent annually on Reverse Logistics in North America alone! Uncovered where thousands of 3rd Party Service Providers (3PSP) that provided services to OEM/ODM, Branded and Retail companies! Additional research showed that there wasn\\\'t any common thread between any of the 3PSPs other than competition. There just wasn't a forum for the OEMs, ODMs, Branded and Retail companies to discuss best practices for Reverse Logistics. In January 1996 Gailen was re-introduced to the Service Logistics sector. This process in the supply chain industry was taking advantage of 3PL improvements. Many products were being sent to a depot and setting untouched instead of being repaired and sent back to the field. This new sector was just evolving into a formal industry where major cost saving were being realized. Gailen turned his focus to the'repair services' industry and managed Business Development at Sequel, PCS, Inc and later at Magnetic Data Technologies, LLC until the successful acquisition by Solectron (aquired by Flextronics) in the spring of 2002. These companies supported major OEMs and 3PLs such as UPS, 3Com, Iomega, Dell, HP, Compal, Toshiba, Sun Microsystems, Hitachi, Panasonic, Apple, Mitsubishi, Imation, Gateway, Kinpo, Bizcom and many others. With 40 years experience in aftermarket supply chain, engineering, manufacturing and marketing, Gailen's RL knowledge is a resource to companies across all industries. Prior to founding Reverse Logistics Association, Gailen served on the executive staff of several 3PSP companies. Most of these companies were in the computer and telecommunications industries which made for an enjoyable learning experience in business management for Gailen. His career started at Diablo Systems in 1974 as an EE & expanded to senior marketing & sales positions at Shugart, Fujitsu and Seagate. His experience at Xerox, Seagate, and Fujitsu along with business involvement at many trade conferences has allow Gailen to work hand and hand with many of today\\\'s Executive Management and has thus made him a resource to his colleagues. Early in his career as a Regional and National Sales Manager, Gailen managed several Service Centers, but on January 1996 he joined Sequel after leaving the Disc Drive Industry. Reverse Logistics (even though it wasn\\\'t called that until much later) was just starting to be outsourced and a formal industry was evolving at that time. EDUCATION Mr. Vick studied Electrical Engineering at Chabot College & Chapman University. Tutored by IBM and Xerox file technology engineers while studying at night, Gailen reached the position of Senior Engineer at Shugart Associates before transferring to the Marketing department. PERSONAL Mr. Vick was born Tennessee where the importance of an individual\\\'s word carried as much weight as a contract. After six years in the Navy (and while going to college in the evenings) Gailen started at Diablo Systems in 1974 and started his career in Electrical Engineering. Gailen changed his career path in 1980 (while at Shugart Associates) to Sales in order to provide for his growing family. He held several senior management positions in the disk drive industry, with companies such as Fujitsu, Priam, Conner Peripherals, Seagate and Avatar. As Gailen retired on July 30, 2016, he stays fit by taking long trips on his recumbent bicycle, but his favorite sport is racquetball. Since all of his 8 children are raised, and to overcome the empty nest syndrome, family history research,volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and at his Church which is his favorite pastime. He stays busy with his wife Stella of 49 years visiting their 32 grandchildren!