Modelling and simulation tools for integrating forward and reverse logistics: a literature review

The scientific and technical interest towards sustainability issues is increasing in the industrial sector; thus, closed-loop supply chains are getting more and more diffused. As recycling and remanufacturing strategies are becoming a common practice, the importance of reverse logistics is nowadays increasing. Practitioners need to face with both strategic and operational level decisions related to the coordination of direct and reverse logistic flows. While several reviews are available on reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chains, a summary of scientific literature on integrated forward and reverse logistics is still missing. This paper proposes a review of the literature focused on how to integrate forward and reverse logistics in the industrial sector. The main purpose is to identify advantages and criticalities of current tools highlighted by researchers on this topic, with particular attention to modelling and simulation tools. A critical analysis on the benefits and challenges of the main methods identified is proposed. A discussion about potentialities provided by simulation modelling is also discussed.