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Quality Assurance and Consumer Electronics Recycling

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Quality Management in Reverse Logistics

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Abstract

The information within this chapter examines the characteristics of consumer electronic recycling systems to show how quality assurance has evolved to meet the current needs of reverse logistics demanufacturers. A review of the literature reveals several trends regarding the amount of e-waste, recycling programs, the influence of international regulations, a focus on large-scale operations, and emerging recycling certifications. Given the dynamic context of consumer electronics recycling systems and opportunities for new competitive capabilities, information within this chapter provides exploratory field study insight from a small US recycling firm. A primary contribution of this chapter is found in filling a gap in the literature to advance our understanding how small firms are overcoming emerging challenges and taking advantage of opportunities facing them within reverse supply chains focusing on recycling of consumer electronics and information technology assets. The field study sheds new light on quality assurance through emerging standards, contemporary opportunities for emerging business models within the industry, and implications for the future of reverse logistics practices and research.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The DEP audits and provides permits for these types of facilities and they were among the first to get this permit.

  2. 2.

    House of Representatives.

  3. 3.

    House Bill.

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Acknowledgments

A special thanks to Preeti Srivastav, a MBA+Sustainability Fellow, for her research and help with this chapter and related projects.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15238, USA

    Robert Sroufe

Authors
  1. Robert Sroufe
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Correspondence to Robert Sroufe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Logou-Tourpali, Naoussa, GR-592 00, Greece

    Yiannis Nikolaidis

Appendix. Interview Protocol

Appendix. Interview Protocol

  1. 1.

    How many employees, size of the company?

  2. 2.

    What designations does your business have?

    1. a.

      Do any of these designations help ensure “quality management” of processes?

  3. 3.

    When or where in the supply chain do these designations help ensure quality management?

  4. 4.

    In what ways do the designations help ensure quality processing of specific components or materials

  5. 5.

    How can a business better understand if a recycler is providing services with good quality management?

  6. 6.

    Where do you experience quality issues in reverse logistics?

  7. 7.

    How can consumers and businesses better help ensure quality materials?

  8. 8.

    What tools and practices are available to businesses like eLoop to help ensure better quality?

  9. 9.

    What does the future of quality management look like in the CE recycling industry?

  10. 10.

    Are there any relationships between cost, quality, time, or flexibility when recycling CEs?

  11. 11.

    Would ISO 9000 or ISO 14000 certification be considered?

  12. 12.

    What part of the demanufacturing processes are best for having quality certification?

    1. a.

      Collection, test/sort, disassembly, reduction, separation by material, and commodity market

  13. 13.

    Are there any relationships between quality, cost, flexibility, and time in your industry?

  14. 14.

    What part of demanufacturing processes will be impacted by quality certifications?

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Sroufe, R. (2013). Quality Assurance and Consumer Electronics Recycling . In: Nikolaidis, Y. (eds) Quality Management in Reverse Logistics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4537-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4537-0_5

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