Stories from outside the motor vehicle industry speak to a terrible state for the reverse logistics of consumer-packaged goods. In these stories, returns end up in returns centers, later being sold at huge discounts. NAPB has unfortunately deprioritized this topic in the past, since about 80% of the Terms and Conditions section (Section B) of the data book is devoted to outbound orders. Although the data book covers return policies, it does not cover reverse logistics – specifically how the parts actually get back to where they started. This session will aim to recreate network maps and terms and conditions but instead focus on returns, and more specifically obsolescence returns for parts stocked in OEM warehouses. Questions discussed will include:  

• Which parts are allowed to be returned and which are not?  
• How is the return transportation mode selected?  
• Where do returns go? Is this consistent for all parts from all origins?   
• How do returns make it back into the network? How are they repackaged? Are they sold as new?