Cisco Systems • GENCO Supply Chain Solutions & Sky-Trax • U.S. Air Force • Lockheed Martin • PartyLite Gifts & Chicago Consulting • Dynamic Worldwide Logistics & Instaknow • APL Logistics & Con-way Freight

The direct seller of candles saves millions of dollars on packaging materials while lightening its impact on the environment. The secret: a new formula for optimizing the size of cartons.

Cisco Systems earned the top spot in this year's Supply Chain Innovators competition by transforming its reverse logistics operation from a non-value-adding cost center to a profit generating program that enhances the satisfaction of both internal and external customers. Cisco's rigorous, innovative approach takes something from both marketing and finance to treat returns as a virtual business.