Challenge: A major engine manufacturer was spending too much money on contingent packing costs because their suppliers weren't keeping track of the containers in their inventory loop. When this customer would run out of the supplier's containers, they had to use alternatives like corrugated cardboard in order to ship the product.

Challenge: A large retailer was faced with how to handle products that were coming back from stores into the reverse-logistics channel and needed an efficient and cost-effective way to process merchandise for redeployment, return-to-vendor and liquidation.

Tom Enright, research director with Gartner, talks about his recently completed survey on the challenges that are confronting multichannel retailers today, with a particular focus on the issue of returns. He offers his view on what constitutes excellence in the returns process.

Challenge: Most hospitals utilize the just-in-time method of inventory control. If hospitals have higher than expected demand, additional supply must reach them immediately. Companies need a logistics provider that goes inside hospitals, uncrates new equipment, crates old equipment, and returns the old unit to the company regardless of the time of day.

Encompass Supply Chain Solutions, a provider of forward and reverse logistics services for a wide range of finished goods and replacement parts, is doubling the size of its distribution facility in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.