Closed-loop supply chain management and remanufacturing in the automotive sector

The results of this research make three distinct contributions. The first contribution refers to the immediate body of knowledge on closed-loop supply chain management. The thesis reviews existing closed-loop supply chain and remanufacturing structures and creates, through the application of the research findings, new and more appropriate structures for the automotive sector. Secondly, the findings contribute to the development of a theory for closed-loop supply chain management. They demonstrate that theories from related fields cannot sufficiently explain why corporations engage in product recovery activities. This thesis therefore develops a rational for closed-loop supply chain management and remanufacturing in the automotive sector. The third contribution is made with regard to methodology. Research in closed-loop supply chain management has been largely dominated by quantitative contributions. This thesis therefore adds to methodology by taking an interdisciplinary perspective and by applying a unique combination of methodological considerations to investigate the specific research proble