Learning organization on reverse logistics problems in ageing society

Abstract

This study entitled, “Learning Organization on Reverse Logistics Problems in the Ageing Society” aimed at solving the problem of environmental risk of falling in the elderly from unused items in homes of the elderly. It was revealed that risks to the elderly from a cluttered household environment can be managed and formulated by using the household supply chain for creating revaluation with the Reverse Logistics (RL) principle. Elderly people have usually collected or hoarded items in their home throughout their lifetime. Therefore, a cluttered home is especially hazardous for the elderly or people with limited mobility, as it creates obstacles and an unsafe environment, which indicates poor reverse logistics. Unused household items become environmental hazards that increase the risk of elderly people falling. With falls associated with environmental risk factors, serious injuries and costs, they have become a major health problem. With a growing number of elderly people in Thailand, concern in this area will continue.

Thus, this research was designed and implemented from a systematic perspective. The quality of management continuously improves the maturity process and risk management and 5 S is a short-term solution that provides a broad concept on the process of change as a result of good and efficient management for the elderly. Supply Chain Management (SCM), Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) and RL provide concept theories for investigating problems and solving them at the community level, where management planning, and creating and monitoring the flow of goods and information support the household supply chain system whereas competency management provides a concept that concerns skills, abilities and capabilities in the context of tasks and jobs, as designed in the Human Resources (HR) processes in an organization. This research process was conducted systematically in the Sri Bua Ngern and Tha Sa La district community, Chiang Mai. Case studies of the homes of elderly people were selected to represent safety problems that occur in the Thai aging society. The method consisted of three main steps. Firstly, household environmental risk analysis aimed to identify home environmental hazards and construct a home environmental risk assessment of falling. A risk assessment method develops a solution for unnecessary items being stored in homes of the elderly, who are in turn helped to manage their home environmental risks of falling. Then, 5S implementation took the step to improve the ability of elderly people to manage their environment. Secondly, the SCM and SCOR process investigated systems related to household items in homes of the elderly by reverse logistics activity from the local municipality and community (Tha Sa La Municipality and household suppliers). Thirdly, the competency of health professionals as human resources (academic staff and students) in academic institution, and maintaining professional standards were analyzed in order to develop new requirements and determine the competency of health workers with new knowledge that fits with the ageing trend. This study can be categorized the household environmental risk into three levels; low, medium and high risk. The Elderly’s Lifestyle Task on Home Cluttering Management (EL-THCM) model was developed to provide a framework for direct action on improvements, and could be evaluated by using the risk assessment method of maturity level in the seven tasks for normal ageing people. The 5S activities can manage the risks from a cluttered home and improve the maturity of the elderly in managing risks in their daily living. The supply chain analysis using the SCOR processes (Plan, Source, Make, Deliver and Return) found that suppliers did not use the reverse logistics system to support the return of products from homes of the elderly, and this process should be planned and activated by the local municipality for handling these unused items. Competency of academic staff and students were developed with specific competency in home cluttering environmental risk management in risk of falling for the ageing society. The risks of a cluttered household environment for the elderly can be solved from intervention at all three levels, house, community and academic institute. These three organizational levels are integrated into a learning organization in order to build specific knowledge and produce new information continuously in order to enhance their capabilities to support the Thai aging society.