Radwell International’s Blog

When is surplus the right choice for manufacturers?

Answering this question begins by looking at the current state of the global supply chain and how it has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Current times have been a constant challenge to the supply chain. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, things worked very differently from the state of today’s supply chain. There are product restrictions, material shortages, and obsolescence for aging equipment that require servicing and maintenance. As a result, doing business as a manufacturer can be a challenge for even the most agile of operations. How can these challenges be overcome to keep a manufacturing operation running smoothly and efficiently? The answer is often surplus equipment and parts.

Recycling has been around for centuries. The first known use of recycled paper dates to 9^th century Japan, when the Japanese government ordered that all paper waste be re-pulped and reused to make new paper. Recycling became popular in the United States during World War II, when tens of thousands of tons of material was recycled to create tanks, guns, ammunition and other war supplies. According to the EPA, from 2005 to 2015, there was a 53.3 million ton increase in recyclable materials recovered from the U.S. municipal solid waste stream.

Recycling is a broad word for a complicated process. Under recycling there are three subcategories: upcycling, downcycling and asset recovery. Read on to learn the differences between these kinds of recycling and how they are transforming industries.

Surplus inventory is often talked about but not always clearly defined. What is the definition of surplus inventory? Where does it come from? Why is selling surplus a good idea? Here are answers to your surplus questions.