UPS Inc. has announced that it has formed a strategic collaboration with Jabil Circuit Inc. UPS's logistics and distribution business unit and Jabil Aftermarket Services will provide optimized reverse logistics solutions for return and repair programs to high-tech original equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprises on a global scale.

By combining UPS's warehousing, transportation, returns management and trade compliance capabilities with Jabil's reverse logistics planning, repair and call center support, the UPS/Jabil collaboration provides a turn-key supply chain model that can drive efficiencies, reduce vendor complexity and enhance customer service.

"Jabil is excited to collaborate with UPS," said Hartmut Liebel, CEO of Jabil Aftermarket Services. "By leveraging Jabil's and UPS's complementary aftermarket services and logistics expertise, customers now have access to a comprehensive suite of services from one source that meets all of their unique reverse logistics needs."

The collaboration, supported by Jabil's and UPS's integrated systems and capabilities, provides flexible service models that accommodate customer return and repair demands that includes providing high-tech companies with access to strategically-located repair and distribution facilities near their customer base.

Specifically, the joint UPS/Jabil reverse logistics portfolio includes:

• order fulfillment;
• next and same day transportation;
• returns processing;
• whole unit and component repair;
• assembly;
• procurement and vendor management;
• planning and inventory funding;
• call center and tech support;
• trade compliance; and
• UPS Store locations for product pick-up or drop-off.

"Our customers' supply chains are becoming increasingly complex," said Brad Mitchell, president of UPS global logistics and distribution. "They are looking for industry-leading high-tech aftermarket solutions to build more flexibility and convenience into their returns process. The fact that UPS's collaboration with Jabil already has resulted in success with several world-leading organizations, such as Dell Computers, highlights the value this solution can offer."

UPS and Jabil are uniquely positioned to provide customized local services with more than 58,000 retail access points, over 15 million square feet of UPS global High-Tech distribution space and 55 Jabil service centers in 21 countries.