Congratulations to Dr. Barry Cobb! His work is being featured in the university’s 2018 edition of Mind’s Eye.

Here’s a sneak peek at the story:

Whether at the grocery store, a holiday party or a warehouse sale, you have probably seen bins, crates, kegs and pallets laying around.

Known as returnable transport items (RTIs), these unsung heroes of the supply chain allow businesses to move goods efficiently and sustainably. While these plain looking containers may seem worthless, they are valuable reusable assets that hurt a company’s profits if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

“Imagine a large brewery that distributes millions of kegs a year. If they cost $100 each, it’s a huge investment,” said Dr. Barry Cobb, associate professor of marketing at Missouri State University.