In a physical distribution model of the circulation type, synchronization
is established between a reuse plan and a delivery/fabrication plan to
thereby reasonably reduce the excess and deficiency of inventory articles
at a confluence point of regenerated reusable articles and newly
delivered component parts. With regard to newly delivered lower-level
items, predict a variation or fluctuation of stock quantity based on at
least a delivery schedule of them and a present stock amount along with
usage plans in manufacturing processes. As for lower-level items of
regenerated articles, predict a delivery due date and an expected number
of such regenerated lower-level items based on at least a stock quantity
of recovered items collected for reuse purposes and a lead time for
taking regenerated lower-level items out of the collected items, thereby
controlling, based on the both prediction results, the stock quantity of
the lower-level items in manufacturing processes.