An Analytical Framework for Incorporating Projects Supply Chain Problems into Project Plan

Abstract

The Supply Chain Management (SCM) field of research has developed a valuable set of concepts and strategies for integrating the core competencies of suppliers into the production systems, a trend followed by the construction industry. Research into quantifying the effects of upstream suppliers on the production rate of construction projects has been very limited. Literature for the construction industry generally discusses how SCM concepts can be adopted, or what problems and challenges inhibit such adoption without providing a framework to consider supply chain problems in early stage project planning. No analytical approach has yet been developed to help quantify the impact of upstream supply chain problems on the duration of construction projects. This paper presents an analytical framework for incorporating supply chain issues into project's plan and therefore assessing the impact of those issues on project's duration. A construction project case study is also presented for validation purposes.