Twenty-year application of logistics and supply chain management in the construction industry

Abstract

The last decades have seen a growing interest in construction management amongst scholars, particularly, in how to apply supply chain management (SCM) strategies to improve logistics efficiency and project performance. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematic literature reviews (SLRs) which integrate multiple quantitative methods to synthesise the literature on construction logistics and supply chain management (CLSCM) and analyse their trends during the last two decades. In this work, we concurrently deploy the rigorous six-step SLR protocol together with co-citation analysis, factor analysis, multidimensional scaling-based fuzzy k-means clustering, and keyword extraction and co-occurrence analysis to ascertain and examine clusters of CLSCM application. The results show that there are six established research clusters in CLSCM, namely, logistics and SCM for prefabricated construction, construction procurement, construction supply chain integration, green construction SCM, reverse logistics in construction and onsite construction logistics. Amongst these clusters, construction supply chain integration plays the most integral role. Informed by this ascertained knowledge structure, we explore the research trends during the period reviewed, propose a conceptual framework for CLSCM and suggest research avenues.