Construction Project Supply Chain Research Articles

Designing a construction supply chain model using backup supplier aiming at optimizing resiliency against disruption

Resilience is a topic that has recently emerged concerning the basics of the construction project supply chain and we can consider it as a response to disruption in the supply chain of the project. Disruption also is an unavoidable reality in today’s complex and dynamic construction supply chain, the occurrence of which can cause irretrievable damages to the system, such as financial losses. Successful companies seek to minimize disruption and maintain adequate supply chain performance before disruption occurs, rather than looking for costly and challenging post-disruption solutions. This paper covers this gap by proposing a scenario-based mixed integer-programming model aiming to minimize logistics costs and delays, while scheduling projects to address selecting the appropriate supplier at risk of disruption. So far, this quantitative view was not presented in discussions about disruptions in the project supply chain, therefore different scenarios are applied in the process to validate the model. To improve its resilience level, this model benefits from back-up suppliers’ strategy. This study focuses on providing the required materials for the project site in an emergency without incurring additional costs using a back-up supplier. Results reveal the model’s suitability in confronting the unavailability of a supplier due to disruption.

Organizational factors affecting supply chain vulnerability of building project

Abstract The project construction supply chain can be particularly vulnerable to disruptive events because of the dispersed nature of temporary project teams and the unpredictability of the operating environment. Supply chain vulnerabilities are the fundamental elements that leave the business subject to disruption. It is necessary to identify the vulnerabilities in the supply chain before attempting to improve its resilience. This study proposes to identify the primary causes of organizational vulnerability in the supply chain of construction projects based on these problems. The study focuses on medium-sized and large construction companies that work on building projects in Aceh Province between 2018 and 2022. This study used a data collection technique by distributing questionnaires to contractor companies involved in construction projects. The primary data collection was analyzed using descriptive analysis and the Relative Importance Index (RII) method. The results obtained show that management vulnerability is the main vulnerable factor in the organization of the supply chain of construction projects, with the highest index being delayed in information and decision-making with an RII value of 0.9118. The findings of this study may be useful to contractor firms in managing the construction project supply chain.

Green supply chain nuances in East Malaysian construction industry

The antecedent influence of technology innovation, regulatory regimes and stakeholders’ pressure on green supply chain management have been investigated disparately, with mixed results. This study aimed to explore the potential and specific effects of these selection pressure among sampled construction organizations in Sarawak Malaysia using the Triple Embeddedness Framework as an underpinning theory. Using a self-report online survey instrument, we sampled 350 contractors in Sarawak, and 114 responses were received after repeated reminders. However, after removing seven incomplete responses, only 107 usable surveys were considered for data analysis, denoting a response rate of 30.6%. Data screening was then carried out using SPSS version 23, while SmartPLS version 3.2 was used to assess the measurement and structural models. The findings suggest that regulatory pressure and technology orientation positively relate to the contractors’ green supply chain management. There is also a significant mediation of technology orientation in customer, regulatory pressure and green supply chain management relationships. This study contributes to the construction project supply chain body of knowledge by channelling the Triple Embeddedness Framework toward green supply chain management by providing empirical grounds from the hypothesized relationships. Stakeholders’ unification is also suggested for sustainable upstream and downstream integration.

Exploring the Global Research Trends of Supply Chain Management of Construction Projects Based on a Bibliometric Analysis: Current Status and Future Prospects

With the increasing scale and complexity of construction projects, a considerably growing number of studies have focused on managing supply chain scientifically to improve performance. To explore this field in depth, this paper uses the Bibliometrix R encapsulation tool to conduct a bibliometric analysis and visually display key findings on construction project supply chain management from 1998 to 2021. By using a series of indexes in econometric analysis, this paper introduces an overview of construction project supply chain research. Further, the current situation, historical evolution, and development of this field are explored using the content analysis of keywords. The results suggest that: (1) the number of publications in the field of the supply chain management of construction projects has increased over time and entered a period of rapid growth after 2015. During this period, articles related to ‘sustainability’, ‘prefabricated housing’, ‘reverse logistics’, and ‘lean management’ were widely cited by scholars, but the most frequently cited was ‘partnership’. (2) The keywords in the field of construction project supply chain management can be divided into ‘simulation research’, ‘sustainable research’, ‘method research’, ‘cooperation and integration’, ‘whole life cycle,’ ‘trust and communication’, and so on. The keywords ‘Radio Frequency Identification’ (RFID), ‘waste management’, ‘case study’, and ‘social responsibility’ are the current research hotspots. (3) The theme development of construction project supply chain management can be divided into supply chain integration and management, supply chain process design and optimization, the application of advanced technology, and sustainable supply chain management. This paper summarizes the main discoveries and developments in construction project supply chain management.

Healthier Construction: Conceptualising Transformation of Mental Health Outcomes through an Integrated Supply Chain Model

The construction industry is undoubtedly one of the most significant global sectors that contributes to sustainable development across physical, social, environmental and economic objectives. Globally the value of the construction industry is USD 10 trillion annually. The robustness of the sector is in serious question with a crisis in mental health. The rebuilding of economies is often led by significant capital works programs and therefore in response to the global pandemic, it is anticipated that this problem will only be exacerbated. The construction sector has a unique project-based structure of numerous intersecting subsectors, which influence the behaviours and culminate in highly demanding work environments on a project-by-project basis. We propose that to institute transformational change to the mental health problem, we need to challenge current problematisations towards presenting a new conceptual framework. The aim of this paper is to analyse the industrial organisation and the structural and behavioural context of the industry and propose a new approach to understanding interactions at multiple levels in relation to root causes of the mental health problem. Aligned to the UN SDG that we are to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, this paper responds to high rates of depression, anxiety and suicide in the construction industry. There is a need to generate new knowledge about the interactions between multi project supply chain, construction project supply chain environment and construction supply chain performance in relation to mental health outcomes. Literature indicates that there is a wealth of research on stressors, coping and interventions at an individual level, however very little from an ‘insider’ construction management perspective which contextualise mental health outcomes with the environmental stressors. Coupled with this, past research designs predominantly utilised quantitative approaches reliant on questionnaires. We critique past problematisations of the mental health problem and show how it has been represented to enable the development of a reframed conceptualisation. There is a need to identify contextual evidence-based stressors throughout the construction project supply chain. We present a transformational change model integrating construction industry specific context knowledge with psychosocial expertise to improve workers’ mental health. Future research could lead to outcomes including recommendations and guidelines to engage management actors who can influence positive change through preventative strategies leading to effective and measurable mental health and project performance improvements.

A SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN GAUTENG PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was developed as a set of tools for identifying and making incremental steps to improve situations with poorly defined causes or solutions. The supply chain forms a key process of any construction project; however, on any given construction site, supply chain inefficiencies could arise from many different avenues. Opinions vary, though, on which of these avenues is more important for increasing supply chain efficiencies; whether any problem even exist across the different aspects of the supply chain; as well as what steps should be taken to resolve them. It was therefore studied, here, whether SSM could be employed as a useful tool to systematically apply in the supply chains of a construction project in South Africa, for understanding and targeting the problematic situations that arise. Following thorough cyclical open-ended interviews with 17 workers, supervisors, foremen, site clerks, senior managers, and the CEO of the principal contractor at a new office park construction project in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and a thematic analysis of the data, SSM was performed to understand the existing challenges, and develop a suitable model for improvement. The study found that SSM was a good tool for understanding the ‘messy’ circumstances surrounding the chosen construction project supply chain, as well as actions that could be taken to improve the supply chain’s efficiency on site. The findings add weight to the argument that SSM could be a good tool for project managers to systematically introduce into their project planning regimens

A Survey Study on Industrial Construction Project Supply Chain: On Time Performance and Practices of Structural Steel and Pipe Spools

Construction material not available for installation cause delays in the construction project supply chain and pose risks to overall project delays. Many researches have studied the supply chain to find the underlining reasons and influencing factors for project delays. Other investigations of the construction project supply chain identify ways to improve the supply chain. The purpose of this study is to determine the current state of construction project supply chain performance with a focus on material on-time availability. A survey of industrial constructors and their suppliers’ on-time performance and related supply chain practices was conducted. Structural steel and pipe spools are frequently used in industrial construction projects and were selected as the subject of the survey. This survey was used to obtain a general perspective of the issues associated with the delays so that further surveys and simulations could be performed to pin point specific areas of improvement. This survey of experts in the field was used as a qualitative query to obtain opinions and a feel for the state of the practice in industrial construction supply chain management. For this initial review it is found that there are many possible delays, missing and defective parts, overall 22% for structural steel and 18% for pipe spools. New technologies such as RFID would be a possible way to improve the construction project supply chain process at this level.

Development of a conceptual framework for knowledge management within construction project supply chain

Development of a conceptual framework for knowledge management within construction project supply chain

Development of a conceptual framework for knowledge management within construction project supply chain

Knowledge management (KM) has become an important process in many industries since last decade. To sustain in the turbulent business environment, KM is seen as pre-requisite in the project-based industries including the construction industry to solve regular and emerging situations. Regular tasks and daily activities result into reuse/sharing of past experience and knowledge, whereas emergent situations provide opportunities to develop and adapt innovative and novel approaches to overcome critical challenges. In the construction projects, these project learning and shared experiences are valuable assets. The captured knowledge can be reused during a project and for future projects to improve project performance across all phases of construction. However, in reality, knowledge capture practices are hampered due to work pressure, time pressure, poor working conditions and dismantling of the project team at the end of the project. Integrated project supply chain for a construction project is an innovative and collaborative approach for solving many such challenges. First, the concepts of KM and integrated project supply chain in construction development processes are reviewed. Second, this paper differentiates between regular and emerging situations. Finally, the paper proposes a conceptual framework of KM for construction project supply chain partners to capture and reuse project knowledge.

The Sustainable Infrastructure through the Construction Supply Chain Carbon Footprint Approach

The sustainable development concept is an important issue in construction industry, which becomes important mainly because of its role in infrastructure provision. Infrastructure availability will affect economic growth and increase a country's competitiveness. Indonesia as a developing country still needs to build a lot of physical infrastructure. The concept of sustainable infrastructure development is in line with the Indonesian government's development plans for the period of 2014-2015 called Nawa Cita. Carbon footprint modelling is one of the methods that contributes to the realization of sustainable infrastructure development. This paper describes the approach of sustainable infrastructure development through carbon footprinting in the construction supply chain. In the construction industry, carbon footprinting gives information in total emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in every stage of a construction project's supply chain activities. In creating a carbon footprint model, life cycle analysis (LCA) is used as a supporting instrument to estimate the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in each stage of the supply chain activities. It is shown that the implementation of sustainable infrastructure development needs a synergy from all parties involved in the construction supply chain.

The effect of inter-organizational justice perceptions on organizational citizenship behaviors in construction projects

Project management literature has long argued that inter-organizational justice is a key driver of successful construction project delivery. It is argued that when people believe business transactions are fair, they are more likely to exhibit positive organizational citizenship behaviors such as working harmoniously, giving discretionary effort, respecting others, and collaborating to resolve problems. However, there has been little empirical evidence to support these assertions. To address this knowledge gap, an online survey of 135 consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers from across the construction project supply chain was undertaken. The results show that project participants' organizational citizenship behaviors are influenced by their perceived interpersonal justice in business transactions. However, the findings also offer a more nuanced understanding of the complexities and inter-connectedness of these relationships in showing how one type of inter-organizational justice acts on another in influencing project organizational citizenship behaviors. The results indicate that interpersonal justice is a key ingredient in bringing about positive organizational citizenship behaviors in construction projects and that project performance can be enhanced if project managers treat project participants with politeness, respect, and dignity.

Simulation modeling and sensitivity analysis of a tunneling construction project's supply chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a simulation model capable of capturing the complex variables impacting the productivity of tunneling construction projects.Design/methodology/approach – Simulation modeling is used to construct high‐level models of construction supply networks in order to perform quantitative analysis, enabling planners to work out the embedded complexities of the system.Findings – This study presents a detailed simulation model of a real life tunnel construction project along with its supply chain of liner segments. Using this detailed model, a sensitivity analysis for the tunneling project shows the impact of chosen variables on the duration of a tunneling project; these results are used to verify the importance of considering the whole supply chain of a construction project in the planning stage.Practical implications – Effective quality control, consideration of the shortage of storage space, and anticipation of required lead time when placing the first order to achie...