Heaton, R; Martin, H; Chadee, A; Milling, A; Dunne, S and Borthwick, F (2022) The construction materials conundrum: Practical solutions to address integrated supply chain complexities. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 148(8): 04022071, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
As projects evolve into complex and specialized temporary initiatives, accountability shortfalls in material flow are a major reason for schedule and cost overruns in construction. To date, researchers and practitioners are unresolved regarding the causes of material handling challenges and eminent solutions to improve material flow accountability. Consequently, inefficient supply chain management practices persist, leading to ineffective handling methods. This research, therefore, focused on identifying critical material challenges encountered by contractors and presented solutions to alleviate schedule and cost overrun failures. The fuzzy Delphi approach was used to refine opinions and achieve group consensus from 15 specialists on the ranking of material handling problems and potential solutions associated with design-build projects. The research revealed that complexity, material flow, and lack of information sharing are the top three main causes of onsite material problems. Potential solutions identified were a faster response mechanism (as an alternative to a slower build schedule), increasing material handlers' worker power, subcontractors' involvement in the procurement process, and prefabrication. The research highlighted subcontracting as a material handling paradox as apart from being a solution, it creates non-value-added costs in the supply chain and often inappropriately transfers risk. The findings showcased the potential to improve onsite material handling praxis by considering decision-making uncertainties in material flow and recognizing the importance of procurement methods in construction supply chain solutions in resolving scheduling and cost inefficiencies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Delphi; design-build; fuzzy; materials; procurement; project delivery; supply chains |
| Index terms: | procurement method, complexity, management practice, practitioner, material handling, accountability, cost overrun, paradox, information sharing, subcontracting, procurement process, construction material, fuzzy Delphi, onsite, decision-making, praxis, prefabrication, subcontractor, project delivery, construction supply chain, scheduling |
| Subjects: | decision-making and optimization, operations research, reflexivity, systems engineering, data exchange, contractual arrangements, financial and cost management, building construction, project delivery, organization, management, decision analysis, building materials, product delivery, liability law, construction logistics, practitioner, social theory and frameworks |
| Topics: | Cost Management, Time Control, Legal Issues, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Procurement, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Risk Management, Supply Chain Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here