Wijewickrama, M K C S; Chileshe, N; Rameezdeen, R and Ochoa, J J (2025) Integrating quality into the reverse logistics in construction: An empirical study in South Australia. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 15(3), pp. 483-499. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: Inferior quality reprocessed products hinder the successful adoption of reverse logistics supply chains (RLSCs) of demolition waste (DW) in the construction industry. Therefore, an information-centric quality assurance system (QAS), including process, people, policy and technology aspects, plays an important role in RLSCs, yet none of the previous studies empirically delved into this. Therefore, this study aims to establish how aspects of the process, people, policy and technology contribute to creating an information-centric QAS for RLSCs. Design/methodology/approach: Initially, an extensive literature review was undertaken. Then, following a qualitative approach, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal stakeholders of the RLSCs in the South Australian construction industry. The collected data were analysed using directed content analysis. Findings: This study empirically established how the aspects of process, people, policy and technology contribute to quality assurance (QA) in RLSCs. The process involves practices and approaches for QA. Experienced and knowledgeable people should undertake this process, complying with the policies and using new or available technologies. Each aspect provides useful information that should be shared and communicated with the other aspects to create an integrated QAS for the RLSCs. Originality/value: The current study made a significant contribution by empirically establishing that an information-centric system of process, people, policy and technology was needed for QA in RLSCs to produce quality outputs. This QAS provides useful insights for industry practitioners, government and policymakers about the aspects they should embrace in enforcing QA in RLSCs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; demolition waste; quality; quality assurance system; reverse logistics supply chains; South Australia |
| Index terms: | reverse logistics, construction industry, South Australia, empirical study, qualitative approach, demolition waste, methodology, practitioner, content analysis, literature review, quality assurance, interview |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, data collection methods, data analysis and analytics, physical geography and landforms, supply chain operations, research methods, quality assurance, waste management, practitioner |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability, Geographical Context, Roles and Professions, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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