Tennant, S; McCarney, M and Tong, M K L (2012) Re-engineering the construction supply chain: Transferring on-site activity off-site. In: Smith, S D (ed.) Proceedings of 28th Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2012, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
Interest in supply chain management theory and practice in UK construction has grown considerably over the past decade. In parallel, a number of other key industry initiatives have also gained momentum. A notable development has been the increasing modularization of the construction process. The theoretical merits of off-site manufacture in construction are well documented and include reported benefits in production, scheduling and quality improvements. However, the impact of modularization on the governance and membership of the construction supply chain are less well-known. In an effort to connect supply chain management theory with modern methods of construction (MMC), the research investigates the potential impact transferring on-site activity, off-site will have on the supply chain. This is a conceptual paper based primarily on a review of supply chain management and MMC literature. Drawing on supply chain management theory and practice, the significance of an increasingly modular-orientated supply chain in construction is explored and evaluated. Secondary data is provided via anecdotal evidence gathered from a number of construction site visits and discussions with a cross-section of industry stakeholders. The adoption of modular construction and subsequent transfer of traditional on-site construction activities off-site is likely to necessitate a re-engineering of current construction supply chain management practice. In contrast to the commercially biased supply networks reflective of long-established working practices, off-site modular construction is likely to engender supply chain relationships that are increasingly socially as well as technologically bound and influenced by changes to the power dynamics. The literature highlights many business related opportunities, however the transfer of traditional construction activities upstream is not without risk. In conclusion, the research provides a conceptual grounding for further investigation of modular construction and the potential impact on the management and structure of construction supply chains.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | supply chain management; power; trust; relationships |
| Index terms: | modularization, dynamics, modular construction, management practice, construction process, management theory, evidence, investigation, construction supply chain, working practice, construction site, construction activity, drawing, secondary data, quality improvement, traditional construction, governance, scheduling, modern methods of construction |
| Subjects: | management, building construction, systems engineering, heritage and conservation, business, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, construction logistics, operations research, technical documentation, work location, project delivery, construction operations |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, Site Management, Organizational Design, Time Control, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Construction Technology, Governance |
| 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