Beyond Egan’s supply chain management: advancing the role of logistics in the South African construction industry

Authors

  • Winston Shakantu University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • John Tookey University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • Manya Muya University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • Paul Bowen University of Cape Town, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38140/as.v14i1.389

Keywords:

SCM, supply chain management, logistics, process optimisation, construction, transportation

Abstract

The construction industry has globally been identified by investors and portfolio managers as under-performing in terms of return on investment (ROI), while simultaneously exposing the capital investment of investors to the highest levels of risk compared to any significant industry. In some cases, construction firms have received rates of return of as low as 1.5 to 2%. This is typically an unsustainable level of return for investors as they can gain a considerably higher ROI through much less risky financial vehicles such as gilts and bonds. Given such a low rate of return, the construction industry has for a number of years attempted to increase efficiency and reduce costs as a means of winning further business and increasing profitability. One of the methods that have been espoused as offering significant potential benefits for construction has been the industry-wide adoption of the principles of supply chain management (SCM). However, at present the bulk of SCM practice is focussed on high level strategic issues, whilst largely ignoring more operational issues related to logistics. This is a major omission, given the fact that a recent study by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK indicates that as much as 30% of the cost of construction is attributed to transportation of materials. This article examines, through a review of literature, the role of SCM in construction and the contribution an effective logistics system can make to increasing efficiency and reducing construction costs. 

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Published

2007-06-30

How to Cite

Shakantu, W., Tookey, J., Muya, M. and Bowen, P. (2007) “Beyond Egan’s supply chain management: advancing the role of logistics in the South African construction industry”, Acta Structilia, 14(1), pp. 93–115. doi: 10.38140/as.v14i1.389.

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Section

Review articles

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