Evaluating Supply Chain Management Practices in Indian Construction

This case study investigates the adoption and challenges of supply chain management (SCM) practices within the Indian construction industry, drawing comparisons with a seamless project supply chain management model. It begins with a literature review of SCM, followed by the research framework, objectives, and methodology, then presents the findings, analysis, conclusion, and scope for future research. The research focuses on identifying gaps in the supply chain among manufacturers, contractors, subcontractors, and service providers, which can lead to inefficiencies. A case study approach was employed, examining four flyover projects in Mumbai, India, through interviews with 50 respondents. The findings reveal a lack of involvement of all stakeholders at the project design stage, limited partnering in the supply chain, and a general lack of knowledge of SCM principles among construction project agents. The study concludes that integrating strategic need and value management studies is crucial for improving efficiency and transparency in the construction sector and suggests future research should encompass both private and public sector projects to provide a more comprehensive understanding of SCM implementation.

The following questions are raised concerning construction industry:
1. Does the Indian construction industry accept the supply chain management practice to be in
collaborated their building activities?
2. If yes, what are some of the practices used in the Australian construction field to combine the
supply chain?
3. Are there any hindrances to project supply chain combination?
The paper starts with the Literature review of supply chain management, then research framework,
objectives and methodology. Then the findings, analysis, conclusion and scope of the research.
When many manufacturing and retail firms were implementing supply chain in management for process
efficiency in business through inter and intra-organizational relations.
Strategic needs and value management analysis.
The value of management always in focus of continuous increase of the provided value to the client and
it is accepted widely as a significant tool the current construction project management. It focusses
mainly the value rather than the cost as well as seeks to gain maximum balance between cost, time and
quality.it brings integration to construction which no other construction management can provide.
Proper management is vital in construction for it brings money value to construction for the basis of
improvement.
While the process of strategic needs analysis it has involvement of the client and other interested
stakeholders in the construction project, and can contribute to advancing the type, quality and nature of
the project proposed. In strategic need analysis the client is given advise at pre-design of strategic stage
for the call of decisions which critically impact the economy, timing, efficiency, appearance, functional
content and project value.
Partnership between supply chain members
The partnering of the supply chain members is very essential in the construction sector for the
achievement of the project goals. It requires a shared culture in the supply without grid to organization
boundaries. Trust among the supply chain members will promote dedication to common goals as well as
the understanding of everyone’s expectation and goals. This will promote expected benefits such as
increased innovation, improved efficiency, cost effectiveness and continues improved services and
products.
Research gap
The research will mainly focus on the gap in the supply chain members. These gaps major lead to
slowness and poor services and product delivery to the client during construction. The supply chain
between manufacturers, contractors, subcontractors, and service providers is essential for project
success.
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK, ESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Framework

In this Research, the model used to develop a frame work is from Love, Irani, Edwards. This type of a
model needs a leader who is capable of integrating and coordinating activities as well as resources
within the procurement process.

Fig 1 a seamless project supply chain management model.
(Source; Irani, Edwards, and Love, 2004)
The research tried to evaluated methods used in Australian construction projects. The following units of
the model were used for the study:
i. Value management study
ii. Strategic needs analysis
iii. Role of the client
iv. Appointment of the structural consultant
v. Selection of main contractor, subcontractor and supplier
vi. Role of the project management consultants
Research Objectives
i. To study and do comparison of the current supply chain management flyover project
construction in Australia with a seamless supply chain management model.
ii. To identify the hindrances in implementing the supply chain model
Methodology
This research study used a research design of a case study. A number of case study used will be able
show evidence source through replication instead of through sampling logic.
Of the fifteen fly over projects in the construction stage which were considered four projects were
chosen. The five were from different parts of one of the metro city of Mumbai, India. This four were a
partnership between the private and the public. The projects comprised of management consultants,
clients, structural consultants, contractors, suppliers and sub-contractors. The interview was conducted;
50 respondents with work experience up to 25 years were contacted. The model of seamless supply
chain was given. Then the analysis of the content was done to analyses and compare supply chain
management across the projects.
Findings and analysis
The findings as well as analysis, comprising a comparison of the supply chain management practices
used in Indian flyover projects with seamless project model.is given in table 2.

Discussion
From the research, the involvement of all parts in construction project is missing at the project designing
stage which results the execution problems In India the agents are involved after the project design due
to the tendering process whereby the cheapest bidder is awarded the contract. It revealed that the
project facilitators are not enough. Apart from that, the partnering in the supply chain management is
limited to the main contractor as well as the sub-contractor. This can hamper efficient in the project
construction.
Conclusion, Implications and the scope of for future research
Conclusion
In a typical construction network of supply the main contractor is the hub center with links to the
supplier, the construction project agents in India lack or have limited knowledge of supply chain
management idea and its use in the construction sector.
Actually all respondents were in agreement that coordinating with other agents in construction will
result quick decision that can lead to project completion in time.
Implication

The analysis of strategic need and value study management must be integrated into construction sector;
this studies make work faster and easier. Implementations of this system it needs all stakeholders to be
full involved from design to finality. An integral system enhances transparency.
Future Scope of Research
It is only four cases looked at this were looked at this stage. It needs in the future moiré projects to be
examined whether they will be implementing the supply chain management in the projects. The
research should involve both the private and public sector. In this case study it was only the government
projects were studied. But in future it is good to carry out the study in the private construction project.