Construction Supply Chain Management In The Fourth Industrial Revolution Era

Providing invaluable support for construction in determining the acceptable practice and standard for regulatory bodies and managers, Construction Supply Chain Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era also appeals to researchers as it expands the frontiers of knowledge in the fourth industrial era.

Providing invaluable support for construction in determining the acceptable practice and standard for regulatory bodies and managers, Construction Supply Chain Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era also appeals to researchers as it expands the frontiers of knowledge in the fourth industrial era.

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolu­tion, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wear­able sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manu­facturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individu­als. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frame­works that advance progress.

Through a critical review of existing related theories and models, the authors address gaps in existing workforce management studies and propose a conceptual model to improve the management of workers in the construction industry.

Master's Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject Business economics - Supply, Production, Logistics, grade: 80.00, Louvain School of Management, language: English, abstract: This paper addresses the question of how the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), defined as the industrial aspect of the fourth industrial revolution, will impact supply chain management (SCM) decisions. With this goal in mind, we first describe the conceptual and historical approaches of both the industry and supply chain management. The question of the legitimacy of a new industrial revolution is answered positively and the supply chain management discipline is organised in a flow-based model of ten managerial categories. A thorough cross-field literature analysis delivers the main changes, opportunities and challenges that the upcoming IIoT will bring to supply chains. A neutral approach is favoured and the generally optimistic literature regarding the IIoT is questioned. Cyber-physical systems will indeed redefine the way we provide goods and services to customers and therefore, the way entire supply chains are managed, strategically and operationally. More information, connectivity and intelligence will optimise operations to enable mass customisation and faster than ever times-to-market. Those changes will gradually transform supply chains into smart supply ecosystems, where inter-company boundaries will fade, and the nature of cooperation will evolve. Nonetheless, there is still a long way to go. Early implementations are challenged by issues of cybersecurity, interoperability, missing regulations, inter-company cooperation, cost of investment, and fear of change due to potential job restructuring. Our results are supplemented by qualitative surveys targeting SCM and IIoT professionals. This methodology is meant to discuss additional insights, detect contradictions with the literature and assess the current state of developments.

Smart applications are reforming conventional supply chains into digital ones. To compete in today's competitive market, organizations must utilize the merits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution while being sustainable, lean, and eco-conscious. This book closes the gap and provides novel ideas, research, and applications. Smart and Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management in Industry 4.0 discusses smart and sustainable supply chain management concepts that are analyzed within the Industry 4.0 perspective. It also highlights green systems and smart applications within an Industry 4.0 setting and presents the latest technological developments, including disruptive technologies and their impact on smart and sustainable supply chains under the triple-bottom-line approach. Each chapter offers a case study or a related problem/numerical example along with the solution for easy reader comprehension. The book is for academicians, practitioners, Ph.D. students, and researchers involved in this area.

Continuous Cost Improvement in Construction: Theory and Practice aims to provide students and practitioners with an all-inclusive understanding of strategies for adopting continuous improvement in construction cost management. This book addresses continuous improvement practices from the perspective of cost management and applies case study examples to question the readers’ perspective of continuous cost improvement strategies in the project lifecycle. Continuous cost improvement practices in managing the cost of minor, major, and mega projects are all connected with decision-making tools for devising strategies for choosing the approaches for mitigating the effect of cost overruns in construction projects. Continuous cost improvement should be taught as part of modern methods and processes of construction in further and higher education institutions. This book will be key reading for all advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Construction Project Management, Building and Quantity Surveying. Professionals in all aspects of the AEC industry will also gain greatly from engaging with the key concepts of continuous cost improvement throughout this book.

Provides a unique overview of supply chain management (SCM) concepts, illustrating how the methodology can help enhance construction industry project success This book provides a unique appraisal of supply chain management (SCM) concepts brought together with lessons from industry and analysis gathered from extensive research on how supply chains are managed in the construction industry. The research from leading international academics has been drawn together with the experience from some of the industry's foremost SCM practitioners to provide both the experienced researcher and the industry practitioner a thorough grounding in its principles, as well as an illustration of SCM as a methodology for enhancing construction industry project success. The new edition of Successful Construction Supply Chain Management: Concepts and Case Studies incorporate chapters dealing with Building Information Modelling, sustainability, the ‘Demand Chain' in projects, the link between self-organizing networks and supply chains, decision-making, ‘Lean,’ and mega-projects. Other chapters cover risk transfer and allocation, behaviors, innovation, trust, supply chain design, alliances, and knowledge transfer. Supply Chain Management techniques have been used successfully in various industries, such as manufacturing and food processing, for decades Fully updated with new chapters dealing with key construction industry topics such as BIM, sustainability, the ‘Demand Chain' in projects, ‘Lean,’ mega-projects, and more Includes contributions from well established academics and practitioners from Network Rail, mainstream construction, and consultancy Illustrates how SCM methodologies can be used to enhance construction industry project success Successful Construction Supply Chain Management: Concepts and Case Studies is an ideal book for postgraduate students at MSc and PhD level studying the topic and for all construction management practitioners.