Is supply chain thinking permeating the UK housebuilding industry? Findings from a survey of UK housebuilders

Abstract

Over several years, the construction industry in the UK, including the housebuilding sector, has had many opportunities to modernize and innovate supply chain practices. This paper presents a national survey of major UK private housebuilders in 2003 that assesses and evaluates the current status of supply chain awareness in the housebuilding industry. The survey examined a range of recognized indicators of supply chain sophistication, based on practices in other industries, including relationships, partnering, supplier selection, levels of integration and supply chain strategies. It also determined the main problems encountered by housebuilders in their supply chains, such as what improvement methods, tools and techniques they were aware of and what improvements were being made. It concluded that awareness within the housebuilding industry was still low and that much inefficiency remains. The findings are a basis for further research into tools and techniques for supply chain improvement in the housebuilding sector.

Keywords:

• Supply chain
• Housebuilding
• Inefficiencies
• Survey

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to all the busy practitioners in housebuilding who replied to the survey, but will remain nameless. Thanks as well to the National House Builder Federation who provided invaluable support.