Construction Logistics in a City Development Setting


Book Description

With the current urbanization trend, there is an increased need for city development, i.e. to build apartment buildings, hospitals, schools and infrastructure in cities and urban areas to meet the rising demands. At the same time, land is increasingly seen as a finite resource. This has led to the regeneration of decommissioned industrial-use land for development purposes. This means that multiple individual construction projects are being built in the same or nearby areas during the same time-period. However, the end products of construction projects are produced at their place of consumption, which means that large quantities of materials and resources need to be delivered to, and removed from, each construction site. This leads to new transport flows being created in connection to city development. These transport flows need to be coordinated to ensure efficient construction productivity and reduce the transports’ environmental and social impact on the urban transport system. At the same time, it is important to ensure that construction sites can be managed from a logistics perspective without impairing efficiency due to the challenges of building in urban environments. One way of managing logistics to and from construction projects in city development is through so-called construction logistics setups (CLS). However, the implementation of CLS’s affect many different stakeholders and the interorganizational relationships between them. The implementation of CLS’s therefore faces three challenges; management of transport to and from construction sites, management of logistics at construction sites, and managing the interorganizational relationships amongst construction project stakeholders. The development of CLS’s is often undertaken by mimicking previous setups as there is currently no guiding procedure for developing and implementing CLS’s. To reduce the ad hoc approach to developing and implementing CLS’s, the purpose of this dissertation is to propose a framework for developing construction logistics setups. The purpose is fulfilled with the aid of the following four research questions: RQ1: Taking the perspectives of different stakeholders’, why are CLS’s implemented? RQ2: What type of CLS services are offered? RQ3: How can performance effects of CLS’s be measured? RQ4: How do CLS’s affect the identified challenges of managing the transports to and from construction sites, managing logistics at construction sites, and managing the interorganizational relationships amongst construction project stakeholders? To answer the research questions, three main methodologies have been used; literature reviews to inform the background of the studies and develop analytical frameworks, and case study and Delphi research for the empirical studies. In fulfilling the research purpose, the findings of this dissertation suggests that when developing a CLS, three activities need to be considered; 1. setting the scope of the CLS, 2. deciding on the structure of the CLS, and 3. managing the interorganizational relationships of the CLS. These activities are the foundation of the developed framework. The contents of the activities were derived through the research questions. When answering RQ1, it was found that contractors implement CLS’s to ensure construction productivity, developers implement CLS’s to reduce disturbances to businesses and residents nearby, and municipalities implement CLS’s to reduce disturbances to third-parties and to reduce the impact from construction logistics on the urban transport system. These stakeholder drivers for implementing CLS’s will impact the scope of the CLS. Furthermore, the scope of the CLS was found to be dependent on both the contextual considerations of the CLS in terms of physical context at site and in terms of what is being built, as well as the organizational context in terms of what stakeholders are part of the project, where in the hierarchy the CLS is located, and what level of mandate the CLS has. The scope will also set the terms for how transports are managed through the CLS. If for instance there is limited space at site, this can imply that time-planned deliveries are favoured. In answering RQ2, it was found that as a consequence of what transport management approach is chosen, the structure of the CLS will differ. This dissertation shows that asset-based setups are similar to traditional logistics outsourcing and TPL in which physical distribution services are offered. Non-asset based services on the other hand act more as supply chain orchestrators similar to fourth-party logistics service providers. In these cases, supplied services are aimed more at ensuring that the right services and capabilities can be procured for the CLS. One value-adding service that was found crucial to include in CLS’s is a joint booking and planning system. Having this type of support systems will allow the CLS to coordinate the different stakeholders connected to the CLS. Related to the structure of the CLS, RQ3 suggest that performance needs to be monitored for deliveries, on-site logistics, and the coordination of logistics activities on and off site. The performance monitoring needs to be developed from a logistics point-of-view, taking into consideration the different stakeholders’ perspectives. Finally, in answering RQ4, it was found that a CLS can affect the identified challenges positively. In essence, a CLS aims at managing construction logistics and if developed and implemented from this notion, transports to and from site as well as on-site logistics management can become more efficient. Additionally, the dissertation shows that CLS’s can help in managing the interorganizational relationships within the construction project(s). However, this builds on the notion of having well-developed and communicated service offerings and regulations, e.g. through business and governance models. It was also found that the activities of the framework are interrelated and dependent on one another, suggesting that developing construction logistics setups is an iterative process. The proposed framework should thus be seen as a guideline for how to develop the setup, allowing for adaptations of the setup to the context for which it is developed. Med pågående urbaniseringstrend finns det ett ökat behov av att bygga bostadshus, sjukhus, skolor och infrastruktur i stadsområden för att möta de ökande behoven. Samtidigt ses mark allt mer som en ändlig resurs. Detta har lett till att avvecklad industriell mark tas i anspråk för förtätning och storskaliga stadsutvecklingsprojekt där flera enskilda byggprojekt byggs i närliggande områden under samma tidsperiod. Byggprojekt produceras dock på konsumtionsplatsen vilket innebär att stora mängder material och resurser måste levereras till och tas bort från varje byggarbetsplats. Detta leder i sin tur till att nya transportflöden skapas i samband med stadsutveckling. Dessa måste samordnas för att säkerställa effektiv byggproduktion samtidigt som transporternas miljömässiga och sociala påverkan på det urbana transportsystemet kan minskas. Samtidigt är det viktigt att byggarbetsplatserna kan hanteras ur ett logistikperspektiv utan försämrad effektivitet på grund av det urbana läget. Ett sätt att hantera logistiken till och från byggprojekt inom stadsutveckling är genom så kallade bygglogistiklösningar (BLL). Dock påverkar införandet av BLL många olika intressenter och de interorganisatoriska relationer dem emellan. Införandet av BLL ställs därför inför tre utmaningar; att hantera transporter till och från byggprojekt, att hantera logistiken på byggarbetsplatser och att samordna de interorganisatoriska relationerna mellan byggprojektets intressenter. Utvecklandet av BLL utgår ofta från tidigare lösningar då det i nuläget saknas riktlinjer för hur man kan utveckla och implementera lösningarna. För att minska den här ad hoc-strategin för utvecklandet av BLL är syftet med denna avhandling att föreslå ett ramverk för att utveckla bygglogistiklösningar. Syftet uppnås med hjälp av följande forskningsfrågor: FF1: Utifrån olika intressenters perspektiv, varför implementeras bygglogistiklösningar? FF2: Vilken typ av bygglogistiktjänster erbjuds? FF3: Hur kan bygglogistiklösningars prestanda mätas? FF4: Hur påverkas de tre identifierade utmaningarna av implementeringen av bygglogistiklösningar? Hur påverkar bygglogistiklösningar de identifierade utmaningarna med att hantera transporter till och från byggprojekt, att hantera arbetsplatslogistiken och att samordna de interorganisatoriska relationerna mellan byggprojektets intressenter? För att besvara forskningsfrågorna har tre huvudmetoder använts; litteraturgranskningar för studiernas bakgrund och att utveckla analytiska ramverk, och fallstudieforskning och Delphi-forskning för de empiriska studierna. I uppfyllandet av syftet föreslår avhandlingen att tre aktiviteter måste övervägas när man utvecklar en BLL; 1. fastställa omfattningen av BLL, 2. besluta om BLL-strukturen och 3. hantera interorganisatoriska relationerna i BLL. Dessa aktiviteter är grunden för det utvecklade ramverket. Innehållet i aktiviteterna härleddes genom forskningsfrågorna. I besvarandet av FF1 befanns att entreprenörer implementerar BLL:er för att säkerställa byggproduktivitet, byggherrar implementerar BLL:er för att minska störningar för företag och boende i närheten, och kommuner implementerar BLL:er för att minska störningar för tredje part och för att minska påverkan från bygglogistik på det urbana transportsystemet. De identifierade drivkrafterna för att implementera BLL:er kommer även att påverka BLL:ens struktur. Avhandlingen visar att BLL-strukturen är beroende av kontextuella överväganden med avseende på arbetsplatsens fysiska egenskaper samt vad som byggs, såväl som den organisatoriska kontexten med avseende på vilka intressenter som är del av projektet, var i hierarkin BLL:en placeras och vilken mandatnivå BLL:en har. BLLomfattningen sätter även villkoren för hur transporter hanteras i projektet. Om utrymmet exempelvis är begränsat kan detta innebära att tidsplanerade leveranser premieras. I besvarandet av FF2 befanns det att en konsekvens av hur transporthanteringen läggs upp så kommer BLL-strukturen att påverkas. Den här avhandlingen visar att fysiska logistiklösningar liknar traditionell outsourcing av logistik och TPL där fysiska distributionstjänster erbjuds. Icke-fysiska logistiklösningar fungerar mer som försörjningskedjeorkestratorer och påminner om fjärdepartslogistiktleverantörer. I dessa fall syftar de erbjudna tjänsterna mer till att säkerställa att rätt tjänster och kapacitet kan erbjudas genom BLL. En värdeadderande tjänst fanns vara en grundförutsättning för BLL:er, nämligen gemensamma boknings- och planeringssystem. Ett sådant system hjälper BLL-operatören i koordinationen av de olika intressenterna som är kopplade till BLL:en. I framtagandet av BLL-strukturen föreslår FF3 även att logistikprestanda måste följas upp i processerna leveranser, arbetsplatslogistik och samordning av logistikaktiviteter på och utanför byggarbetsplatsen. Prestationsutvärderingen måste utvecklas ur ett logistikhänseende med hänsyn tagen till de olika intressenternas perspektiv. Slutligen, i besvarandet av FF4, befanns att en BLL kan påverka de identifierade utmaningarna positivt. I grund och botten syftar en BLL till att hantera bygglogistik och om BLL:en utvecklas och implementeras utifrån detta synsätt kan transporter till och från byggarbetsplats samt logistikhantering på plats bli effektivare. Vidare visar avhandlingen att BLL:er kan hjälpa till att hantera de interorganisatoriska relationerna inom byggprojekten. Detta bygger dock på att man har väl utvecklade och kommunicerade serviceerbjudanden med tillhörande regelverk för hur service skall användas. Dessa bör kommuniceras genom affärs- och styrningsmodeller. Det konstaterades också att ramverkets aktiviteter är inbördes relaterade och beroende av varandra, vilket tyder på att utvecklandet av bygglogistiklösningar är en iterativ process. Det föreslagna ramverket bör därför ses som riktlinjer för hur man utvecklar BLL, vilket möjliggör för anpassningar av lösningen till det sammanhang för vilken den utvecklas.




Construction Logistics Solutions in Urban Areas


Book Description

More and more people are living in, or moving to, urban areas than ever before. This attraction to urban areas means that new houses and work places are needed. Building new houses or renovating older housing stock is a natural way for a city to evolve. However, the end products of construction projects are produced at their place of consumption. This means that a multitude of materials and resources need to be delivered to, and removed from, each construction site. This leads to new transport flows being created in urban areas. In urban areas, these transports are subjected to space limitations, environmental demands, accessibility demands and noise restrictions. This has led to a situation where material deliveries to construction sites needs to be coordinated and managed in ways that reduce their impact on the urban transport system and at the same time ensuring efficient construction projects. In essence, construction in urban areas faces two problems; the urban transport problem and the problem of coordinating multiple construction stakeholders. One way to address these problems is through the use of construction logistics solutions such as terminals (e.g. construction logistics centres) and checkpoints. The aim of both types of solutions is to control and coordinate construction transports. In the construction industry, these solutions are however, still a rather new phenomenon. This means that how these solutions are perceived by different stakeholders, and the effect the solutions have on material flows and costs, needs to be explored further. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how construction logistics solutions can be used as a means to coordinate material flows to ensure efficient construction and reduce disturbances on the urban transport system. To achieve this purpose, the following research questions have been addressed: RQ1: How are different stakeholders in the construction industry affected by construction logistics solutions? RQ2: How will the use of construction logistics solutions affect material flows and costs in urban construction projects? To answer the research questions two main methodologies have been used; case study research for the empirical studies and literature reviews for the analysis of the case studies as well as for understanding how supply chain management, logistics, and third-party logistics affects the inter-organizational relationships of the construction industry. The main findings of the research are firstly that construction logistics solutions do have a role to play in the coordination of different construction stakeholders. Adding this new node will force construction stakeholders to address coordination issues in order to ensure that material deliveries arrive to construction sites on time. This also implies that new inter-organizational relationships will evolve, where communication is key. However, this may not be an easy task as it will call for an attitude adjustment towards a more open and collaborative environment. Secondly, adding a construction logistics solution can reduce some unnecessary friction between construction stakeholders and third parties. Coordinated material flows can lead to a reduction in the amount of material delivery vehicles that travels to site, thus alleviating some of the congestion in the urban transport system. This will not reduce all friction between construction projects and third parties, but it is a step in the right direction. Thirdly, a construction logistics solution must come with a set of regulations and a governance strategy from the initiator of the solution. This governance strategy must be clearly stated and communicated to the affected stakeholders. To alleviate animosity towards the solution, flexibility and stakeholder involvement is key. If the directly affected stakeholders are consulted on the function, chances are that they will be more accepting of the solution.




Decision-Making for Sustainable Transport and Mobility


Book Description

Multi-Actor Multi-Criteria Analysis (MAMCA) developed by Professor Cathy Macharis enables decision-makers within the sectors of transport, mobility and logistics to account for conflicting stakeholder interests. This book draws on 15 years of research and application during which MAMCA has been deployed to support sustainable decisions within the transport and mobility sectors.




Urban Logistics


Book Description

Approximately 80 per cent of European and American citizens live in an urban environment. Due to their large populations and extensive commercial establishments, urban areas require large quantities of goods and services for commercial and domestic use. This results in increasing levels of demand for freight transport services. Freight transport in towns and cities is a major contributor to environmental impacts, particularly to local air pollution and noise. Urban Logistics addresses public policy makers, freight transport companies and receivers of supplies, providing them with the information and guidance to affect change in the logistics of the city. Urban Logistics is written by an outstanding team of international editors combining their expertise and using their research from leading business schools in Sweden and the US. There are also valuable contributions from academics and industry experts from companies and universities from all over the world. The book includes clear examples of initiatives that work and business case developments, as well as toolkits for policymakers and managers who are devising new initiatives. There is an in-depth examination of different aspects of urban logistics, such as retail logistics for cities, urban food supply chains, services and the special logistics requirements involved, construction, waste management and e-commerce and home delivery. There is also a focus on networks and partnerships and an analysis of innovation as a new constant.




Supply Chain Management and Logistics in Construction


Book Description

The construction logistics manager plays an increasingly central role in the construction process. In fact, their decisions can crucially affect the success or failure of a project. Recognition of the critical role they play has spurred evermore interest in this budding field amongst both researchers and practitioners. An accessible text on construction logistics, Supply Chain Management and Logistics in Construction provides essential guidance and expert advice for construction managers, as well as researchers and students in the field. This important new title looks at arrangements with suppliers, the use of returnable packaging and off-site manufacture and assembly, IT systems used to manage the supply chain and logistics operations, such as delivery management systems, warehouse management systems and material planning and forecasting systems. It also considers aspects of the contractual relationships between client, developer, main contractor and lower-tier contractors, all of which have an impact on how the supply chain is managed. In addition to providing a range of fresh ground-breaking case studies, the book features contributions from leading experts in the field who have been involved in projects with companies such as TFL, BAA, The Red Cross, as well as big construction programmes such as the Olympics and Cross Rail.




Transport and Urban Development


Book Description

This book takes an international perspective on the links between land use, development and transport and present the latest thinking, the theory and practice of these links.




Activity Based Costing for Construction Companies


Book Description

Activity Based Cotsting for Construction Companies provides guidelines on how overhead costs can be managed for using Activity Based Costing (ABC), providing gains in contractor competiveness. Illustrated with a range of case studies and examples it also presents a map that shows construction contractors how to implement ABC to calculate overhead costs accurately, identifying non or low-value added operations which can then be improved.




Logistics Clusters


Book Description

How logistics clusters can create jobs while providing companies with competitive advantage. Why is Memphis home to hundreds of motor carrier terminals and distribution centers? Why does the tiny island-nation of Singapore handle a fifth of the world's maritime containers and half the world's annual supply of crude oil? Which jobs can replace lost manufacturing jobs in advanced economies? Some of the answers to these questions are rooted in the phenomenon of logistics clusters—geographically concentrated sets of logistics-related business activities. In this book, supply chain management expert Yossi Sheffi explains why Memphis, Singapore, Chicago, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, and scores of other locations have been successful in developing such clusters while others have not. Sheffi outlines the characteristic “positive feedback loop” of logistics clusters development and what differentiates them from other industrial clusters; how logistics clusters “add value” by generating other industrial activities; why firms should locate their distribution and value-added activities in logistics clusters; and the proper role of government support, in the form of investment, regulation, and trade policy. Sheffi also argues for the most important advantage offered by logistics clusters in today's recession-plagued economy: jobs, many of them open to low-skilled workers, that are concentrated locally and not “offshorable.” These logistics clusters offer what is rare in today's economy: authentic success stories. For this reason, numerous regional and central governments as well as scores of real estate developers are investing in the development of such clusters. View a trailer for the book at: http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/22284-logistics-clusters-yossi-sheffi




Sustainable Urban Logistics: Concepts, Methods and Information Systems


Book Description

Since the 1990’s, researchers, practitioners and public administrations have given more thought to urban logistics. However, their interests and goals are not the same, and several approaches do not produce efficient logistics systems as a result. This book aims to provide both a conceptual framework for urban logistics planning and management and to create a basis for deploying solutions that aim to reduce the main nuisances related to urban goods. The proposed book is divided in two parts. The first proposes a set of methodological chapters, written by key authors, which aim to support decision makers in their current choices related to urban logistics. In addition to public authorities’ aims and goals, the book highlights the importance of private actors, and shows how supply chain management can deal with the problems of the last urban mile and its integration in global logistics chains. The second presents several applied research works that deal with current planning and practice issues in urban logistics, such as the role of city planning, the place of night deliveries in carrier organization, the limits of logistics pooling, and the real estate market, among others. The book was written by key authors, all having considerable research experience and recognised as experts in their respective fields. Each chapter presents methods and results of research works, written for a broad audience, and more precisely directed to both academics and practitioners.




City Logistics 1


Book Description

This volume of three books presents recent advances in modelling, planning and evaluating city logistics for sustainable and liveable cities based on the application of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). It highlights modelling the behaviour of stakeholders who are involved in city logistics as well as planning and managing policy measures of city logistics including cooperative freight transport systems in public-private partnerships. Case studies of implementing and evaluating city logistics measures in terms of economic, social and environmental benefits from major cities around the world are also given.