Kamal Dhawan

Supply chain management (SCM) optimisation is a critical but under-examined pathway for delivering circular economy outcomes in the construction sector, particularly in geographically remote and small- and medium-sized enterprise-dominated markets such as New Zealand (NZ). This study investigates how SCM practices, such as digital tools, early contractor involvement, strategic partnerships, and reverse logistics, can be optimised to improve circular performance in NZ-built environment projects. A pragmatist, abductive mixed-methods design combined 75 case studies, a 28-case quantitative subset, 15 elite semi-structured interviews and documentary evidence. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was integrated with descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, non-parametric testing, and configuration archetype analysis. Coordination and partnerships are the most frequently observed SCM lever, appearing in 46.7% of the 75 cases and in all four cases in the highest waste-diversion band, while digital tools are seldom deployed as the primary lever. Two operational metrics summarise these configurations: a Waste Hierarchy Index (WHI) of 77.6%, calculated across the 66 cases with an assignable waste hierarchy position, and a Digital SCM Adoption Rate (DSAR) of 15.1%, calculated across the 73 cases with a stated primary lever. Together they indicate an upstream but digitally uneven pattern of optimisation. The study contributes a configuration-based method for comparing SCM levers in circular construction, together with the first NZ evidence base of this kind, and finds that procurement reform rather than digital investment is the key constraint on circular performance. Practical implications include embedding early contractor involvement and integrated design in public procurement, funding sector-wide digital interoperability rather than firm-level tools, and extending site waste management plan reporting. Priority future research is longitudinal, scale-stratified testing of the configuration archetypes identified in this paper.

Supply chain management (SCM) optimisation is a critical but under-examined pathway for delivering circular economy outcomes in the construction sector, particularly in geographically remote and small and medium-sized enterprise dominated markets such as New Zealand (NZ). This study investigates how SCM practices, such as digital tools, early contractor involvement, strategic partnerships, and reverse logistics, can be optimised to improve circular performance in NZ built environment projects. A pragmatist, abductive mixed-methods design combined 75 case studies, a 28-case quantitative subset, 15 elite semi-structured interviews and documentary evidence. Reflexive thematic analysis was integrated with descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, Pearson and Spearman correlation testing, and configuration archetype analysis. Findings show that coordination and partnerships are the dominant SCM lever. The article applies a Waste Hierarchy Index (WHI) and a new Digital SCM Adoption Rate (DSAR) to quantify SCM configurations; WHI of 77.6 and DSAR of 15.1% indicate upstream but uneven digital optimisation. The study delivers the first empirical construction SCM configuration analysis for NZ circular construction projects and offers actionable implications for procurement reform, construction economics policy, and future research.

Construction logistics is central to optimising site operations and delivery processes, yet the need to meet dynamic site requirements while minimising transport movements presents a persistent challenge. Transport efficiency can be improved through both strategic and operational interventions at the business-unit level. This study examines transport-related distribution practices within the plasterboard supply chain in Auckland, New Zealand, and evaluates opportunities to enhance efficiency using established performance metrics. By integrating supply chain management and circular economy principles through spatial analysis and supply chain modelling, the research demonstrates the potential to achieve up to a three-fold improvement in vehicle capacity utilisation. The operational analysis—focused on general-purpose (non-specialist) transport—is grounded in real-world transport data that extends beyond conventional trip-centricity to capture a broader supply chain perspective. This approach addresses a key methodological gap by empirically validating analytical models in a specific operational context. In addition to quantifying efficiency gains, the study identifies context-specific inefficiencies that constrain construction transport performance and proposes sustainable solutions that extend beyond technological fixes. These include strategic organisational measures for improving fleet management, transport contracting and pricing, collaborative planning across supply chain actors, waste management practices, and collaborative logistics through integrated warehousing. By linking technical analysis with business-oriented insights, the research provides proof-of-concept for practical, scalable strategies for improved construction logistics and wider freight transport efficiency grounded in empirical evidence.

The extensive, interdisciplinary nature of construction supply chains make them prone to inefficiencies at organisational interfaces. Inefficiencies are accentuated by the project-centric delivery paradigm, and complex logistics systems between multiple stakeholders. They manifest as a multitude of concurrent activities, processes, and systems both on and off-site. Transportation is the largest component of the logistics domain. Transport operations are inherently fragmented, intrinsic to every business, while vehicle ownership and deployment is typically externalised. Differentiated waste removal and materials delivery further disintegrate the already fragmented construction supply chain. Inefficiencies from the insularity of the planning process across segmental boundaries aggregate incrementally, with impacts visible at the macro level. Re-configuration of activities, resources and actors are acknowledged strategies for optimising logistics and transportation function. This paper investigates the impact of three integration strategies on a manufactured construction products supply chain efficiency. These strategies include vertical integration of distribution, integrated planning for transport operations, and integration of reverse logistics into operations. Sustainability impacts are evaluated according to domestically determined monetary parameters in order to benchmark performance at the business and national scale.

The extensive and interdisciplinary construction supply chain is susceptible to inefficiencies at the interfaces of organisations. These inefficiencies are exacerbated by intricate logistics systems that operate among numerous stakeholders and actors, involving concurrent activities, processes, and on-and off-site systems. Transportation stands out as the most significant element within construction logistics. The fragmentation of the transport function stems from its intrinsic nature to every business, typically involving externalised asset ownership and deployment. Inefficiencies infiltrate the system due to isolated planning across different segments, gradually accumulating into macro-level visibility. To optimise logistics, particularly the transport function, identified strategies involve reconfiguring activities, combining resources, and repositioning actors. This paper delves into the impact of vertically integrating distribution, implementing integrated planning for transport operations, and incorporating reverse logistics into operations on the transport function within a supply chain for manufactured construction products. The study evaluates sustainability impacts using transport efficiency metrics and domestically determined parameters to benchmark the 'leaning and greening' of the specific supply chain under consideration.

New Zealand (NZ) construction is highly fragmented, comprises primarily micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); 32.5% of approximately 67,000 operating businesses are ‘small’ (up to 19 employees), while 65% are sole traders. The construction supply chain (CSC) is extensive, prone to inefficiencies at segmental boundaries accentuated by project-centric delivery. Conversely, it presents significant opportunity for consolidation and improved efficiency. Vertical integration and CSC management from the supplier-end rather than the project-end enable component elements to be individually independent in terms of ownership, while integrating their management above the tactical CSC level. This leads to improved operational philosophy and employment. Quantifying impacts, however, is a challenge due to lack of tangibility. This can be effectively overcome using quantifiable parameters associated with the CSC’s transport component. The paper investigates transport operations in a narrow NZ CSC segment over a three-month period to quantify improved performance using operational data and further potential for resource optimisation using operations research-based planning. Research outcomes point towards: (i) Fleet management strategy; (ii) Integrated planning and operational delivery; (iii) Non-price attributes in tendering/contracting; (iv) Change in the delivery model of manufactured construction products; (v) Information and communication technology-based solutions; and (vi) Integration of reverse logistics.

The construction industry’s inherent fragmentation fuels Construction Supply Chain (CSC) complexity. Logistics form an essential part of the CSC in terms of costs and project management. In turn, transportation accounts for more than half the logistics costs due to construction materials being low-cost/high-volume, and most other logistics processes being business processes and not physical ones. Construction transport is almost entirely road bound, one of the least sustainable modes with externalities far out of proportion to its numbers. Ergo, its optimisation presents substantial greening (de-carbonisation) opportunity, with potentially far-reaching sustainability impacts. The ASI (Avoid-Shift-Improve) concept considers activity, modal structure, and energy intensity/efficiency as transport carbon components, providing a fundamental optimisation framework. 93% of New Zealand’s freight (a third of it construction related) is road bound, with 99% fossil-fuel (diesel) dependence. Government adoption of ASI elementsvizSupply Chain (SC) efficiency, transport optimisation, data/information sharing, and collaboration for transport decarbonisation aligns with Industry 5.0, but seeks further research for concrete implementation pathways. This paper aims to bridge the gap by proposing a research framework for greening of construction transport as a sustainability enabler for New Zealand.

Purpose: A long-term collaborative public water infrastructure procurement contract in New Zealand adopts “Enterprise Alliance” delivery (strategy) with a Construction Consolidation Centre (CCC) (operational) logistics solution. New Zealand's unique spatial, market, regulatory and economic circumstances present a research gap pertaining to the sustainability impacts of the combinatory implementation. The paper suggests a literature review-based research framework for examining these.Design/methodology/approach: Systematic literature review (SLR) discovers unique New Zealand attributes, and sustainability impacts of both the approaches overseas. Towards formulating a research framework, the paper discusses sustainability of construction and its New Zealand context, and research focus within the implemented model. Significant issues from SLR reveal Design, Logistics, Impacts and Spin-offs research domains. The paper suggests a research framework and examines an appropriate research design.Findings: CCC implementation under a programme alliance is without precedent in New Zealand. Variance of New Zealand's unique attributes from North American and European characteristics behind successful implementation are likely to impact domestic outcomes. A research framework to test this hypothesis will enable investigating the relevance of the concepts to New Zealand settings and provide a contextual implementation datum. Implementation benchmarks will potentially influence public policy and enrich indigenous knowledge corpus, potentially transferrable to associated domains (urban planning, transportation and energy).Originality/value: The paper attempts to define a research direction in the domain of applying supply chain management principles to the New Zealand's construction sector by investigating the employment of a CCC in a collaborative environment as an infrastructure project delivery vehicle with sustainability leanings.