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Modelling the critical challenges of quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic

Frank Ato Ghansah (Division of Construction, Property and Surveying, School of Built Environment and Architecture, London South Bank University, London, UK)
Weisheng Lu (Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Benjamin Kwaku Ababio (Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

ISSN: 0969-9988

Article publication date: 26 March 2024

Issue publication date: 9 May 2024

141

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the construction industry, yet still, it is unclear from existing studies about the critical challenges imposed on quality assurance (QA), particularly Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain (Cb-CLSC). Thus, this study aims to identify and examine the critical challenges of QA of Cb-CLSC during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim is achieved via an embedded mixed-method approach pragmatically involving a desk literature review and engaging 150 experts across the globe using expert surveys, and results confirmed by semi-structured interviews. The approach is based on Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) as its foundation.

Findings

The study revealed ten critical challenges of QA, with the top four including “the shortage of raw construction material (C7)”, “design changes (C6)”, “collaboration and communication difficulties (C1)” and “changes in work practices (C10)”. However, examining the interrelationships among the critical challenges using ISM confirmed C7 and C10 as the most critical challenges. The study again revealed that the critical challenges are sensitive and capable of affecting themselves due to the nature of their interrelationship based on MICMAC analysis. Hence, being consistent with why all the challenges were considered critical amid the pandemic. Sentiment analysis revealed that the critical challenges have not been entirely negative but also positive by creating three areas of opportunities for improvement: technology adoption, worker management, and work process management. However, four areas of challenges in the QA include cost, raw material, time, and work process, including inspection, testing, auditing, communication, etc.

Practical implications

The finding provides a convenient point of reference to researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and decision-makers on formulating policies to enhance the effectiveness of construction QA during the pandemic through to the post-pandemic era.

Originality/value

The study enriches the extant literature on QA, Cb-CLSC, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the construction industry by identifying the critical challenges and examining the interrelationships among them. This provides a better understanding of how the construction QA has been affected by the pandemic and the opportunities created.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This paper forms part of a broader PhD research on Quality Assurance of Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain During the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was sponsored by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), under the HKU presidential PhD scholarship (HKU-PS). The authors are extremely grateful to the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, and Referees who provided constructive and invaluable comments and suggestions to significantly improve the quality of this paper.

Citation

Ghansah, F.A., Lu, W. and Ababio, B.K. (2024), "Modelling the critical challenges of quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 2128-2150. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2024-0016

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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