A decision support model for material supply management for the construction industry

摘要

Decision models are ever-present in the materials management processes of industries other than construction and have proven their worth in improving productivity and profitability. This paper presents research that focused on supply chains for the electrical contracting industry. The authors applied knowledge-management concepts to design an integrated, effective system of decision-support tools for materials-management decisions of an electrical contractor during the construction phase of a project. We developed a structured systems design of distributed, integrated decision support systems for materials management of the electrical contractor. The research derives the optimal integration of people, decision processes, decision support systems and data that are required to support efficient and effective systems for acquisition, procurement, transport, storage and allocation of material in the construction industry. This research will extend and bring to fruition previous and current research by the principal authors that has created detailed mappings of the essential decisions, decision models and data that are required to support supply-chain activities of construction contractors throughout a project life cycle.