Title: The potential for ERP (enterprise resource planning) in integrating the supply chain in the UK construction industry

Authors: Hung-Ju Chien, Stephen Barthorpe, Jack K.C. Shih

Addresses: School of Technology, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL UK. School of Technology, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL UK. Department of Civil Engineering, Ming Hsin Institute of Technology, Taiwan

Abstract: The successful construction businesses of the next decade will be the ones that use digital tools to reinvent the way they work. A new way of doing business would entail using fast, accurate information to plan operations and processes, delivering dissimilar features to those delivered by competitors, enhancing client service, empowering employees and reacting instantaneously to changes in the marketplace. Now construction companies are under pressure to find ways of enhancing effectiveness and quality, of increasing speed of project delivery whilst simultaneously reducing costs and prices. The construction industry can learn from the successes of manufacturing and service industries. To illustrate the point, this paper draws on examples of success stories, which have applied the enterprise resource planning (ERP) supply chain management (SCM) solutions. The potential for ERP in integrating the supply chain across customer/supplier interfaces to create a win-win scenario in the UK construction industry is discussed.

Keywords: enterprise resource planning; supply chain management; UK construction industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEM.2003.003245

International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management, 2003 Vol.1 No.2, pp.185 - 209

Published online: 05 Aug 2003 *

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