The integration of suppliers and manufacturers within construction supply chains through innovative procurement strategies

Recent innovative procurement initiatives are challenging traditional ways of procuring construction projects. These initiatives are intended to empower clients to exercise more control over the supply chain and generate more cooperation among project participants. The initiatives aim to integrate the supply chain, create greater trust, introduce a pain and gain culture, and reuse the knowledge on succeeding projects. This paper, with examples from the UK construction industry, presents how clients are integrating the downstream supply chain members. Critical factors in integrating suppliers and manufacturers were identified and the benefits of innovative procurement resulting in the integration of downstream supply chain members were analysed in detail through two case studies. The paper concludes that through clients' initiatives, there is a great potential to utilise the expertise and knowledge of suppliers and manufacturers at the outset of a project to achieve effective planning and delivery of the whole project, with greater supply chain integration.