Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management
ISSN: 0265-671X
Article publication date: 26 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
While COVID-19 mitigation measures (CMMs) aided in steady recovery during the pandemic, they also impeded movement across economies/borders, affecting quality assurance (QA) of Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain (Cb-CLSC). However, prior studies on the pandemic in the construction project industry have not revealed how CMMs have impacted QA. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the CMMs on the QA of Cb-CLSC.
Design/methodology/approach
This is achieved by adopting an embedded mixed-method approach involving a desk literature review and engaging 150 experts from different economies across the globe using expert surveys, and results verified via semi-structured expert interviews. Structural equation modelling-based multiple regression analysis (SEM-MRA) was integrated to examine the impact of the CMMs on the QA, along with descriptive and content analysis.
Findings
The study confirmed that CMMs have not only impacted the QA negatively but also influenced the positioning of the QA for the post-pandemic era and probably to survive the risks of future pandemics. Among all the identified CMMs, the top three critical measures include “lockdown (CMM2)”, “use of personal protective equipment, such as nose masks, disinfects, etc. (CMM5)”, and “electronic/virtual meetings (CMM7)”. However, CMM5 possesses the highest contributory power to form CMM in impacting the QA, and this can be regarded as largely positive by strengthening health and safety management systems. Its negative impact lies with the project cost increment and the inconveniences of using nose and face masks.
Practical implications
This study provides a better understanding to construction practitioners and policy makers on how the pandemic policies, i.e. CMMs, have impacted QA and can aid in formulating planning and operational decisions to adequately position the QA for the post-pandemic era and to endure the risks of future pandemics.
Originality/value
The study contributes to knowledge in that it provides a better understanding of how the pandemic policies, such as CMMs, have impacted QA and can aid in formulating planning and operational decisions to adequately position the QA for the post-pandemic era and to endure the risks of future pandemics. This area of study has been given limited attention among prior studies during the pandemic.
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. and Lu, W. (2024), "Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-01-2024-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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