Value chain in the construction industry
[edit] Introduction
The term value chain was coined in 1998 by Harvard Business School professor Michael Eugene Porter in his book ‘Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance’ (Free Press, 1985).
It comprises all the activities that must be performed by a firm in order to allow it to bring to market a product or service. These activities may include designing, manufacturing, marketing, sales, delivering and supporting the product (after sales) and so on.
The type of firm in question could be one that produces an end product by processing raw materials or it may be a firm that buys from other manufacturers semi-processed goods and converts them into finished products. The efficiency with which the company carries out these tasks will determine its costs and profits.
[edit] The chain of activities
To get to market, a product or service will typically go through an ordered chain of activities and at each stage it will increase in value. For example, in the processing of raw materials, the value chain comprises all the steps involved in bringing the product from conception to distribution, which includes obtaining the raw material, processing and manufacturing, marketing and promotion. For instance, sawn timber in itself may not have a high value, but it will increase in value as it goes through the various stages of cutting, treating, planing, shaping and assembly to then be marketed, sold and delivered.
Companies gain competitive advantage by continually examining and improving their value chain and delivering maximum value while incurring minimum cost. They may examine their value chains (value chain analysis) to see where in their operations there are inefficiencies, then instigate measures to correct those inefficiencies and add further value (at the lowest possible cost) in order to maximise their operations and profitability.
NB PAS 2080:2023 Carbon management in buildings and infrastructure, second edition, published by The British Standards Institution in March 2023, defines value chain as: ‘organizations and stakeholders involved in creating, operating and managing assets and/or networks.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
UK Construction Week, London is here !
Debuting major international pavilions and much more.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Plumbing and heating for successful retrofit and renovation
Low temperature underfloor systems and heat pumps.
Cost-of-living crisis and home improvement plans
Starting on the right footing and top tips for projects.
Delays on construction projects
Types, mitigation and the acceleration of works.
From Chaucer to Fawlty Towers.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
New project and cultural district described in detail.
The nature of EPCs, crticism and inaccuracies.
History, issues and redesign.
From waste recycling to energy performance the hierchy.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.