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
Heat pump announcements, what homeowners need to know
An 'ultimate guide to heat pumps' from a heating company.
Construction contract awards reach £7.1bn in February
Their highest level in seven months.
The journey to sustainability in heritage
Research is the key to better understanding.
Heritage approaches to adaptation, mitigation and loss.
Bridging the gap between policy, finance and installation.
Development on brownfield land
Definition, background, policy and the latest consultation.
With the Design Framework for Building Services.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Pertinent technical issues, measures and the roles involved.
ECA joins HSE campaign to support mental health
Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment.
Mental health in the construction industry
Mental health issues in brief with related articles.
Transitional arrangements, Building Control and the BSR.
For pre-October buildings with substantial progress by April.
How to write an inspection and test plan
ITPs for quality control and assurance particular elements.
Why quality counts in domestic ventilation systems
From products, to systems to the installation.
Empowering the Future with CIOB Academy
Lifelong learning, upscaling, and reskilling for the built environment.
Winners of the 2024 ASBP Awards
Project, Product and Initiative according to the 6 pillars.