| Structural steel construction procedure requires special technologies and skills and it is usually undertaken by specialty contractors. The principal actors involved in the structural steel construction service include fabricators, steel mills, engineer designers, specialty shops, and erectors. The fabricator is an organizer and provider of this construction service. A fabricator usually selects its material suppliers and subcontractors based on lowest quotes or familiarity for convenience. However, uncertainties exist in the upstream material supplies and construction services. One supplier may offer the lowest quote with uncertain delivery that may incur additional costs for the fabricator. Therefore, suppliers and subcontractors selection should be based on several criteria such as pricing structure, delivery, product quality, and service. Frequently, these criteria involve trade-offs. In addition, the importance of each criterion varies from one job to the next and is complicated further by the fact that some criteria are quantitative while others are qualitative. Thus a method is needed that can adjust for the decision maker's attitude toward the importance of each criterion and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative factors.; The goal of this study is to provide a decision-making tool for the industry practitioners to conveniently evaluate and select their material suppliers and subcontractors, forming an efficient and effective project team or a supply chain.; The objective of this study is to develop a supplier and subcontractor selection decision support model which synthesizes the quantitative and qualitative performance criteria in selecting a construction supply chain or suppliers and subcontractors, and assesses the tangible and intangible performance criteria through tracing the activities between the inter-organizations. The study applies the proposed selection decision model to structural steel construction services.; By using the model, structural steel fabricators will be able to select the appropriate supply chain and project partners and is provided non-cost-based performance data as a point for negotiation with suppliers and subcontractors. It also allows them to forecast future supplier performance based on the relevant historical data and it provides data for improving the management process by limiting non-valuable activities.; Although there are models available to solve selection problems for the manufacturing industries, a model that addresses both quantitative and qualitative performance criteria for selecting a subcontractor/supplier in the construction industry does not currently exist. The study disentangles the complicacy of subcontractor and supplier selection by using an activity-based performance and costing model and validating it through a case study. |
