SURVEY OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AS PERCEIVED BY

THE US CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

By

ASLIHAN KARATAŞ

LINK: http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0024110/karatas_a.pdf

A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF

FLORIDA

1
2009

2
3
 APPENDIX A
SURVEY
FORM

Informed Consent Form

Supply Chain Management in the Construction Industry

Dear Participant,

I am a graduate student in the Civil and Coastal Engineering Department at the University of
Florida. As part of my course work I am conducting a survey, the purpose of which is to
identify and discuss the views of US contractors on supply chain collaboration and
management. I am asking you to participate in the survey because of your close connection
with these issues, as a participant in the construction industry. Participants will be asked to fill
out a survey lasting no longer than 20 minutes. You will not have to answer any question(s) you
do not wish to answer. Your survey will be conducted in your workplace, after you have read
this informed consent.
Only I will have access to the survey that you fill out. The statistical data collected from your
survey and others will be documented in my thesis. Although, your identity (if you choose to
reveal it) will be kept confidential to the extent provided by the law and your identity will not be
revealed in the final manuscript.

There are no anticipated risks, compensation or other direct benefits to you as a participant in
this survey.

If you have any questions about this research protocol, please contact me at (352) 346 – 6021
or my faculty supervisor, Dr. Ralph D. Ellis, at (352) 392-9537. Questions or concerns about
your rights as a research participant may be directed to the UFIRB office, University of
Florida, Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611; Ph: (352) 392 – 0433.

By filling out the provided survey, you give me the permission to report your responses
anonymously in the final manuscript to be submitted to my faculty supervisor as part of my
course work.

Sincerely,
Aslihan Karatas

I have read the procedure described above. I voluntarily agree to participate in the research
study and I have received a copy of this description.

Please you use the following link:

I agree, Start Survey

 Questionnaire Form

Supply Chain Management in the Construction Industry

This survey has been designed to find out the views of main contractors on supply chain management. Please take a few
minutes from your busy schedule and participate in the survey. Upon completion, please send an e-mail it to us at:
aslihan1@ufl.edu
1. What was your company’s revenue in the year 2007, in US dollars? (PLEASE CHECK ONLY ONE)
 $1 to $49.9 Million  $300 to $499.9 Million
 $50 to $99.9 Million  $500 Million to $1 Billion
 $100 to $299.9 Million  $1 Billion +

Section A
1. Do you have any partnership agreements with any of your suppliers? (yes / no )
If yes, how long has it been in existence? _

2. Do these partnerships include any contractual agreements? ( yes / no )

3. How do you value partnership with your suppliers? (Please circle your choice)
Unimportant____ Less Important_____ Normal____ Important____ Very important_____

Section B.
1. Do you have any partnership agreements with any of your clients? ( yes / no )
If yes, how long has it been in existence? _________

2. Are these partnerships contractual agreements? ( yes / no )

3. How do you value partnership with your clients? (Please circle your choice)
Unimportant____ Less Important_____ Normal____ Important____ Very important_____

Section C. (please mark your choice)

How important is supply chain management concepts with clients and suppliers to the achievement of your company goals and
objectives?

Unimportant____ Less importance____ Normal____ Important____ Very Important _

Section D. (please circle chosen response)

1. To what extent do you consider that the following functions affect your efficiency of supply chain organization?

Low Extent High Extent

1 2 3 4 5

 Inventory
 Transportation

 Lead Time
 Purchasing
 Production Planning
2. How important are the following factors to your organization when considering developing a supply chain collaboration?
Unimportant Very important
1 2 3 4 5

 Improved customer service

 Overall supply chain reduction

 Increased profitability
 Reducing bureaucracy/ paperwork
 Increased market competitiveness
 Cost reductions within your organisation
 Benefits to the client
 Benefits to your supplier
 Improved quality assurance

3. How important are the following factors when developing a successful supply chain relationship with a supplier?
Unimportant Very important
1 2 3 4 5

 Reliable delivery date

 Accurate order fulfilment
 Level of complaints/ returns
 Delivery at specified time
 Flexibility
 Fast order cycle time
 Handling of complaints
 Added value
 Quality of materials
 Quality of service
 Trust
 Simplifying the whole construction process

4. To what extent do the following factors affect the development of a successful supply chain relationship between your
organization and clients?
Low Extent High Extent
1 2 3 4 5

 Reliability of supply
 Top management support

 Trust
 Mutual interest
 Manpower development
 Closer links between demand/ supply
 Question 4. Continued
 Free flow of information
 Integrated information systems (e.g. EDI)
 More frequent meetings
 Joint business planning
 Simplifying the whole construction process
 Creating standardisation of processes
 Simplifying the bidding process

5. How much do you agree with the following factors when sharing information with your clients or suppliers?
Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree
1 2 3 4 5

 Competitive advantage is sought by sharing information

with our suppliers or customers

 Competitive advantage is sought by production planning

or inventory decisions for your suppliers or clients

 Competitive advantage is sought by performing some of

your suppliers or customers work for them

 Proportion of overall production process subcontracted to outside firms

6. How important are the following factors when you communicate with your clients?
Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree
1 2 3 4 5

 Being consulted in deciding the production schedule

 Being consulted in deciding which new products to develop

7. How much do you agree with the following factors when communicating with your suppliers?
Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree
1 2 3 4 5

 Being consulted in deciding the production schedule

 Being consulted in deciding which new products to develop
8. How is the relationship between your firm and the majority of your (Please circle your choice)
Very Weak Weak Normal Strong Very strong

• Suppliers?
• Clients?

9. To what extent do you believe the following factors are a barrier to supply chain integration for contractors?
Low Extent High Extent
1 2 3 4 5

• Late and incorrect payments

• Bidding process

• Retention
• Unrealistic program times
• Traditional contracts do not engender good working relationships
• Estimators are too demanding on small organizations
• Companies do not understand other business within supply chain
• Some partnering relationships are executed for the wrong reasons

10. Please add any personal comments on the subject of supply chain management within the construction industry and how it

can be improved in the future.

___________

_
http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0024110/karatas_a.pdf
9