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Executive Summary Report
Construction Logistics
Consolidation Centres
In addition they deal with all associated issues, such as overall
co-ordination of distributions, (to avoid clashes) ‘walking’
intended access routes, arranging road closures, lifting plans,
health and safety of site workers and the general public,
(erecting pedestrian barriers, etc.) ensuring that order is created
in the distribution process. Trade contractors are left free to
concentrate on their core tasks, without worrying about the
coordination and supply of goods to site, or the need for their
specialist trade operatives, (who are often working in short time
windows) to be diverted away from production to assist with
material handling.
The Consolidation Centre is reliant upon the information it
receives from trade contractors. A series of simple processes and
systems have therefore been developed to facilitate the
operation of the Consolidation Centre. This includes a
comprehensive programme of KPI’s to measure the performance
of the Centre and its impact on the construction projects that it
serves. Ambitious performance targets have been set and
achieved – measuring, for example ‘right goods, right quantity,
right condition, right place and right time’ –
with the emphasis on continuous improvement.
Economic Benefits
● Net project construction costs can be reduced by 2%.
● Delivery costs can be reduced for material suppliers.
In particular, waiting times for off-loading deliveries can
be reduced by 53 minutes on average (Consolidation
Centre compared to Central London sites). Additionally,
92% of delivery drivers surveyed said that they allowed
an extra 30 to 60 minutes to their travel time to meet their
scheduled delivery slot on City Centre sites. Lastly, the impact
of any congestion charges can be mitigated.
● An improvement in plan reliability on projects by up to
5%, by increasing the certainty of material deliveries to
sites and using the Consolidation Centre as a ‘production buffer’.
● Improved productivity - skilled trades are able to spend more
time at the workface. This will become even more important
as the shortage of skilled trades is forecast to worsen.
● Better planning – by using the consolidation process
more disciplined planning by trade contractors is introduced
● Improved delivery certainty – 99% successful
● Reduced potential for theft of materials
● Collection of unused materials for use elsewhere
These processes and systems could easily be adapted for use on
other construction projects as required.
What are the Principal Findings
of the Research?
A comprehensive report has been completed which details:
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The research process and methodology
What is a Consolidation Centre and how does it work?
Resources required including people, buildings,
vehicles and equipment
Processes and systems
What are the benefits?
Alternative models
Transferability to the wider construction industry
The principal findings of the report demonstrate how using a
Construction Logistics Consolidation Centre can enhance each of
the key tenets of sustainable construction (economic,
environmental and social) and how consolidation methodology
can be adapted for wider use in the construction industry.