A Performance-Based Subcontractor Selection Model
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150, Issue 8
Abstract
General contractors outsource increasingly complex and sophisticated specialized tasks to many subcontractors. In doing so, general contractors typically pick the subcontractor that offers the lowest price for the work to be done, but an informed decision can be made only if the general contractor can assess potential subcontractors’ performance before hiring them. The performance of subcontractor candidates is measured in this study by using key performance indicators (KPIs) identified after an extensive review of previous research. These KPIs, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the evidential reasoning (ER) method are combined to create a performance-based subcontractor selection (PBSS) model. The proposed model is generalizable and can help general contractors to assess the performance of subcontractor candidates relative to the general contractor’s critical objectives including subcontractor performance in relation to price, duration, quality, safety, and environmental impact. The model is scalable in that other objectives can be added or can replace existing ones depending on the characteristics of the project and the preferences of the general contractor. A real-world case study was used to show that this model was easily implemented and that it generated practical results. A general contractor can use PBSS confidently to evaluate the overall performance of each subcontractor candidate before they select one for a specific part of the project.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150 • Issue 8 • August 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 5, 2023
Accepted: Feb 23, 2024
Published online: May 23, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Oct 23, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Case studies
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Contracts and subcontracts
- Decision making
- Employment
- Engineering fundamentals
- Management methods
- Methodology (by type)
- Personnel management
- Practice and Profession
- Pricing
- Project management
- Quality control
- Recruiting and hiring
- Research methods (by type)
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