Enhancing supply chain sustainability and resilience: research and policy alignment in the Australian construction industry

Supply chain sustainability and resilience have become a critical concern for organizations’ supply chains, particularly in the construction industry which is known for its complex supply chain. There have been an increasing number of studies on supply chain management (SCM) with the aim to enhance supply chain sustainability and resilience in this sector. Despite the growing number of research on this topic, concerns have been raised about its alignment with regulatory developments in the construction sector. It remains unclear how research outcomes support or inform legislative documents in this sector. Therefore, this study aims to explore the research and policy alignment on SCM in the Australian construction industry by reviewing the relevant academic and legislative documents. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, focusing on studies published in the last 10 years. The results reveal a high alignment between research and policy in terms of the application of advanced technologies and SC integration and management. However, there were misalignment between research literature and legislative documents in the areas of sustainable SCM and SC process design and optimization. The findings suggest that there is a need for updating current legislations, standards, policies, and codes of practice to reflect the new approaches and evidence derived from research outcomes. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the alignment between research and industry practices and provides useful guidance for policy-making in the Australian construction industry.