Supply chain management for the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) model : a review and bibliometric analysis

Abstract

China's Going Out strategy and the Belt and Road initiative have significantly propelled the expansion of overseas contractual engagements, with a pronounced impact in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) sector. EPC contracting is increasingly recognized for its superior resource allocation and integration efficiency. Within the EPC framework, procurement is pivotal, exerting a direct influence on project cost, schedule, and quality parameters. The biblio-metric analysis of this paper reveals the research trend of EPC projects in the past decade, especially in supply chain integration, procurement management, and stakeholder management. This indicates an increasing interest in efficient project management and supply chain optimization in international engineering EPC projects. Although the application of supply chain integration in the manufacturing industry has been a successful experience, its practical application in construction and EPC projects is still insufficient. Integration strategies mentioned in the literature, such as achieving supply chain transparency through digital platforms, reducing operating costs, and optimizing delivery time, are directions that need to be further explored in this field. Effective supply chain integration and increased maturity of procurement management in EPC projects are still less involved areas. In addition, there is also a lack of research on how to manage high-risk and unpredictable risks in large international engineering projects. This article suggests that future research should focus on developing flexible supply chain management tools and practices to adapt to a project-oriented supply chain environment.