CME book review


Book Review 
Managing Construction Logistics 

Gary Sullivan; Stephen Barthorpe and Stephen Robbins Publishers : Wiley-Blackwell 
2010, 304 pages, ISBN 978-1-4051-5124-5 (paperback), GBP 49.99, EUR 60.00,  
AUD 99.95, NZD  115.00. 

 
 
 
I suspect that I am not alone when first picking up a new book in starting at the last page and 
quickly flicking to the front cover in the hope of somehow obtaining a subliminal impression of 
the contents. I must say that my first impression of this publication, subliminal or otherwise, was 
not particularly encouraging. This was mainly due to the photographs which appear towards the 
end of the book which, in several instances, are unlikely to be of interest to a general reader, in 
particular group photographs of award winners. However my concerns as to whether the 
intellectual content of the book would be up to the mark were immediately assuaged on the 
reading the introduction by Gary Sullivan which strikes a nice balance between humour and 
insightfulness. Readers can look forward to being entertained as well as being informed. In fact, 
I read some parts of this publication with almost a guilty pleasure worrying as to whether the 
serious and worthy topic of managing construction logistics should be so enjoyable. 
 
The foreword to the book makes a very strong case as to why the management of construction 
logistics is important and laments the fact that to-date this topic has been largely neglected by 
the construction industry. Most authors of management texts make the case that they are filling 
a gap in current knowledge. The proof is, as they say, in the pudding. In this instance the case 
is well made that there are compelling reasons as to why the construction industry should 
recognise the benefits which accrue in adopting a professional approach to logistics. Much as I 
enjoyed the opening chapter which gives a historical perspective it may perhaps have been 
advisable for the authors to present the case for the adoption of logistics as a discipline more 
forcibly in the opening chapter although the case is made, to some extent by Stephen Barthorpe 
in the Preface. However this is a minor quibble on my part and the line of argument for the 
adoption of construction logistics permeates the text. 
 
The text is essentially practical in nature containing a good deal of sensible advice which will be 
of interest to construction industry professionals. The conceptual models in Chapter 2 provide a 
useful framework for the following chapters. Each chapter is extensively referenced, a feature 
which will no doubt appeal to an academic readership. Section 2, which is essentially the 
backbone of the book, contains 9 chapters as follows: 
 

 An introduction to practical logistics 

 Mobilisation and resourcing the team 

 Materials delivery and handling 

 Transport and communications 

 Managing critical risks 

 Security 

 Coordinating infrastructure and services  

 Waste management and good house 
 
Each of these topics is dealt with in a very readable even-handed manner. Although the text 
tends to rely on the use of aphorisms to make a point, I never found this style to be wearing or 
irritating. Indeed, the advice given always appears to be sensible and based on personal 



 

Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building 

McGeorge, D (2010) Book review, Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 10 (4) 73-74  
 

74 

experience. Although each of the chapters can be read on a stand-alone basis, it is clearly a 
case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. 
 
Section 3 contains a chapter on the future of construction logistics followed by a chapter 
containing a number of case studies. I found the concept of Consolidated Centres (CC) as 
described in Chapter 11 to be of particular interest and despite the fact the example cited is 
‘Anglo centric’ (as indeed are all the case studies) I believe that CC will be of interest to an 
international readership. 
 
The conclusion to the book, ‘The argument for change’ is rather tucked away after the case 
studies and because of its brevity may be missed by the less diligent reader. This would be 
regrettable as it is an elegant counterpoint to the introduction and ends on a suitably ringing call 
to arms to the construction professional. 
 
My one criticism and this may very well be a symptomatic of my personal bias, is that there is no 
mention, as far as I can determine, of the role of design in construction logistics. Just as it is 
now advocated that facilities managers should have early involvement in the design process.  
One would have thought that early consideration of construction logistics in the design process 
was also essential. Perhaps this point is so self-evident that it somehow passed under the 
authors’ radar or perhaps this aspect may be taken on board in the next edition? 
 
I can commend this book to both industry professionals, to academics and to students in the 
field of construction management. I would recommend that potential readers not follow my 
example but rather follow the advice of the King in Alice in Wonderland and begin at the 
beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop. 
 
 
Denny McGeorge 
Sydney 
April 2010