How has COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced the Quality Assurance of Cross-Border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain? A Conceptual Analysis Based on Ishikawa Diagram

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has momentously affected the construction industry. The COVID-19 mitigation measures, in as much as they minimise the pandemic infections, likewise have disrupted the supply of materials, manufacturing, human resource availability, the workers’ close coordination, communications, and work execution. To this end, how the COVID-19 mitigation measures have affected the quality assurance (QA) of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain (Cb-CLSC) is not known clearly. This study addresses this knowledge gap. A conceptual analysis research method is adopted by engaging a desk literature review approach and Ishikawa diagram to identify and map the COVID-19 mitigation measures to their impacts on the QA of Cb-CLSC. The study identified COVID-19 mitigation measures and reaffirmed their negative and positive influences on the QA of Cb-CLSC toward developing an adequate QA system of Cb-CLSC for post-pandemic actions and to survive future pandemics. The COVID-19 mitigation measures include “lockdown”, “social distancing”, “travelling restrictions”, “workplace capacity Limit”, “use of personal protective equipment”, and “quarantine days”. Finally, an Ishikawa diagram-oriented conceptual framework is proposed by mapping the six COVID-19 mitigation measures to their potential impacts (positive and negative) on the QA of Cb-CLSC. The study makes a unique contribution to the body of knowledge by (1) evaluating the COVID-19 mitigation measures to illustrate how they have impacted the QA of Cb-CLSC and (2) proposing a conceptual framework based on the Ishikawa diagram that maps to understand how the COVID-19 mitigations measures have positively and negatively impacted the QA of CB-CLSC. The results of this study can assist practitioners in formulating a collaborative effort to embrace the pandemic for the post-pandemic era and successfully endure the risks of future pandemics.