https://doi.org/10.24928/2017/0124

Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Sub-Standard Materials: The Case of Steel in Norway

Nina Eklo Kjesbu¹, Atle Engebø², Ola Lædre³ & Jardar Lohne⁴

¹MSc Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. [email protected] +4799582750
²Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. [email protected]
³Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. [email protected]
⁴Research Scientist, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. [email protected]

Abstract

The international construction industry is subject to several types of crime. Among the least researched is the exposure to counterfeited, fraudulent and substandard (CFS) materials. The study presented in this paper examines the presence of these materials in the Norwegian construction industry and the characteristics of the construction industry that that render it vulnerable. A survey was sent out to different stakeholders within the industry, collecting experiences and knowledge about these types of materials. More than half of the respondents (9 of 17) stated that they pose a threat to the industry to a high or very high degree. To investigate the presence of these steel products, 3 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with key actors. The data shows the occurrence of these materials in the industry. The interviewees all believed that CFS steel products exist in the Norwegian construction industry, and examples were given of the occurrence of it. The interviewees believed that the industry is vulnerable to this threat because it is easily accessible for temporary and dishonest actors, and it has a high degree of trust combined with a certain lack of controls. Further work can result in recommendations for possible countermeasures.

Keywords

materials, steel, construction industry safety, quality assurance, supply chain management

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Reference

Kjesbu, N. E. , Engebø, A. , Lædre, O. & Lohne, J. 2017. Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Sub-Standard Materials: The Case of Steel in Norway, 25th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 805-812. doi.org/10.24928/2017/0124

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