Managing Black Swan Event Risks in the Construction Supply Chain: A Literature Review

Disruptive global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed critical vulnerabilities in the construction industry’s reliance on lean principles and Just-In-Time (JIT) methodologies. These disruptions, categorized as Black Swan Events (BSEs), challenged conventional supply chain management (SCM) and risk management (RM) strategies, resulting in delayed projects and increased costs. This paper explores how BSEs affect construction supply chains and evaluates the industry’s evolving response through RM and resilience-building strategies. A Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review of the literature (2000–2024) synthesized evidence across SCM, RM, Lean Construction, JIT, and BSEs, triangulating 86 peer-reviewed studies with authoritative industry reports. The review reveals a lack of integrated research addressing these themes holistically for the construction sector. Key findings show that while JIT and lean approaches optimize efficiency, they fall short during high-impact, low-probability disruptions. Evidence indicates a selective shift toward Just-In-Case (JIC) practices; however, the extent and persistence of this transition vary by project context and merit further study. The study proposes a future research agenda emphasizing interdisciplinary models that integrate lean methods with resilience and anticipatory strategies. These insights aim to support construction firms in developing supply chains that are not only efficient but also adaptable and better prepared for future BSEs.