Knowledge and hindrances in implementing lean construction by small and medium contractors in Malaysia / Wan Mohd Nurdden Wan Muhammad

Malaysian construction industry is having problem of producing high wastage and low productivity. Lean construction is an approach which is feasible to cope with the situation and it will be more significant to be applied by the majority parties in Malaysian construction industry, small and medium enterprises. Therefore, the aim of this research is to ascertain the lean construction implementation at small and medium scale contractor companies. The first objective of the research is to study the concept of lean construction including its components and how it is applied in construction industry. It was found through literature review that lean construction components comprise of principles, criteria and tools in order to implement it and it is designated to add value and eliminate the non added value in acquiring construction end product. The second objective is to identify level of knowledge on lean construction among professionals in small and medium scale contractor companies while the third objective is to determine factors that hinder the implementation of lean construction faced by professionals in small and medium scale contractor companies. Quantitative method was used to analyse respondents' feedback. Data was analysed using average index and severity index analyses. The result showed that knowledge level on lean construction among professionals in small and medium scale contractor companies is high and issues of lack of training and knowledge improvement. poor communication between parties involve and low understanding on lean construction concept are the most severely factors that hindering professionals in small and medium scale contractor companies from implementing lean construction

Modelling gender perception of quality in interurban bus services

This paper models how women and men perceive the quality of interurban bus services and proposes a new methodology for detecting the highest priority service variables to act on. Service quality perception was modelled using both ordered logit and ordered probit models using data from revealed preference surveys. The methodology for detecting different priority levels uses the graphic representation of the relationships between influence in the model and average evaluation by users. The modification of certain variables increases the knowledge of how woman evaluate quality in bus services to help promote the use of interurban public transport. Statistical analysis of the data provides some conclusions such as: the proportion of users increases as age decreases for both men and women; and women seem to make shorter and more frequent trips than men. The best model for this data set was ordered logit. As expected, the most relevant variable is the relationship between quality and price. Other important variables are the condition of the bus and the frequency of service

Development of "Game of Contract" for Interactive edutainment / Sylvia Gala Mong ... [et.al.]

Parties in the construction industry legal relationship are officiated through construction contracts comprising principles and elements of contracting parties' obligations and management process. The contract is rather legaloriented, which is sometimes tricky to understand. Most of the students are struggling with the Professional Practice subject. Based on the preliminary survey, students encountered issues in understanding the conditions of the contract, and its standard clauses (81 clauses) are getting more complex and challenging. It leads to the dry subject syndrome. Games of Contract (GoC) is developed in gaining students' interest in understanding construction contracts in a leisure-learning environment through gamification. GoC is a board game that provides a platform to offer the students an overview of the construction contract. GoC provides the information on the process of post-contract stages, from the site possession until the preparation of the final certificate. The board game is administered by answering questions related to the clauses in the contract

Challenges in implementing green urban space: from the lens of private developers / Muhammad Ikhwan Izzudin Weini ... [et al.]

Urbanization should involve physical development such as the building itself and urban green space, a public space filled with plants. However, creating urban green space is not a priority by private developers which consider financial aspect and high-return developments that provide them with greater benefits. As a result, most modern urban development lacks urban green space, which impacts the character of urbanites' lifestyles. As a result, the goal of this study is to encourage private developers in Kuching to create urban green space. This research adopted a survey using questionnaires focusing on Kuching city. The result highlights the challenges of establishing urban green space from the perspective of private developers in Kuching. This outcome will add to the knowledge where the perception of private developers is being discussed. Future research should continue to explore ways of enhancing positive attitudes among private developers to enhance their engagement in urban green space

How do people choose their commuting mode? An evolutionary approach to travel choices

A considerable amount of studies in the transport literature is aimed at understanding the behavioural processes underlying travel choices, like mode and destination choices. In the present work, we propose the use of evolutionary game theory as a framework to study commuter mode choice. Evolutionary game models work under the assumptions that agents are boundedly rational and imitate others’ behaviour. We examine the possible dynamics that can emerge in a homogeneous urban population where commuters can choose between two modes, private car or public transport. We obtain a different number of equilibria depending on the values of the parameters of the model. We carry out comparative-static exercises and examine possible policy measures that can be implemented in order to modify the agents’ payoff, and consequently the equilibria of the system, leading society towards more sustainable transportation patterns

The Significance of Coordination for Industrialised Building System (IBS) Precast Concrete in Construction Industry

IBS precast concrete is construction system which is meant to improve the conventional construction process. However IBS precast concrete projects are suffering from serious problems such as cost overrun, delays and less quality of the end product. The absence of coordination is perceived as the reason for this issue. The purpose of this paper is to review the significance of coordination for IBS precast concrete in the construction industry. It if found that the fragmentation which occurs in the construction industry requires continuity of coordination due to the construction activities are intertwined in nature. Coordination is designated to assist stakeholders in completing and complementing each other with the paramount focus of achieving the objective. Proper coordination is required in delivering the desired construction product at the ideal time, cost and quality. As for the findings, the significance of coordination for IBS precast concrete can be seen through the precast concrete construction phases which consist of planning; design; manufacturing; transportation and installation/construction. These phases are meant to complement construction process with the purpose to reduce issues of fragmentation and enhance IBS precast concrete project delivery

The Significance of Coordination for Industrialised Building System (IBS) Precast Concrete in Construction Industry

IBS precast concrete is construction system which is meant to improve the conventional construction process. However IBS precast concrete projects are suffering from serious problems such as cost overrun, delays and less quality of the end product. The absence of coordination is perceived as the reason for this issue. The purpose of this paper is to review the significance of coordination for IBS precast concrete in the construction industry. It if found that the fragmentation which occurs in the construction industry requires continuity of coordination due to the construction activities are intertwined in nature. Coordination is designated to assist stakeholders in completing and complementing each other with the paramount focus of achieving the objective. Proper coordination is required in delivering the desired construction product at the ideal time, cost and quality. As for the findings, the significance of coordination for IBS precast concrete can be seen through the precast concrete construction phases which consist of planning; design; manufacturing; transportation and installation/construction. These phases are meant to complement construction process with the purpose to reduce issues of fragmentation and enhance IBS precast concrete project delivery