The Roles of Contractors in Implementing Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC) in Construction Projects

In recent decades, the construction industry has been widely criticized for its lack of efficiency and productivity, and it has been shown that the Malaysian construction industry records poor quality on its projects. To overcome this issue, the Technical Committee on Quality Assessment in Construction with the support of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has introduced Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC). QLASSIC is a scoring system that is used to assess and evaluate the performance of construction buildings. It is based on the Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7:2006). Unfortunately, this assessment system had poor implementation since its introduction in November 2006. QLASSIC was not extensively implemented and was taken lightly by the contractors and developers in Malaysia. There are still a huge number of contractors that are not aware of QLASSIC even the big construction companies. Thus, this research is aimed at investigating the contractor’s perspective towards the implementation of QLASSIC in the construction industry in Malaysia. Three objectives are developed to achieve the aim: (1) identification of the needs to implement QLASSIC; (2) investigation of issues and challenges to implement QLASSIC and (3) recommendation of strategies to implement QLASSIC. Structured questionnaire surveys were distributed to the G7 and G6 contractors in the Klang Valley area; which may have or may not have experience in implementing QLASSIC in their projects. The result revealed that majority of the respondents were aware and understand the needs of QLASSIC implementation, but there were still few who were unfamiliar with the QLASSIC. The current level of implementation of QLASSIC in Malaysia is still not satisfactory due to several issues and challenges acting as barriers to its implementation. Therefore, the initiatives from the government are important to promote QLASSIC implementation in the construction industry. By doing this, the contractors would be aware of the implementation of QLASSIC in the construction industry. The significance of this research is that it will assist contractors and other construction players in comprehending the implications and importance of QLASSIC implementation

The Roles of Contractors in Implementing Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC) in Construction Projects

In recent decades, the construction industry has been widely criticized for its lack of efficiency and productivity, and it has been shown that the Malaysian construction industry records poor quality on its projects. To overcome this issue, the Technical Committee on Quality Assessment in Construction with the support of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has introduced Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC). QLASSIC is a scoring system that is used to assess and evaluate the performance of construction buildings. It is based on the Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7:2006). Unfortunately, this assessment system had poor implementation since its introduction in November 2006. QLASSIC was not extensively implemented and was taken lightly by the contractors and developers in Malaysia. There are still a huge number of contractors that are not aware of QLASSIC even the big construction companies. Thus, this research is aimed at investigating the contractor’s perspective towards the implementation of QLASSIC in the construction industry in Malaysia. Three objectives are developed to achieve the aim: (1) identification of the needs to implement QLASSIC; (2) investigation of issues and challenges to implement QLASSIC and (3) recommendation of strategies to implement QLASSIC. Structured questionnaire surveys were distributed to the G7 and G6 contractors in the Klang Valley area; which may have or may not have experience in implementing QLASSIC in their projects. The result revealed that majority of the respondents were aware and understand the needs of QLASSIC implementation, but there were still few who were unfamiliar with the QLASSIC. The current level of implementation of QLASSIC in Malaysia is still not satisfactory due to several issues and challenges acting as barriers to its implementation. Therefore, the initiatives from the government are important to promote QLASSIC implementation in the construction industry. By doing this, the contractors would be aware of the implementation of QLASSIC in the construction industry. The significance of this research is that it will assist contractors and other construction players in comprehending the implications and importance of QLASSIC implementation

Adopting modular construction in the Malaysian construction industry / Muhamad Faiz Musa … [et al.]

Prefabrication and offsite construction promotes sustainability in the construction environment and industry that is essential to protect ecosystems, improves air quality, reduces waste, conserves natural resources and improves water quality. This paper discusses a study on adopting modular construction through Industrialised Building System (IBS) approach in the Malaysian construction industry. The sustainability principles in offsite construction and IBS have always maintained a balance between environment and construction, improve human self-respect and encourage economic development

Adopting industrialisation in the construction environment: meeting the requirements of sustainability / Muhamad Faiz Musa …[et al.]

The construction industry should move from conventional construction method and adopt the industrialisation concept, to increase productivity and deliver quality construction end products. Industrialisation is the combination of a large market to divide into fractions the investment in strategies and innovation, in return, of simplifying the production and, therefore, reducing the costs. The introduction of Degree of Industrialisation by Roger-Bruno Richard is critical to the construction industry. The five degrees of industrialisation are prefabrication, mechanisation, automation, robotics and reproduction. Richard’s Degree of Industrialisation is in line with the Malaysian government’s vision to be a developed nation by 2020, to push forward the use of innovative technologies in most industries including the construction industry. The adoption of industrialisation and innovations in the Malaysian construction industry has the potential to solve the current problems in the construction industry. The problems are the inferior quality of products and processes, a poor site working conditions, low construction productivity, high construction cost, relying on foreign workers and lack of skill labours. The adoption of industrialisation and innovations promote sustainability in the construction environment. The objectives of the study are to investigate whether the adoption of industrialisation in the construction environment promotes sustainability and to identify the current level of industrialisation of the Malaysian construction industry. The methodologies of the study are semi-structure interview and observation. The Malaysian construction industry is ready to embrace industrialisation in construction environment in limited areas and industrialisation promotes sustainability in the construction environment

The Industrialised Building System Modular System (IBSMS) Framework

The enhancement of quality and to promote sustainability in the construction or built environment can be achieved through the adoption of offsite manufacturing (OSM). The adoption OSM through modular construction is already being adopted all over the world but to be considered as new technology and innovation in Malaysia. This paper will discuss the development of a framework for modular construction that embraced the Malaysian IBS approach. The framework is developed from the existing framework, literature review and the findings of the case studies. The established framework hopes to increase the understanding and awareness of modular construction in Malaysia.Keywords: Industrialised Building System (IBS); modular construction; Industrialised Building System Modular System (IBSMS); offsite manufacturing (OSM)ISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Strategic Level Implementation: Development Criteria for IBS Formwork System Readiness Framework (IBS FOSREF) for Malaysian Construction Industry

The Industrialized Building System (IBS) was introduced by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) are classified to precast concrete framing, panel and box systems, steel formwork systems, steel framing systems, prefabricated systems and block work system which is mainly components based systems and products (CIDB, 2007). According to Nawi (2011), the benefit of IBS formwork system implementation will lead to environmental friendly which reduce the harmful impact on the environment by better use of available resources and reuse of molds will affect less of waste materials. Since there is no theory about readiness factors of IBS formwork system in Malaysia, the stakeholders will not realize the significance of IBS formwork system. Most of the challenges factor in implementation of IBS formwork system is the attitude of Malaysian construction stakeholders which are un-readiness in facing of globalization era since it was already stated by IBS Roadmap (2003-2010). Hence, the goals of this research are to analyses the critical factors of driving or hindering the used of IBS formwork system in the Malaysian construction industry. A survey among 157 respondents which are construction personnel was employed for the study. The survey result shows that fifteen (15) identified factors for IBS formwork implementation are further ranked according to the average mean score perceived by construction personnel as follow: (F6: Government Initiative), (F12: Roles of Agencies), (F13: Procurement), (F7: Training), (F14: Incentives), (F15: Manufacturer Availability), (F11: Familiarity of IBS System), (F4: Qualified Technical Team), (F8: Cost … Financial), (F3: IBS Score Index), (F1: Project Trend), (F10: Compliance of Policy), (F5: IBS Scoring Manual), (F9: Promotion) and (F2: Contractor Involvement). Other than that, the development of IBS Formwork System Readiness Framework (IBS FOSREF) incorporated with Strategic Level Implementation Mc Kinsey 7s for Malaysian Construction Industry which are the main outcome for this research could facilitate the Malaysian construction stakeholders to ensure IBS formwork system implementation will be success

Literature mapping: critical factors in industrialized building system plastic formwork application

Industrialized building system (IBS) in Malaysia has been practiced for decades.The development of its formal practice parallels with the improvement of the built environment in the nation.One of the applications is on formwork.IBS plastic formwork has been promoted by Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia as an alternative to replace the conventional formwork system but the involvement from the public and private sectors in applying the IBS plastic formwork is seen reluctant.The aim of this study is to review the gaps that exist especially on awareness and readiness in application of IBS plastic formwork. Very relying on literature, this paper discovered a gap that is considered as critical factors in the successful of IBS plastic formwork application in construction industry.This paper aims to give new bits of knowledge in IBS formwork to upgrade the application of IBS plastic formwork as well as an alternative solution to enhancing the used of IBS in Malaysia

Strategic Level Implementation: Development Criteria for IBS Formwork System Readiness Framework (IBS FOSREF) for Malaysian Construction Industry

The Industrialized Building System (IBS) was introduced by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) are classified to precast concrete framing, panel and box systems, steel formwork systems, steel framing systems, prefabricated systems and block work system which is mainly components based systems and products (CIDB, 2007). According to Nawi (2011), the benefit of IBS formwork system implementation will lead to environmental friendly which reduce the harmful impact on the environment by better use of available resources and reuse of molds will affect less of waste materials. Since there is no theory about readiness factors of IBS formwork system in Malaysia, the stakeholders will not realize the significance of IBS formwork system. Most of the challenges factor in implementation of IBS formwork system is the attitude of Malaysian construction stakeholders which are un-readiness in facing of globalization era since it was already stated by IBS Roadmap (2003-2010). Hence, the goals of this research are to analyses the critical factors of driving or hindering the used of IBS formwork system in the Malaysian construction industry. A survey among 157 respondents which are construction personnel was employed for the study. The survey result shows that fifteen (15) identified factors for IBS formwork implementation are further ranked according to the average mean score perceived by construction personnel as follow: (F6: Government Initiative), (F12: Roles of Agencies), (F13: Procurement), (F7: Training), (F14: Incentives), (F15: Manufacturer Availability), (F11: Familiarity of IBS System), (F4: Qualified Technical Team), (F8: Cost … Financial), (F3: IBS Score Index), (F1: Project Trend), (F10: Compliance of Policy), (F5: IBS Scoring Manual), (F9: Promotion) and (F2: Contractor Involvement). Other than that, the development of IBS Formwork System Readiness Framework (IBS FOSREF) incorporated with Strategic Level Implementation Mc Kinsey 7s for Malaysian Construction Industry which are the main outcome for this research could facilitate the Malaysian construction stakeholders to ensure IBS formwork system implementation will be success