UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT

UEBA 2213 CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY III

TRIMESTER OCTOBER 2015
TUTORIAL ASSIGNMENT

NAME:

CHANG HUI YI

STUDENT ID:

13UEB03218

INTRODUCTION
For Construction Technology III, this subject is focusing on the studies which regarding the
concept of human comfort and aesthetics to the design, production, maintenance and cost
comparison of habitable buildings. In every building, there is surely having some of the
challenges that will face with the site from the early inception to the final completion of
building. All the issues will be discussed and highlighted in this assignment. The building
process of construction technology can be divided to two parts, which is the design and the
production part.

CHALLENGES
EARLY INCEPTION OF A PROJECT

As a project manager or architects, in overall, all the things needed to give careful
consideration in order to avoid failure in any step of the project. This is because every
decision that made will bring different consequences for the outcome. However,
unfortunately, there are always undesirable challenges that occur in project implementation in
most cases.

1. Technique used and ability in handling various kind of issues

One of the momentous challenges faced by the architects is concerns their skills and
ability to manage and handle problems, which has not been mentioned directly in
previous studies and this is all through experiences. Both skilled and knowledgeable
is very important to an architect as a project manager in order to overcome different
kind of challenges that they would encounter during the design stage or
implementation stage. Lack of sufficient skills or knowledge will lead to poor
communication that weakens the relationship between both project manager and
contractors and between project manager and clients.

Thus, a competent manager has to have the necessary skills to negotiate with clients
and to create binding agreements to avoid additional challenges on construction sites.

In brief, proper selection of a project manager can allow the completion of a project
within deadlines and a high standard of quality. In terms of having the essential skills
to overcome the challenges a project manager may face in working closely with a
range of other professionals, project manager organize, plan, schedule, and control the
work of their subordinates. Moreover, completing the project within the time and cost
constraints are the main responsibilities of the project manager.

2. Handling with variety pressure

For a project manager, their role includes not only planning, organizing, and
supervising the project team and the progress of work on the construction project, but
also overcoming and dealing with demanding time pressures, inherent uncertainties,
and complexity in the structure. The stressful environment of a construction project
may reduce the potential capability of a project manager. The impacts of stress on
construction professionals should be seriously taken into consideration. An
environment that causes stress ultimately causes challenges in the construction
industry project implementation and resource management.

3. Creation of relationship between all the parties

There is another challenge faced by construction team is the creation of relationships.
The relationship between employees and architect is important. If there is any
inadequate communication will obvious brings a result in adverse impacts on the
productivity of the workforce, and it might probably delay the entire working progress.
A construction team that is lack of teamwork and does not work together has no
learning potential. A good relationship allows the team to cooperate and work as a
team to improve the product. Besides, relationships can avoid the dependence on
contracts as effective partnering can avoids unnecessary costs of the contracts.
Furthermore, despite the difficulty of creating such relationships, those relationships
that are based on mutual interdependence are much more rewarding.

4. Lack of proper planning and design leading to changes during the process
The biggest and most serious problem which that is often experienced on construction
project sites is delaying the entire progress of project. This instigates several negative
effects such as increasing of costs, loss of productivity and revenue any lawsuits
between owners and contractors. Design changes, poor labor productivity, and

inappropriate planning. Delay can cause by owners, planners or designers, or even

contractors. Time delays that start in the design phase include inadequate schedule
control by the architects, inability of owners to review design in a timely manner, late
incorporation of emerging technologies into a design, and ineffective coordination or
inclusion of project user groups.

5. Lack of quality in construction works

Within the conventional processes for the procurement of construction contract,
contractors who can do so by submitting low prices, but at the risk of not being able to
produce construction work which fulfills the specification or meets sustainable
standards. Likewise, consultants may be under pressure to reduce the initial cost of
construction and construction supervision so that contractors are not able to produce
the required quality. Lack of quality in construction is manifested in poor or nonsustainable workmanship, and unsafe structures, and in delays, cost overruns and
disputes in construction contracts.

6. Issue of the costs for entire project

The delay scenario could result in added direct and indirect costs. The direct costs
revolve around the additional labor, equipment, and material that were necessary to
complete the job. The indirect costs could be site and home office overhead as well as
wage escalation and additional engineering. In this scenario, the excavation
subcontractor was told to handle the excavation differently than planned. As a result,
planned productivity is not met and additional material and machinery is needed to
complete the work.

FINAL COMPLETION OF BUILDING

The final completion stage of the building is that the facility is turned over to the owner for
full occupancy. This stage is focus more about the operation of the building and building
maintenance. Maintenance of a building is needed for every part of the building. Building
maintenance is very crucial as it is the combination of all technical and associated
administrative actions intended to retain an item in, or restore it to a state in which it can

perform its required function. The challenges that might be faced during building
management can be the management problems, human resource problems or technical issues.

(A) Management Problems

1. Poor Management of Maintenance Team
Maintenance management is an effective tool for achieving a high standard of
maintenance work. One of the challenges would be if there is absence of such
management and leadership of people in the maintenance team, it will lead to time
consuming and most likely failed maintenance works. The top management in
maintenance departments is very much influenced by the organization president.
Therefore, the background, experience and education of the president play an
important role in the management style. It is difficult for the management to be
committed toward any issue without the president's commitment and support.

2. Management Issue of Maintenance Contractor

When there is a problem of keep changing the maintenance contractor, the process
implies two major problems. First, the old contractor having known that a new
contractor will take over. So he tends not perform as he should and leaves much of the
work to the new contractor to save money. Second, at the start of the new contractor
period, the new contractor starts mobilization of his staff and equipment. The new
staffs mostly are unfamiliar with the new facility and procedures. It is estimated that
the new contractor need a few months to get fully acquainted and familiarized with
the new contracts and start with maintenance works effectively. Sometimes the
contractors do not provide excellent team and skilled technicians so they are rejected
and replaced with another contractor, this also cause waste time and effort.

(B) Human Resource Problems

1. Lack of Engineers and Specialist
For every maintenance work, it requires a skillful person who devoted to the
particular branch. However, if there is lack of engineer or specialist to run the
maintenance work, there will be issues occur to the building such as unable to upload
or give added value to the building for better market price or safety of building might
be affected. Availability of maintenance work force is important factor in the process
of maintenance work. Therefore, it is of extreme important to establish a team of

specialist that will always be around when needed. There is bad if there is expansion
in buildings construction and there is no expansion in the number of man power to
taking care of the building.

2. Lack of Awareness from all the parties

It is absolutely necessary for the clients as well as the public to understand the
importance of building maintenance. Facility clients must be aware of the necessity of
maintenance works, thus, they can plan, budget and finance the work of maintenance
in order to keep their facilities in acceptable condition and to avoid future break down
and failures in which will result loss of money and time. Apart from that, they should
also maintain their facilities periodically and not leave their equipment at the stage of
emergency of break down maintenance as this will cost them much more than if they
use planned maintenance.

(C) Technical Issues

1. Lack of Maintenance Software Tool
The important that the maintenance departments need an effective software system
that includes operation, maintenance and modification for the purpose of making
decision in order to minimize the cost or budget needed for maintenance. This system
helps in determining how the clients budget is distributed and used during the total
life period of the system.

2. Shortage of Spare parts

During the maintenance of building is in progress, the absence of suitable spare parts
in the local market will complicate the entire process of maintenance works.
Unavailability of spare parts in the local market causes serious problems to the
function of maintenance as it will delay repair works, increase the cost of parts which
need to be ordered by air which from outside market. Consequently, unavailability of
spear parts in the local market could end the whole process of maintenance and
operation of a facility.

CONCLUSION
After review and understand that the challenges that might be faced with the site from the
early inception to the final completion of the building, we understand that construction
technology involves the evaluation of alternatives and understands particular construction
problems and identifies the possible solution to solve the issues.

Besides that, we comprehend that maintenance of a building is essential and important in

order to maximize the availability of equipment for productive usage. The life-span of a
building able to extend and minimizing their year of deterioration through adequate and
proper building maintenance. Apart from that, the benefit of building maintenance is to
reduce the cost of lost production due to breakdown issues. It can also to ensure health and
safety of building users and occupants as well as uphold or added value to the building for
better market price.