A CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY MAGAZINE
OCT
2014
we shape a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly built environment
Higher Buildability
Standards to
Further Drive
Productivity
New measures for building projects p02
04
Make Better Use
of Productive
Technologies
05
Driving Innovation
in Productivity
06
Upgrade your
Workforce to Higher
Skilled Workers
CONTENTS
CEO’s Message
01
Higher Buildability Standards to Further
Drive Productivity
02
Editorial Advisor
Jeanna Das
Editor
Leong Ee Leng
Sub-EditorS
Kong Yuqi, Megan Chow Aiyan
Make Better Use of Productive Technologies
04
Driving Innovation in Productivity
05
Upgrade your Workforce to Higher
Skilled Workers
06
CPA – Advocates Gold Award Winner:
Straits Construction Singapore Pte Ltd
08
Overseas Skills Testing in Myanmar
10
Insights into Innovative Methods
of Construction
11
Interview with Crown Systems – BIM
Consultancy Service Provider
12
Introducing Theory of Constraints to
Construction Projects
14
The BIM Route
15
Calendar of Events
16
Associate EditorS
Kathy Ng, Yeong Sok Ming
Contributors for this issue
Chin Kim Hong, Justin Lim Shen Ming,
Dr Eric Ong, Goh Ah Guan, Lyon Tan Kai Feng,
Simon Lum, Kelvin Oh Pak Sheng,
Angela Lee Foo Yong
Build Smart is published
bi-monthly by
Building and Construction Authority
5 Maxwell Road, #16-00 Tower Block
MND Complex Singapore 069110
Tel: 1800-342 5222 Fax: 6325 4800
Website: www.bca.gov.sg
If you would like to share best practices and
the latest technologies that could improve
construction productivity, we would love to
hear from you. Please email us at
bca_enquiry@bca.gov.sg.
Written permission must be obtained from
BCA to reproduce any part of Build Smart.
Printed on FSC-certified paper.
BCA supports
the “Way to Go,
Singapore!” initiative
CEO’S message
01
buildsmart
OCT 2014
CEO’S message
Dear readers,
As part of our continuous drive towards higher
productivity, BCA actively seeks ways to help our
stakeholders, builders and developers benefit from
more productive ways of construction.
Economic growth cannot be sustained without
improvements in productivity. To help raise the bar
for productivity, the use of Prefabricated Bathroom
Units (PBUs) will be made mandatory for residential
Government Land Sale (GLS) projects by end 2014.
PBUs, which are manufactured and pre-assembled in
a factory before being delivered to a site, yield greater
manpower and time savings compared to the labourintensive construction of conventional bathrooms.
To further improve construction productivity on site,
BCA will be raising the buildability standards for
building projects from 1 November this year. We hope
these higher standards will encourage firms to support
and implement more initiatives to improve
the buildability of their projects.
In this issue of Build Smart, we feature an interview
with Straits Construction Singapore, one of the
winners of this year’s Construction Productivity Awards.
Learn about the challenges they faced when adopting
alternative technology and processes, how they overcame
them and brought forth productivity initiatives with
help from BCA’s Construction Productivity and
Capability Fund (CPCF).
An experienced and higher quality workforce is
critical to improve construction productivity, so it is
imperative for firms to invest in upgrading and
training their workers.
To retain skilled and experienced workers, employers
can upgrade them to become “higher skilled” workers,
through the CoreTrade or Multi-skilling scheme by BCA.
The Ministry of Manpower launched the Market-based
skills recognition Framework (MBF) from 1 August 2014.
Under MBF, workers with a fixed monthly salary of $1,600
qualify as a higher skilled worker. More details on MBF
can be found in this issue.
To steer the sector towards higher productivity, this
year’s Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW)
will focus on more productive, innovative and advanced
building solutions that allow businesses to reduce their
reliance on foreign labour and build faster with higher
quality. The event will be held from 13 October 2014.
I hope it will be an opportunity for all of us to learn
from one another and work towards transforming the
built environment sector into one that is integrated,
technologically-advanced and productive.
Dr John Keung
Chief Executive Officer
buildsmart
OCT 2014
02
HIGHER BUILDABILITY STANDARDS TO
FURTHER DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY
New measures for building projects
In September 2013, BCA raised the legislated minimum
Buildable Design Score (B-score) and Constructability
Score (C-score) requirements by 3 points each. Also, a
higher minimum B-score (additional 5 points) and C-score
(additional 3 points) were stipulated for all new public
sector projects and private developments on land sold
under the Government Land Sales programme.
In addition, a number of Government Procurement Entities
(GPEs) like HDB, JTC, MOH and MOE were required to take
the lead to achieve even higher B-scores and C-scores.
To accelerate productivity improvements in the built
environment sector, BCA will introduce three new measures
for building projects from 1 November 2014:
A.
New B-scores and C-scores Requirements
The legislated minimum B-scores and C-scores will be
raised by another 2 points across the board for all types
of development.
For private projects outside the Government Land Sales
programme, their minimum scores have to match the
same higher B-score and C-score standards as those under
the land sales programme and public sector projects. The
minimum B-score and C-score for these projects will be
raised over the 2013 requirements by a total of 7 points and
5 points respectively.
B.Standardisation
To achieve a higher level of systemisation, designers must
adopt these practices:
(i)
standardised floor heights and building components, e.g. precast staircases, precast refuse chutes and doors for certain types of new projects; and
(ii)
use of drywall as internal partitions for dry areas in
all residential non-landed projects.
This will help downstream construction achieve better site
productivity and quality standards.
C.
Government Land Sales Conditions to Include
Use of Productive Technologies
Developers play a key role in driving productivity
improvement. Downstream construction will benefit
if building designs include high impact productive
technologies. Thus, developers of non-landed residential
projects on Government Land Sales sites will have to
use Pre-fabricated Bathroom Units (PBUs). In addition,
developers have to adopt a minimum percentage of
prefabrication level for projects on Industrial
Government Land Sale sites. The above requirements
will affect sites sold on and after 1 November 2014.
03
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OCT 2014
buildsmart
OCT 2014
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
04
Make better use
of productive
technologies
Enjoy higher productivity
and cost savings with Prefab
Bathroom Units
In order to get more developers to drive the demand for
productive technologies, the use of Prefabricated Bathroom
Units (PBUs) will be mandatory for non-landed residential
projects under Government Land Sale (GLS) sites by end 2014.
The construction of conventional bathrooms is labour intensive.
Numerous workers are required to carry out more than 13
different trades on-site within a tight, confined space.
For more information on the application, approval and
accreditation process, please contact:
Mr Justin Lim
Tel: 6325 1981
Email: justin_lim@bca.gov.sg
Ms Go Hui Jing
Tel: 6325 5039
Email: go_hui_jing@bca.gov.sg
These trades include water proofing, tiling, plumbing
as well as electrical works and sanitary ware installation.
PBUs, on the other hand, are manufactured and preassembled in a factory before being delivered to the
construction site for installation.
This allows the construction of an entire bathroom to
be streamlined and completed efficiently within the
controlled environment of a factory, maximising both
productivity and quality. The use of PBUs can help
achieve manpower and time savings of about 60 per cent,
depending on the design and materials used.
To ensure that the various PBU systems entering the
market are reliable, PBU suppliers are required to go
through the Building Innovation Panel (BIP), which
comprises BCA as well as other relevant authorities and
agencies. In addition, the production facilities will be
required to be accredited under the PBU Manufacturer
Accreditation Scheme administered by the Singapore
Concrete Institute (SCI) as part of the effort in promoting
greater self-regulation within the industry.
WHAT'S NEW
05
buildsmart
OCT 2014
Driving Innovation in Productivity
Funding schemes available to spur productivity in the built industry
To bring our productivity drive to greater
heights and realise our vision for a futureready built environment for Singapore,
BCA actively seeks new innovative and
productive methods of construction
from overseas to revolutionalise the way
construction works are being carried
out in Singapore. We studied innovative
technologies like Prefabricated Pre-finished
Volumetric Construction (PPVC) and CrossLaminated Timber (CLT), which have been
widely adopted overseas. These innovative
technologies bring about higher productivity,
better quality and fewer disamenities to
the environment and community.
To facilitate speedy regulatory clearance for
such innovative technologies, MND and BCA
have formed the Building Innovation Panel
(BIP) to provide a multi-agency platform for
the expedient evaluation of technologies to
assess if it meets the agencies’ regulatory
requirements for In-Principle Acceptance
(IPA) use in Singapore. Participating agencies
in the BIP include key procurement and
building technical agencies – BCA, HDB, JTC,
LTA, MOM, NEA, PUB, SCDF and URA.
BCA has in place two funding schemes
to support the industry’s bottom-up
innovation, particularly in applied
developmental work:
1.
2.
Productivity Improvement Project (PIP)
supports developmental projects to
build up capability and improve site
processes to achieve higher productivity.
Innovation Grant (iGrant) aims to
help the entire construction value
chain in research and development
(R&D) projects with near term
commercialisation potential.
Both schemes are open to developers,
consultants, builders and subcontractors
registered in Singapore. The schemes
co-fund up to 70 per cent of the qualifying
costs with different cap amounts depending
on the scheme and level of funding.
A minimum 20 per cent productivity
improvement is required for these
development projects.
Building Innovation Panel (BIP)
(BCA, HDB, JTC, LTA, MOM, NEA, PUB, SCDF and URA)
A multi-agency platform for the expedient evaluation
of impactful, productive technologies for
In-Principle Acceptance (IPA) use in Singapore
PIP
iGRANT
Co-fund up to 70%
qualifying costs
Co-fund up to 70%
qualifying costs
Minimum 20%
productivity
improvement
Minimum 20%
productivity
improvement
For more information, please contact:
Building Innovation Panel (BIP)
Ms Yeong Sok Ming
Tel: 6325 5020
Email: yeong_sok_ming@bca.gov.sg
Dr Eric Ong
Tel: 6325 5103
Email: eric_ong@bca.gov.sg
Productivity Improvement Project (PIP) Scheme
Ms Fan Suet Lay
Tel: 6325 5096
Email: bca_pip@bca.gov.sg
Ms Kate Lim Mui Keng
Tel: 6325 5017
Email: bca_pip@bca.gov.sg
Innovation Grant (iGRANT)
Ms Ma Khine Wa
Tel: 6248 9972
Email: ma_khine_wa@bca.gov.sg
Ms Zelia Tay
Tel: 6248 9901
Email: zelia_tay@bca.gov.sg
buildsmart
OCT 2014
06
Upgrade your Workforce to
Higher Skilled Workers
Newly launched Market-based Skills Recognition Framework –
Effective from 1 Aug 2014
Employers can upgrade their skilled and experienced workers to become “higher skilled” workers through BCA's CoreTrade
or Multi-skilling scheme. The Ministry of Manpower launched the Market-based Skills Recognition Framework (MBF) on
1 August 2014. Under MBF, workers with a fixed monthly salary of $1,600 qualify as higher skilled workers.
Fixed monthly salary = Basic monthly salary + Fixed monthly allowance
Basic monthly salary – All remuneration payable monthly to a foreign employee that does not vary from month to
month on any basis, in respect of work done under his contract of service.
Fixed monthly allowances – All allowances payable monthly to a foreign employee that do not vary from month to
month on any basis.
All three pathways (CoreTrade, Multi-skilling Scheme and MBF) will lead to levy
savings and a longer allowable period of employment of up to 22 years for higher
skilled and experienced construction personnel.
For CoreTrade and Multi-skilled workers, Continuing Education & Training (CET)
requirement was introduced in 2013 for the renewal of CoreTrade and Multi-skilling
registration. The CET course covers the latest codes and regulations, good practices,
and demonstration of new methods, materials, tools and equipment relevant to the
specific construction trades and/or areas of responsibility of the registered personnel.
This ensures that they are kept abreast of new developments in the built environment.
An experienced and higher quality workforce is critical. Upgrading the workforce
helps the industry to improve productivity and retain better skilled workers. BCA
helps employers defray the cost of upgrading their workers through Workforce
Training & Upgrading (WTU) scheme under the Construction Productivity and
Capability Fund (CPCF). The WTU scheme co-funds the training and test fees of
construction personnel leading to CoreTrade and multi-skilling registration; BCA has
received over 60,000 funding applications from more than 5,100 companies to date.
Eligible workers for the CoreTrade and Multi-skilling scheme can undergo the training
and skills assessments at BCA Academy or any of the 28 Approved Training and
Testing Centres (ATTCs) in Singapore. Here are two BCA-appointed ATTCs offering
training and testing for various trades:
Jackly Engineering Pte Ltd
Deluge Fire Protection (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd
Jackly ATTC offers two CoreTrade and two Multi-skilling trades:
thermal insulation, ducting installation for air-con and ventilation
(duct work/pipe work). Jackly is also the CET provider for airconditioning ducting installation.
Deluge is a BCA’s Approved Training and Testing Centre (ATTC) for fire
sprinkler installation, under the CoreTrade and Multi-skilling scheme.
Deluge is also the CET provider for fire protection works.
Training is conducted Mondays to Fridays (8.30am–5pm) in English.
Training is conducted Mondays to Fridays (8.30am–5.30pm)
Available in English. Weekend classes can be arranged.
“We are happy Jackly provided such good administrative support
during enrolment and for being flexible in accommodating our
requests regarding the training schedule.” – Ooi Jingkai, Director,
General Thermal Engineering Pte Ltd
“We are very happy with the good service and support. Deluge provides
a comprehensive training programme that helps our workers acquire
the necessary trade skills.” – Hafiz, Engineer, AMES Builders
Contact Information
Contact persons: Mr Roland Ow or Ms Peh Xue Yin
6543 1128 (Phone); 9188 8582 (Mobile); 6542 2238 (Fax)
Email: attc@jackly.com.sg
Address: No 12 Loyang Drive S(508966) Website: www.jackly.com.sg
Contact Information
Contact Person: Kris Tan
6515 4751 (Phone); 8338 1642 (Mobile)
Email: training@deluge.com.sg
Address: 22 Chin Bee Drive S(619870) Website: www.deluge.com.sg
07
。
。
Jackly Engineering Pte Ltd
Deluge Fire Protection (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd
buildsmart
OCT 2014
buildsmart
OCT 2014
01.
News and events
08
CPA – Advocate Gold Award Winner
Mr Kenneth Loo, Executive Director and General Manager of
Straits Construction Singapore Pte Ltd, explains some of the company's
productivity initiatives
Q1.
What initiatives have Straits
Construction implemented to
encourage the adoption of technology
and improve productivity?
Q3.
We reduced our reliance on manual labour for site
works. With the automatic wheel washer, we no
longer have to deploy a worker at the site’s exit to
wash the wheels of the vehicles, thus, improving
productivity by 100 per cent.
We embarked on several initiatives with some help
from BCA. We utilised the Construction Productivity
and Capability Fund (CPCF) for technology adoption
via the Mechanisation Credit (Mech C) Scheme,
Productivity Improvement Projects (PIP) and Building
Information Modelling (BIM) fund. Initiatives and
technology adoption undertaken by the company
include: automatic wheel washer, concrete placing
boom, telescopic handler, and more.
Q2.
Some initiatives have also resulted in a safer work
environment, which boosts workers’ morale and
productivity. For example, the Mast Climbing Work
Platform is not only easy to install and dismantle, it is
safer and more stable with a wider coverage area than
conventional scaffold systems.
What inspired your company to do so?
And after the introduction of CPCF, we reduced
the cost impact for the initial implementation of
productivity initiatives. We utilised several funds
within the Technology PIP and BIM, which improves
the productivity on site for daily work processes.
We aspire to remain competitive and relevant in an
ever-changing environment. And we want to be in the
forefront by adopting new technologies.
02.
How have the new initiatives helped to
improve productivity?
Q4.
How has the use of BIM enabled the
company to enhance buildability and
cost-efficiency?
BIM allowed for project model creation at an early
stage, thereby enabling effective coordination activities
to be carried out virtually. Requests For Information
(RFIs) can be raised to design consultants early in
the project cycle for rectification or re-design before
construction works begin.
03.
Performing coordination works virtually on a project
model improves efficiencies, so construction can
proceed with higher predictability according to project
schedule and cost. Project members overseeing works
on site can then focus on completing construction
works and not worry about coordinating activities.
The aim is to surface potential issues upfront in
the construction cycle so that proactive rectification
actions can be carried out before commencement
of work. Meeting this objective would indirectly
create a more predictable project schedule, which
therefore reduces costs and risks to the overall
project execution.
01 Casa Clementi 02 Perimeter Safety Screen 03 Biometric
Attendence Management System 04 BIM Structural Model
News and events
09
Q8.
buildsmart
OCT 2014
What are some programmes you have
implemented to improve productivity?
We believe that individuals with the right skill sets
will be more productive. So, aside from external
training courses, we are setting up a training facility
to provide an environment that encourages learning.
We have implemented in-house training that require
participants to be assessed prior to and after the
courses, to allow for higher transfer of learning.
Q9.
Q5.
Were there any challenges at first?
It was a challenge to get consultants to provide
BIM-Models. The learning process was also marred
by a lack of BIM-skilled resources – resulting in
unstructured BIM-Model development and
inconsistent information. As we got more competent
with BIM-software, we encountered limitations in
the tools. Our project teams have to incorporate
BIM technology and methodology, so that we can
streamline processes by removing inefficient activities.
Q6.
We are honoured. This award inspires us to continue
working diligently towards substantial gains in site
productivity and quality, which ultimately leads to the
timely delivery of projects.
The Construction Productivity Awards (CPA) 2015 is open
for nomination from 20 Oct 2014 to 31 Dec 2014.
For more information on the CPA and nominations,
please visit www.bca.gov.sg/Awards/CPA/cpa.html.
04.
How did you overcome the challenges?
We developed our team to recreate these information
models and used them to carry out our coordination
activities. We eventually created our own training
roadmap to groom our modellers to create effective
BIM-Models to support different uses. We had to go
back to the BIM vendor for technical support – a long
haul task that requires confidence, patience and
qualified assessment to realise benefits for the project.
Q7.
What does being one of the awardees of
this year's BCA Awards mean to you?
What assistance did you get to
implement other productivity initiatives?
Besides CPCF, we obtained help through BCA's
Investment Allowance Scheme (IAS). The initiatives
and technology adoption supported through this
scheme include rotary distributors, aluminium
formwork, mast climbing work platforms, concrete
pumps and crawler cranes.
We aspire to remain competitive
and relevant in an ever-changing
environment. And we want to be
in the forefront by adopting
new technologies.
buildsmart
OCT 2014
TRAINING & ASSESSMENT
10
Overseas Skills Testing in Myanmar
Ensuring new foreign workers are trained in the correct trades
Since 2007, BCA has appointed three Overseas Testing Centres in Myanmar that offer a wide range of trade tests at Skills
Evaluation Certificate (Knowledge) (SEC(K)) level. These centres allow Burmese workers to undergo training and assessment in the
relevant construction trades in their country. Those who pass the written and practical components of the test will be awarded the
SEC(K) certificate and be allowed to work in Singapore's built environment sector.
BCA-appointed Overseas Test Centres in Myanmar
Overseas Test Centre
Trades Available
Contact Details of Singapore Office
Teambuild
Steel Reinforcement Work, Timber
Formwork, Plastering, Tiling, Doors and
Windows Installation (Timber), Plumbing
and Pipefitting.
Address: 32 Sungei Kadut Way,
#02-01, Singapore 728787
Tel: 6586 7073
Email: yvonne@teambuild.com.sg
Structural Steel Fitting, Pipe Fitting, Welding
Address: 510 Thomson Road
#08-00, SLF Building Singapore 298135
Tel: 6347 2113
Email: otc@tiongseng.com.sg
Steel Reinforcement Work, Timber
Formwork, Plastering, Tiling, Electrical
Wiring Installation
Address: 294 Lavender Street,
Singapore 338807
Tel: 6255 7355
Email: otc@khianheng.com.sg
Kabar-Tiong Seng
Khian Heng
01.
Among the Burmese workers are a group of Burmese-Chinese who
originate from the Shan state of northern Myanmar. These BurmeseChinese workers received education at the local Chinese schools and
are conversant in Chinese. Most of them have high school education.
However, their qualifications are not recognised by the local
government and it is a challenge for them to find jobs in the major
cities or to further their education.
Some of these Burmese-Chinese workers have enrolled at Khian Heng
Myanmar Test Centre, where they received training in timber formwork.
The first batch of these certified workers have arrived in Singapore in
September 2013. In 2014, the test centre has also offered tiling in line
with their trade diversification efforts.
Employers' Feedback
02.
"The new workers adapted well to our site conditions
in a short period of time. Credit goes to the training
they received, which enabled them to quickly fit into
our workforce. These workers are not only diligent
but also demonstrate a positive learning attitude."
– Mr. Kelvin Ng, Project Director, CAG Construction &
Trading Pte Ltd
"These workers can adapt to our work culture easily
and they understand the instructions given to them.
As our existing workers are mostly from China,
having Burmese-Chinese workers in the company
makes communication much easier.”
– Ms. Irene Tan, Human Resource Manager,
Sunray Woodcraft Construction Pte Ltd
01. Burmese-Chinese workers attending classroom training
at Khian Heng Myanmar Test Centre. 02. Burmese worker
undergoing a practical test on timber formwork at Khian Heng
Myanmar Test Centre.
Visit our website to find out more about BCA overseas testing
www.bca.gov.sg/otc/otc_main.html.
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION / CASE STUDY
11
Insights into
Innovative
Methods of
Construction
Creating cement silos with a
more effective method
In every project, builders are constantly under tremendous pressure
to reduce construction timeframe and costs whilst maintaining high
standards of safety, quality and environmental protection. When
Singapore Piling & Civil Engineering Pte Ltd was working on a 25,000 ton
cement silo, they adopted several innovative methods of construction.
A
C
buildsmart
OCT 2014
A. Cylindrical silo wall – constructed using the
slipform technique, which involves a continuous
operation of concrete pouring and mechanised
movement of the formwork system. This method
eliminated the need to dismantle, move and re-erect
formwork to the next area of operation. Man-hours
were reduced – leading to safer working conditions.
Compared to the jumpform system, this method led
to time savings of one month.
B. Internal cone structure – constructed using precast
reinforced concrete panels and supported by specially
designed tie-backs to eliminate the need for falsework
support, which is conventionally erected from ground
level to a height of 30m and later dismantled. This
would have required three more months for the
internal cone structure to be constructed.
C. Intermediate slab within the internal cone –
the structure was constructed using a “hanging
platform”, which eliminated the need for a 20-metre
high scaffold falsework support.
D. Erection of the bucket elevator – Joint connections
of the bucket elevator steel structure were redesigned
to aid prefabrication of modular units and quick
assembly. The bolting to secure the steel modules was
done without time-consuming scaffolding. Instead,
mast climbing platforms were used, which provided
quick and easy access. Conventional scaffolding
would have required another month.
D
B
While they are not new, the adaptation and application of these systems
yielded labour and cost efficiencies. Overall, these methods resulted in time
savings of five months. In addition, BCA's Productivity Improvement Project
(PIP) Scheme also provided incentive support.
buildsmart
OCT 2014
TECHNOLOGY Q&A
12
Interview with
Crown Systems
Q2.
We ensure that our client is able to obtain critical,
timely information to make sound decisions
throughout the building lifecycle from design to
construction to maintenance. We take different
BIM-enabled professionals in the project team
through a five-stage process: Initiate, Plan, Execute,
Control and Maintain. These professionals are
then able to leverage the various BIM solutions
and workflow to collaborate together to achieve
our client’s objectives.
Find out how a BIM consultancy
service provider can help your
company build up BIM capabilities
Q1.
What kind of BIM consultancy services
does your company provide?
We provide BIM consultancy, management and
implementation services to clients who are new
to BIM. Aside from the setup of internal BIM
team(s), we can support BIM processes at project
level, BIM adoption at organisation level, and more.
We also provide full BIM services to enable clients
to address resource crunches and meet critical
project timelines.
Currently, we are working with several
developers, main contractors and their subcontractors to move towards developing a
comprehensive BIM productivity roadmap.
What are the key benefits of
your services?
Q3.
How do you ensure the quality of
your services and the competency
of your staff ?
Each consultant, trainer, engineer or modeller goes
through structured and cross-disciplinary training
before they go on actual project assignments. They
are consistently supported by more senior members
of the team throughout their assignment. They will
then consolidate the experience gained after the
project to build up our knowledge base. This handson experience and knowledge can then be passed on
to our clients and their project teams.
CROWN SYSTEMS: CAD TO 6D BIM PRODUCTIVITY ROADMAP
VIRTUAL DESIGN CONSTRUCTION
13
The project team implemented
BIM for Alexandra Central
to meet project requirements
and deadlines. Crown
demonstrated a high level of
competence and understanding
of our requirements, giving us
tremendous confidence in
the team.
buildsmart
OCT 2014
01.
– Mr Ivan Lim, GM (Operations), CEL
Development Pte Ltd
02.
01 Artist's impression of Alexandra Central Project 02 Revit Model of Alexandra
Project 03 Rendered Revit Model of Alexandra Project
Q4.
Could you share how a client benefited from
your BIM consultancy services ?
We were engaged by CEL Development Pte Ltd to provide BIM
enablement for the Alexandra Central, a mixed development
project comprising a three-storey retail podium and a 13-storey
4-star hotel tower.
To facilitate coordination between CEL Development and the
builder Keong Hong Construction, Crown Systems provided a
structured implementation workflow that involves training the
BIM team through project handholding and software training, in
parallel with providing BIM modelling services, inclusive of RFIs
and detecting clashes in the project model.
03.
“The project team implemented BIM for Alexandra
Central to meet project requirements and deadlines.
Crown demonstrated a high level of competence
and understanding of our requirements, giving us
tremendous confidence in the team. ”
– Mr Ivan Lim, GM (Operations), CEL Development Pte Ltd
Q5.
How do you deal with clients with
unrealistic expectations ?
We work closely with our clients to understand their internal
implementation capabilities and challenges. We then formulate
a plan to guide them through the implementation. All progresses
will be monitored closely and all models checked carefully to
ensure quality implementation. From the implementations, we
challenge our clients to move to the next level in BIM.
buildsmart
OCT 2014
FEATURE
14
Introducing Theory of Constraints
to Construction Projects
Project management tools to boost productivity
Key project personnel during the Brainstorming and Network Development Meeting for St. Thomas Condominium Project
Construction firms looking to improve productivity
and efficiency can now choose from a slew of project
management tools.
TOC prescribes the allocation of buffers to critical
tasks, thereby enabling timely project completion and
expenditure within projected costs.
Kimly Construction Pte Ltd utilises the management
tool, Theory of Constraints (TOC) to improve work
processes. Planning began in November 2012 and by
July 2013, the company implemented TOC for its project
at St. Thomas Walk. This was also selected as the pilot
project to spearhead the use of TOC in Singapore’s
construction projects.
Use TOC to...
What is TOC?
Created by Dr Eliyahu Goldratt in 1984, TOC is a
management paradigm used wherever organisational
performance is limited by constraints that restrict
maximal performance and goal-profit improvement.
How TOC can help
Any system or process will always have at least one
constraint that limits performance i.e. the ‘weakest link’
or at least one constraint that limits performance.
Because the constraint determines the speed of the
system's output, it is also known as the ‘rate-determining
step’, where the constraint determines the speed of the
system’s output.
By rearranging resources and task inter- dependencies,
TOC users can understand the constrained ‘critical chain’
that contributes to key bottlenecks in projects.
•
Reveal the state of the project's health at any given
time along the course of construction.
•
Enable early rectification e.g. reallocation of resources
along the critical chain to mitigate potential delays.
•
Allow simulations of the project and assessments of
the probable impact on projects e.g. client-initiated
changes, contractor's construction sequence changes
and resource re-allocation – all with minimal impact
on the construction schedule.
The TOC project management tool has allowed Kimly
to schedule construction works on a platform that
provides unprecedented clarity and allows for quick
deployment of mitigation measures to alleviate potential
delays. This has resulted in an estimated 20 per cent
increase in productivity. Kimly enjoys the benefits of
TOC in its ongoing condominium project at Amber Skye,
Commonwealth Towers so much that it has made plans to
apply TOC for all future projects.
15
buildsmart
OCT 2014
the BIM Route
Can apprenticeships fast track careers in BIM?
By adopting game-changing
technologies like Building
Information Modelling (BIM), the
industry firms can raise productivity
and transform itself by doing things
differently. More firms are investing
in manpower development and
capability building in BIM.
To meet this demand, there are
multiple educational pathways
to building BIM capability. Many
institutes of higher learning in
Singapore have incorporated BIM
technology into their programmes
and courses.
For those keen on embarking on
a career in BIM, apprenticeship is
another option. Apprenticeship
focuses on applied learning by
integrating classroom learning with
real-life applications on-the-job.
This encourages students to apply
what they have learnt to solve
practical problems. The structured
programme includes project-based
BIM training, hands-on learning,
career coaching and networking
with engineering professionals.
AcePLP is a Singapore-based
engineering design services
provider that offers Engineering
Apprenticeship Programme to
groom local professionals on
BIM capabilities.
Two engineers who have gone
through such a programme share
how it has benefitted them in both
their learning experience and their
career path in BIM.
I was given a head
start in the AEC industry
by learning BIM through
various informationsharing platforms like
skills enhancement
classes, sharing sessions
with senior engineers to
learn about their on-site
experience, as well as
consultation sessions by
trainers to understand the
challenges we may face
on site.
After completing
my Apprenticeship
Programme, I have
progressed in the career
ladder. I started as a
trainee BIM/CAD Engineer
or Draftsman and am
now a Project Engineer.
– Tiffany Choo Ni Ying (centre),
Senior CAD/BIM Engineer, O' Connor's
Singapore Pte Ltd
– Mohd Mustakim Bin Senin,
Project Engineer, DLM Pte Ltd
buildsmart
OCT 2014
HAPPENINGS
16
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date/Time
Event Name
Venue / Organiser
13 Oct 2014
13:30–17:30
Build Smart Conference 2014 Workshop on Game-Changing
Construction Technologies
Marina Bay Sands
Convention Centre /
BCA Academy
14–15 Oct 14
09:00–17:30
2-Day Build Smart Conference 2014
Max Atria @ Singapore
Expo / BCA Academy
20 Oct 2014
09:00–12:30
Half-day course on Best Practices for
Green and Gracious Builder (9th Run)
BCA Academy &
Green & Gracious
Builders Star Award
winner’s site /
BCA Academy
21 Oct 2014
10:00–13:00
Architectural BIM
e-Submission Briefing
18 Nov 2014
14:30–17:30
21 Oct 2014
15:00–18:00
C&S BIM e-Submission briefing
18 Nov 2014
10:00–12:30
24 Oct 2014
14:30–17:30
MEP BIM e-Submission Briefing
28 Nov 2014
14:30–17:30
30 Oct 2014
09:00–12:30
Half-Day BCA-REDAS Quality and
Productivity Seminar 2014
4 & 5 Nov 14
09:00–17:30
Sustainable Acoustics (8th Run)
5 & 6 Nov 2014
09:00–17:30
Universal Design (UD)
Conference 2014
6, 7, 10, 11 & 21
Nov 14
09:00–17:30
Certification Course for Green Mark
Manager (56th Run)
10 & 11 Nov 14
09:00–17:30
Workshop on Material Recycling for
Sustainable Construction (8th Run)
10 & 11 Nov 2014
09:00–17:30
2-Day BIM Planning Course (Building
Developers and Facility Managers)
(13th Run)
11, 13, 18 & 20
Nov 2014
18:30–21:30
Certification Course for Site
Investigation Supervisors (12th Run)
IT Lab 3, Block B, Level
2, BCA Academy, 200
Braddell Rd, Singapore
579700 / BCA CCIT
IT Lab 3, Block B, Level
2, BCA Academy, 200
Braddell Rd, Singapore
579700 / BCA CCIT
IT Lab 3, Block B, Level
2, BCA Academy, 200
Braddell Rd, Singapore
579700 / BCA CCIT
Contact Person & Details
Marketing & Business
Development Unit
Tel: 6730 4503 / 6248 9824
Email: bca_academy@bca.gov.sg
Name: Mary Ann Samaniego
Tel: 6730 4539
Email: mary_ann_samaniego@bca.gov.sg
Name: Sonny Andalis
Tel: 6730 4438
Email: sonny_andalis@bca.gov.sg
Name: Mr Liu Ziwen
Tel: 6730 4527
Email: liu_ziwen@bca.gov.sg
BCA Academy,
200 Braddell Road,
Blk B, Level 2,
IT Lab 3 /
BCA Academy
Suntec Singapore
Convention &
Exhibition Centre /
BCA Academy
Marketing & Business
Development Unit
Tel: 6730 4503 / 6248 9824
Email: bca_academy@bca.gov.sg
BCA Academy
200 Braddell Road
Singapore 579700 /
BCA Academy
17
buildsmart
OCT 2014
BACHELOR OF CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT (Building)
Degree awarded by The University of Newcastle, Australia
(Ranked Australia’s No. 1 university in the 2014 QS ‘Top 50 under 50’ rankings)
Recognised professional
qualification for BCA
Contractors Registration
System (CRS)
Recognised as academic
qualification by PSPC in
quantity surveying
Relevant Diploma graduates
will enjoy advanced
standings of up to 1.5 years
Scholarship/Sponsorship
is available
Direct Honours
degree programme
Project based assessment
Gain first advantage through the Bachelor of Construction
Management (Building), a degree programme jointly
delivered by BCA Academy and The University of
Newcastle of Australia. The programme offers you a niche
specialisation in Building Information Modelling (BIM)
for construction management. BIM is the new frontier
for managing construction projects for higher quality,
improved productivity and timely completion.
For registration/details, please visit: www.bcaa.edu.sg/BCM.aspx
• Ms Nurhadhinah Osman, Tel: 6730 4503 • Email: nurhadhinah_osman@bca.gov.sg
• Mr Paul Juwono, Tel: 6248 9916 • Email: paul_juwono@bca.gov.sg
• Ms Zhuo Xiuyun, Tel: 6248 9881 • Email: zhuo_xiuyun@bca.gov.sg
• Ms Elaine Chow, Tel: 6730 4528 • Email: elaine_chow@bca.gov.sg
FULL-TIME INTAKE STARTING IN
FEBRUARY 2015
PART-TIME INTAKE STARTING IN
JANUARY 2015
CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY AND CAPABILITY FUND (CPCF)
TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION
BUILDING INFORMATION
MODELLING (BIM) FUND
Provides assistance to
companies to defray
up to 50% of the cost of
incorporating BIM into
their work processes. The
assistance is capped at
S$20,000 for firm level
scheme and S$35,000
for project collaboration
scheme per application.*
Each company can
submit up to a total of 6
applications.
MECHANISATION CREDIT
(MECHC) SCHEME
Provides assistance to
companies to defray up
to 70% of equipment cost.*
PRODUCTIVITY
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
(PIP) Scheme
Provides assistance to
companies to defray up
to 70% of the cost for
adopting more productive
work processes.*
*Terms and conditions apply.
For more information, please call the cpcf toll-free hotline at
1800-325 5050 or visit http://www.bca.gov.sg/CPCF/cpcf.html
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