< PreviousCommunity & Social Events CS Opening Ceremony of CIDB-CIOB Youth Arena Convention & Industry Forum on Construction Revolution 4.0 (CR4.0) The Future of Construction 4-5 NOVEMBER 2022 MBAM President, Oliver HC Wee attended the Opening Ceremony of the CIOD-CIOB Youth Arena Convention on 4 November 2022, which was followed by an Industry Forum on ‘CR4.0 The Future of Construction’ on 5 November 2022, at CIDB Convention Centre. The event also saw participation from Dr Yeow Yuan Foo, CIOB Past Chairman (who moderated the session); Prof. Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin, Honorary Secretary, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia; Sr Dainna Baharuddin, President, Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia; Nur Iskandar Zulkifli, CIDB General Manager (Building Technology Division and Innovation); Ts Ho Chee Leong, CIOB President; Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum, the Malaysian Institute of Architects President; and James Tan, REHDA National Council Member. The following were some of the answers from MBAM at the panel session:- What are the challenges your organisation will face in moving forward to CR4.0 and complying with ESG? Many industry players have done their roadmaps on both CR4.0 and ESG and are progressing well in their journey. With the influx of young professionals, we believe the adoption on both fronts will progress smoothly. At the same time, we also observe many contractors have not started their journey despite MBAM’s constant efforts to keep pursuing and encouraging industry players (especially our members) to kick start their journey for both CR4.0 and ESG to stay relevant in the industry. What support does your organisation require from the authorities for ESG and CR4.0? There must be pervasive awareness programmes so industry players are aware of CR4.0 and ESG requirements. Relevant authorities and government bodies should be providing awareness on the technical and financial support available for companies to kick start their journey on CR4.0 and ESG. What is holding back companies are their company culture (currently adopted procedures and way of doing things) and cost. But when they realise the importance of the transformation and the ROI, they will start the journey. Research shows that in 2020, the construction sector only allocated 2% of their budget to invest on IT operations. What would be the impact of CR4.0 to your profession/organisation? It will help improve the construction value chain and help push our members and the construction industry at large to be more productive and competitive. Nonetheless at the same time those who refuse to walk the journey will be phased out soon. What do you think is your role in promoting the CR4.0? MBAM encourages and will continue to promote CR4.0 through education and training via forums, seminars, webinars and articles in our publications to educate our members and industry players. Nevertheless, any additional help from the government will help to expedite the journey on CR4.0. We are prepared to collaborate with any government authority or institution who are willing to come and help expedite the journey. We have also engaged government representatives such as MDEC and BNM to get the assistance we need and share information on grants or loans that can help our members. What are the constraints and hurdles that will be faced in your profession or your contribution in CR4.0? We hope the government will reach out to other stakeholders (developers, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, etc) and take macro points of view especially in policy making, to make sure CR4.0 will make an impactful meaning to the industry. MBAM also hopes to be included at the earliest stage when the government or related bodies formulate or amend any policy related to CR4.0. 68 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126Community & Social Events CS InBrief Held at Royale Chulan Hotel, MBAM was represented by MBAM Deputy Secretary-General 1, Ir. Anthony Teoh and Contracts and Practices Committee Member, Dato’ Tan Gim Foo. Board of Engineers Malaysia Diamond Jubilee 20 AUGUST 2022 MBAM Council Member Ivan Chong (3rd from left) and Deputy President, Kenneth Liew (5 th from left), attended the MISIF 2022 Steel Industry Annual Dinner that was held at the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa. MISIF 2022 Steel Industry Annual Dinner 14 NOVEMBER 2022 MBAM President Oliver HC Wee attended the SME Platinum Business Award at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre. SME Platinum Business Award 29 NOVEMBER 2022 MBAM Deputy President Kenneth Liew attended the World Congress On Innovation and Technology 2022 Appreciation Nite at the One World Hotel. World Congress on Innovation and Technology 2022 Appreciation Nite 29 NOVEMBER 2022 MBAM Secretary General Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz and MBAM Council Member cum Chairman of Safety and Health Committee Michael Yap had a simple dialogue with SBCECA President James Ha Tung Ing and his council members at Imperial Hotel, Kuching. Dialogue with Sarawak Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Association (SBCECA) 3 OCTOBER 2022 69 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126FEATURE The case for change is compelling. Construction businesses that embrace technology experience more innovation and collaboration. They have stronger safety cultures, higher levels of productivity, and better profit margins because they are well-equipped to complete projects on time and budget. How to Kickstart Your Journey Digitalisation in the Construction Industry By Axel Plumet 70 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126 70 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126I ntroducing digital solutions to a construction business transforms its responsiveness to its customers, partners, and regulators. Access to real-time information helps teams make better decisions, improve productivity, and securely store and retrieve information quickly and easily. Your organisation will no longer rely on thousands of paper- based checklists, documents, forms, and reports: no more lost documents and no more compliance headaches. Like any change programme, the success of digitalising your construction business comes down to how you manage the project, people, and processes. This article looks at the top questions you’ll need to consider when embarking on your digitalisation journey. quickly and easily. But that doesn’t mean everything will be seamless. All change requires some level of effort and adjustment. It’s not uncommon for an agile project to start with a few challenges that get ironed out as the project proceeds. How do I Get Started? Once you have decided on a provider and an implementation strategy, it’s time to select a pilot project to set you up for success. Tackling a company-wide implementation is not recommended. Best practice digital transformations take place one process at a time. Running a pilot project helps you control the process, learn and iterate, and reduces your overall risks. To help you along the way, ask yourself the following questions: • What does success look like, and how will that success be measured? • Have you clearly identified the processes you want to digitalise? • What is the timing of the project, and what does that mean to business-as- usual workloads for team members? • Have you identified vital users or ‘champions’ who will help you drive user adoption? • Have you identified other key people who will be involved? Do they know the project is coming? Do they have the information they need to support the project? • How will you capture learnings for future technology projects? What’s the Best Way to Drive Change Through my Business? While project management involves scheduling tasks to keep the project on track, change management is all about working with people affected by the project. Change is a natural part of every digitalisation project. But some shifts can make people uncertain, which can lead to anxiety, confusion, and resistance. Change is a process, and it doesn’t happen by itself. Leaders managing successful digitalisation projects take the time to prepare their organisations for change. They create a vision so people can rally around the project, ensure Digitalisation in the Construction Industry—How to Kickstart Your Journey Which Providers Should I Choose? Selecting your technology partner is an important step. Strive to work with a provider who specialises in construction management software, understands your project vision, and naturally aligns with your organisational goals. Research leading digital technology providers and check out their websites. Ensure the organisation has extensive experience in the building and construction industry and a strong client base. Make sure your shortlisted providers offer a one-stop shop solution to all your needs. The ideal solution should include all aspects of field management such as quality assurance and quality control (QAQC), HSE compliance, progress tracking, equipment certifications, workers’ qualifications, maintenance inspections, and timecards. This prevents additional investment and coordination efforts when you need to scale. Schedule a demo to see their apps in action and speak with the sales teams to understand more. What Software Implementation Strategy Should I Use? Once upon a time, software providers used a very structured and sequential method to implement software solutions. The project team would fully specify the client’s requirements in great detail. The team would then develop, test, and deploy the solution in the field, much like a ‘big bang’ launch. While this strategy was thorough, it lacked flexibility, was complex, and often led to project overruns and, sometimes, even failures. Today, the most popular and successful implementation strategy is called ‘agile’. An agile approach is rolled out like a series of mini projects. It dramatically reduces the risk of things going wrong because you are testing various options, gathering feedback, setting priorities, and improving as you go, process by process. While the programme of work is still structured and organised, the project focuses on quick wins, iteration, and smaller, more successful outcomes. With cloud-based technology, you can digitalise all on-site processes 71 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126 71 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126improvements are implemented as promised, remove obstacles, and embed the new practices. Once they’ve finished the project, their teams assess the results and capture learnings for the future. Providing your construction teams with regular communication upfront helps to build trust and support. It’s essential to think about how you will take your people on the journey with you. As one example, you could seek assistance from senior team members who can advocate for the project and its longer-term benefits. Some questions your team members may want answers to include: • Why is the project happening now? • What benefits will the app and project deliver for the organisation and its people? • How will the platform be implemented? • How will the new software affect how people do their jobs now and in the future? Sharing the facts and communicating clearly helps people understand what is happening and why. It’s also crucial to select the right subject matter experts and users as project champions for each area experiencing change. Promising candidates are likely to be team members who: • have detailed knowledge of the processes and content being changed, and are positive about the project and its benefits • freely embrace technology • are logical thinkers who can ‘keep things simple’ • are naturally results-focused How Important is Training to the Success of my Digitalisation Programme? Training is a tried-and-true way to fast- track the adoption of new technology. You can train team members directly or use your network of champions to teach others (train the trainer model). When planning your training sessions, think about how to: • design and deliver the programme in order of impact, with those heavily affected going first • give everyone access to the app and encourage them to experiment, learn, and ask questions • ensure the training, either online or in-person, takes place in a comfortable environment so people can learn at their best • clarify expectations, including explaining what tasks will be done by which group of people; this is particularly important if the changes are different to the status quo • provide a safe place for people to share feedback While it may be tempting to set aside a modest training budget, ensure those training your team have the resources they need to support your team through the learning process. How Do I ‘Keep It Simple’ as the Project Scales? Keeping things simple is easier said than done. Many project teams run the risk of overcomplicating things if they don’t have defined goals, dedicated project roles, a strong project lead, and clear, two-way communication. Digitalising your construction processes can help to transform your business and set up your success for the future. To ensure your journey is a successful one, remember to: • work with an experienced technology partner who has similar values • adopt an ‘agile’ implementation strategy • use pilot projects • handpick experienced individuals as champions and early adopters • effectively communicate with your people and manage change • invest in training • focus on straightforward goals from the outset and keep it simple Is Digitalisation Right for your Construction Businesses? While technology is transforming many leading construction businesses worldwide, digitalising processes aren’t without their challenges. Each organisation needs to be honest about its ability to support its people through such a strategic project. Remember to kickstart the process with the right construction management software provider, and together, develop the most appropriate implementation strategy. Persevere through the journey and keep things simple as you scale. As you progress, you will reap the rewards of digitalisation and propel your business to greater heights. Axel Plumet is the senior manager for APAC Services in Novade. Based in Singapore, he guides a team of consultants in undertaking client servicing. Axel has a master’s degree in civil engineering from INSA Toulouse, France. Novade is the leading field management software for the building and construction industry. Site processes including quality and safety are digitalised and automated using mobile devices. The data captured provides insights to streamline operations and drive results. www.novade.net, sales@novade.net Digitalisation in the Construction Industry—How to Kickstart Your Journey 72 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126 72 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126Digital transformation from the ground up Schedule a Demo www.novade.net Next generation digital solutions for site management Software to improve quality, safety and productivity in the field Novade is the leading field management software for the building and construction industry. Site processes including quality and safety are digitalised and automated using mobile devices. The data captured provides insights to streamline operations and drive results. Proud to work with industry leaders in Malaysia Trusted by the world’s largest contractors, developers & facility operators Work faster, smarter and saferOpportunity for Building Materials in Macau MATRADE’S INSIGHT BUSINESS & TRADE INFORMATION MACAU Travertine and Alabaster (HS 680221) and Structures of Iron or Steel (HS 730890) are primarily from China. Malaysia merely made up 0.1% of the total. However, there are opportunities given the numerous recent complaints received over the quality of the products. In addition to exporting directly, Malaysia’s building material suppliers may also use Hong Kong as a hub to develop into Macau, given that Hong Kong is also one of the key providers of goods into the SAR. Nevertheless, the items need to be reasonably priced and be able to address the current problems with quality. There is an opportunity to improve Malaysia’s 0.5% export share to Macau. With a value of USD93.6 million, Malaysia is the 15th largest exporter to Macau. Electronics, machinery, food preparations and dairy goods were the key contributors. There is an opportunity to introduce construction materials of higher quality to address the current concerns with quality for public housing projects in the Macau SAR. This article is based on a Market Alert (MA) prepared by MATRADE Hong Kong, and the information is correct at the time of the writing (22 August 2022). MAs are available in MyExport, which can be accessed at www.matrade.gov.my For further information and enquiries, please contact MATRADE Hong Kong at hongkong@matrade.gov.my. DISCLAIMER: WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE ARTICLE (MATRADE’S INSIGHT) ARE ACCURATE AND CURRENT, MATRADE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCLUSION, OMISSION OR ERROR AND IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DISPUTE ARISING FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. Members of Macau’s Legislative Assembly recently addressed issues about the quality of recent public housing project deliverables. There have been reports of flaws with the Ip Heng and Lake Building Project, including tiles and external cladding that have fallen off. The Commission Against Corruption (CACC) has investigated against the Public Works Bureau on negligence and lack of coordination in managing the planning, construction and quality control of these buildings. Opportunity According to a United Nations research from 2021, Macau SAR has a higher population density than Monaco and Singapore, which are currently ranked second and third in the world. Macau has reportedly 21,340 persons per square kilometre, and a population of roughly 680,000 people. An economy traditionally dependent on entertainment, tourism and clothing industries, Macau has been impacted by COVID-19. China provides the Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its food and utilities, such as energy and water. The other major providers of commodities and merchandise to Macau are the European Union, Japan and Hong Kong. Low-to-mid income citizens have appealed to the government for public housing facilities because Macau is densely populated and has a small economy. Around 15,000 public housing developments have been built in the area. The typical unit types are 1-bedroom (for the lowest incomes) and 2-bedroom (for low-to-mid income). The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr. Raimundo do Rosario, responded by saying that his team is now resolving the problems in the best ways possible. The Housing Bureau has implemented upgrading measures, such as fewer units per building and larger common areas for public’s convenience. In addition, Mr. Rosario indicated that he will introduce a new Public Housing Law for members of the middle class in October 2022. The Way Forward According to statistics from ITC Trade map, 90% of imports into Macau for 2021 for Articles Made of Marble, FEATURE 74 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126DISCLAIMER: WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE ARTICLE (MATRADE’S INSIGHT) ARE ACCURATE AND CURRENT, MATRADE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCLUSION, OMISSION OR ERROR AND IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DISPUTE ARISING FROM THE USE OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. Opportunities Arises in the Development of NEOM in Jeddah Opportunity NEOM, which stands for “new future,” is a living laboratory for entrepreneurship, cutting-edge technology, novel liveability models and environmental preservation. It is situated in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, covering an area of about 26,500 square kilometres, and is made up of 41 coastal islands. The Line’s revolution in urban living in the city of NEOM, a new paradigm for the future of urban societies aimed at guaranteeing balance with nature, is one of the most significant initiatives of the Saudi Vision 2030. In 2021, the Crown Prince unveiled the city’s original concept and vision, MATRADE’S INSIGHT BUSINESS & TRADE INFORMATION SAUDI ARABIA The Line Project in NEOM takes a fresh look at urban design, using 100% renewable energy, and prioritises people’s health. Recently, the blueprint for The Line project – one of numerous mega-projects currently under construction as part of the Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform and economic diversification strategy – was unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the NEOM business Board of Directors. train with a 20-minute end-to-end transit time, residents of the project will have access to all The Line facilities within a five-minute walk from their homes. The Way Forward The Line’s design is an extension of NEOM’s advancements in the creation of its flagship projects, including Trojena, its mountain tourism destination, which will feature the first outdoor skiing resort in the Arabian Gulf and Oxagon, its reimagined manufacturing and innovation city, which boasts the largest floating platform in the world and will be powered entirely by clean energy. The Saudi government, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and local and international investors will contribute USD500 billion to the NEOM project over a 10-year period. Malaysian enterprises interested in participating in THE LINE initiative must familiarise with the NEOM standards, particular to ensure futuristic elements are being offered. This article is based on a Market Alert (MA) prepared by MATRADE Jeddah, and the information is correct at the time of the writing (26 July 2022). MAs are available in MyExport, which can be accessed at www.matrade.gov.my For further information and enquiries, please contact MATRADE Jeddah at jeddah@matrade.gov.my. which reimagines urban development and what cities of the future should look like. The Line is a narrow strip of land that is only 200 metres long and 500 metres above sea level. The Line project’s infrastructure would cost between USD100 billion and USD200 billion. By 2030, the project hopes to generate SAR180 billion (USD48 billion) for local GDP, support economic diversification and create 380,000 jobs. The Line, which can potentially house 9 million people, will have a footprint of 34 square kilometres, which is unheard of compared to other cities with comparable population density. In addition to a high-speed FEATURE 75 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126By Sumit OberoiFEATURE Over the last two years, the ASEAN construction industry has been challenged not just by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the supply chain, skills shortages, and now inflationary pressure. It is critical for the ASEAN industry to find alignment with peers, particularly in construction policy, procurement, people management and embracing technological approaches – as this has now become the choice between adapting and thriving versus resisting and perishing. Sumit Oberoi shares some insights gleaned from the ASEAN Construction Federation (ACF) Conference 2022. The State of Digital Construction in ASEAN 76 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126The State of Digital Construction in ASEAN A fter three long years since the last ACF council meeting in Bali, ACF finally had an in-person gathering – this time in Kuala Lumpur – on October 17, 2022. From the presentations and discussions at the ACF Conference 2022, the general sentiment was that the pandemic has become the construction industry’s catalyst to embrace onboard digital construction. In short, the industry needs to accelerate their digital transformation in order to deal with the mounting challenges, which include labour shortages, as well as the rising costs of labour and building materials. These sentiments were likewise echoed in a global survey conducted by Alix Partners on 3,000 CEOs and executives across all sectors of the economy. 78% of the respondents opined that adopting digital tools was critical to survival. Mr Hai Le Viet from the Vietnam Association of Construction Contractors said, “Today, data and its measurement has become a priority. We need to improve how management buys digital transformation technology.” Ir. Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid, chief executive of the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB), referred to these post-pandemic difficulties as long COVID-19 issues hampering the industry’s fast recovery. Muhammad Khalil Shaiful Bahari of Boustead Projects Singapore shared that their digital transformation journey started before the pandemic. It was proved to be the right timing, as Boustead could continue working remotely and safely when COVID-19 impacted their business and projects. With much of Boustead’s data and processes already migrated to the cloud, everyone had access to the shared data, and the company could easily pivot from field execution, on-site inspections and virtual inspections verifying design and constructible efforts. Why Should the Industry Embrace Digital Construction? According to my close colleague William Low, Head of Asia, Autodesk Construction Solutions, construction companies welcome support in improving ways to minimise their risk, remove operational inefficiencies, and ensure prompt payment not just for themselves but also for their subcontractors. William shared that the cloud platform addresses the missing link between design, preconstruction and construction. Data and information captured during disparate activities must be connected with one another and available on site to facilitate effective business processes. William emphasised that “The construction cloud division at Autodesk was formed to ensure that design is constructed on site according to what was approved. A comprehensive platform connects data from start to end – from design to construction and finally, handover. This data translates into important analytics that will help businesses to increase productivity, reduce costs, and manage risks.” Karl Henderson of Downer New Zealand shared that the high number of paper plans outside of a common data environment can lead to lost revenue as precious time is wasted on finding the right documents. Embracing digital “Having a unified data platform on the cloud transformed our decision-making processes. We can build digital models, approve designs, track the progress of our projects, and communicate with project team members—all online.” Muhammad Khalil Shaiful Bahari, Deputy Director, Group Technology Office, Boustead Projects Singapore ACF Conference 2022 77 MASTER BUILDERS JOURNAL #126Next >