Improving the effectiveness and image of the building and civil construction process
- Authors: Grobler, Kobus
- Date: 2011-12-06
- Subjects: Construction industry , Civil engineering , Construction industry quality control
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1815 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4177
- Description: D.Ing. , The construction industry has changed dramatically over the past thirty odd years. The following factors played a significant role in this change: (1) The building boom around the 1970s pressurized the industry to work faster. This was followed by periods of variation in workload, which have over the last number of years manifested in a permanent low demand for construction in South Africa. (2) Projects became larger and more complex. (3) An over-regulated labour environment not only leads to the downsize of organizations, but is a main contributor towards the increased use of subcontracting. (4) The time value of money causes owners to specify compressed project schedules and lowest price is often the only selection factor in the award of contracts. The shift in work from predominantly public sector towards the private sector, which by nature is more time conscious, is another factor pressurizing the industry to work faster. The industry has introduced amongst others the following measures to cope with these demands: (1) Main contractors are subcontracting more and more of the work. (2) The traditional in-series concept came under pressure - the management approaches became formal procurement concepts and design-build re-appeared. (3) New construction techniques such as fast-tracking and the movement towards factory produced elements in certain areas, for example precast concrete elements, reduced project schedules and replaced previously time consuming activities and counteracted to a certain extent the shortage of skilled tradesmen. The author argues that in the process to combat these external pressures, the following problems, amongst others, manifested: (1) Ineffective project procurement. (2) Unethical and unsound practices between main contractors and subcontractors. (3) Lack of quality and reliability of a substantial share of end-products. Another problem burdening the industry is historical, namely cultural differences between designers and contractors.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Grobler, Kobus
- Date: 2011-12-06
- Subjects: Construction industry , Civil engineering , Construction industry quality control
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1815 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4177
- Description: D.Ing. , The construction industry has changed dramatically over the past thirty odd years. The following factors played a significant role in this change: (1) The building boom around the 1970s pressurized the industry to work faster. This was followed by periods of variation in workload, which have over the last number of years manifested in a permanent low demand for construction in South Africa. (2) Projects became larger and more complex. (3) An over-regulated labour environment not only leads to the downsize of organizations, but is a main contributor towards the increased use of subcontracting. (4) The time value of money causes owners to specify compressed project schedules and lowest price is often the only selection factor in the award of contracts. The shift in work from predominantly public sector towards the private sector, which by nature is more time conscious, is another factor pressurizing the industry to work faster. The industry has introduced amongst others the following measures to cope with these demands: (1) Main contractors are subcontracting more and more of the work. (2) The traditional in-series concept came under pressure - the management approaches became formal procurement concepts and design-build re-appeared. (3) New construction techniques such as fast-tracking and the movement towards factory produced elements in certain areas, for example precast concrete elements, reduced project schedules and replaced previously time consuming activities and counteracted to a certain extent the shortage of skilled tradesmen. The author argues that in the process to combat these external pressures, the following problems, amongst others, manifested: (1) Ineffective project procurement. (2) Unethical and unsound practices between main contractors and subcontractors. (3) Lack of quality and reliability of a substantial share of end-products. Another problem burdening the industry is historical, namely cultural differences between designers and contractors.
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An evaluation of design-build as procurement method for building and civil engineering projects in South Africa
- Authors: Grobler, Kobus
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Construction industry - South Africa. , Civil engineering - South Africa.
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10214 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7588
- Description: M.Ing. , Recent studies in developed countries such as the United States of America and United Kingdom proved that the design-build procurement method experiences extraordinary growth. In the Far East this approach is also gaining in popularity. The recently completed 414 million pound Pergau Hydroelectric Project in Malaysia, is an excellent example, where design-build was used most effectively to the benefit of all role players. This research seeks to determine the position of design-build in the building and civil engineering fields in South Africa. Questionnaires and personal interviewing were used to collect the primary data. The main findings of this South African research are: (1)Approximately 29% of building and civil engineering projects are delivered by the design-build approach; (2)Design-build was overwhelmingly preferred as procurement method; (3)Design-build can lead to: shorter project duration; reduction in cost; enhanced constructability of the design; better relations and less disputes and claims; (4)This concept also has the advantage of single-point responsibility; (5)It can be used on any size project; (6)The main concerns were: high cost for bidding, especially of the design function; lack of an appropriate form of contract; a well-defined scope of the work is essential; (7)Respondents perceived a bright future for design-build in South Africa. Design-build has the potential to integrate the functionally separate groups of the traditional project team, which can lead to better co-operation and relations. This can ultimately result in an improvement in the three critical project performance criteria, i.e. time, cost and quality.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Grobler, Kobus
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Construction industry - South Africa. , Civil engineering - South Africa.
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10214 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7588
- Description: M.Ing. , Recent studies in developed countries such as the United States of America and United Kingdom proved that the design-build procurement method experiences extraordinary growth. In the Far East this approach is also gaining in popularity. The recently completed 414 million pound Pergau Hydroelectric Project in Malaysia, is an excellent example, where design-build was used most effectively to the benefit of all role players. This research seeks to determine the position of design-build in the building and civil engineering fields in South Africa. Questionnaires and personal interviewing were used to collect the primary data. The main findings of this South African research are: (1)Approximately 29% of building and civil engineering projects are delivered by the design-build approach; (2)Design-build was overwhelmingly preferred as procurement method; (3)Design-build can lead to: shorter project duration; reduction in cost; enhanced constructability of the design; better relations and less disputes and claims; (4)This concept also has the advantage of single-point responsibility; (5)It can be used on any size project; (6)The main concerns were: high cost for bidding, especially of the design function; lack of an appropriate form of contract; a well-defined scope of the work is essential; (7)Respondents perceived a bright future for design-build in South Africa. Design-build has the potential to integrate the functionally separate groups of the traditional project team, which can lead to better co-operation and relations. This can ultimately result in an improvement in the three critical project performance criteria, i.e. time, cost and quality.
- Full Text:
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