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Barriers of using Industrialized Building System (IBS)

among Architects and other Construction Members in
Malaysia.

ARBE 4121a
Research in the Built Environment
Mohd Isa Aziz Jaafar
C3115544

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Table of content

1.0 Abstract 4

2.0 Introduction 5

3.0 Research Aim 6

4.0 Research Issues 6

5.0 Research Objectives 6

6.0 Research Question 7

7.0 Rational, Context & Relevance 7

8.0 Research Methodologies 8

8.1 Cost Management and Financial Issues 9

8.2 Technical Design and Technological Issues 9

8.3 On-site Specialized Skill and Management 10

8.4 Equipment and Machinery Usage 10

9.0 Scope of Research 11

10.0 Conclusion 11

11.0 Research Ethical Conduct 12

12.0 References 13

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1.0 Abstract

Industrialized Building System gives a lot of benefits. As one of the leading construction method, it gives
several and plentiful of benefits and profits to the construction members that involve with it. Better and
enhanced site management, speed up construction and production time, reduce wastage are some of the
benefits which contribute to produce better products for the customers and the environment. By adopting
IBS, efficient, clean, safe, specially managed and handled by professionals and workers with relevant
skills, accurate coordination and management, precision, innovative and quality will be appeared as new
characteristics to be associated with the construction industry. Nowadays, the increasing demand for
affordable and reasonable house price, raising of construction and production cost, low productivity rate,
and eager concern for energy- saving has provoked the Malaysian construction industry to realize and
recognize the benefits of industrialized building system. Even though the construction members aware of
its advantages, the acceptance of industrialized building system has been low in gaining popularity, partly
due to lack of awareness and coordination among the relevant parties. Indeed, the need to be competitive
in the emerging global market has prompted the local construction members to be more open minded and
receptive to new building technology. In other word, to success and survive in recent competitive
construction market, the awareness and consciousness of current style and most up-to-date innovation in
industrialized building system should be put on effort and be taken seriously.

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2.0 Introduction

An industrialized building system or (IBS) may be defined in which every building and construction
components such as wall, beam, column, floor slab, staircase and other relevant components are mass
produced either in the factory or at site under certain circumstances of strict quality control and minimal
on site activities (Trikha, 1999).

Esa and Nuruddin (1998) emphasized that IBS is a field beginning from utilizing craftsmen for every
feature of construction to a system that make use of manufacturing production in order to minimize
resource expenditure and enhance value for end users.

Warswaski (1999) explained that an industrialization building system is a process of investment in

equipment, facilities, and technology with the objective and purpose of maximizing production output,
minimizing labor resource, and improving quality while a building system is defined as a set of unified
element that joint together to enable the designated performance of a building.

The most inclusive and comprehensive definition of IBS was make simpler by Junid (1986). He
mentioned that an IBS in the construction industry comprises the process where components of a
building are conceived, planned, fabricated, transported and erected on site. The system includes a
balanced arrangement between the software and hardware components. The software elements include
system design, which is a complicated process of studying the requirement and obligation of the end user,
market analysis, progress of standardized components, establishment of manufacturing and assembly
layout and process, allocation of resources and materials and definition of a building designer conceptual
framework. The software elements provide a requirement to create the favorable environment for
industrialized building system to expand more over.

In early 1960’s, Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia has visited several
European countries in order to appraise their housing development program, perhaps, this significant
visits marks the starting point of introduction of IBS in Malaysia (Thanoon, 2003). The successful visit in
1964, has encourage the government to start the first project on IBS, which aims to speed up the
construction delivery time as well as to build affordable and quality houses for low and medium wages
income citizen. In the same time, improving the images of Malaysian construction industries as well.

Today in the Malaysian construction industry, the usage of IBS as a major technique of construction is
increasing and growing fast. More local manufacturers have rise up and established themselves in the
competitive construction market. As a result, pre-cast, steel frame and other IBS component were used as
hybrid construction methods and technique to build national landmarks such as Bukit Jalil Sport
Complex, LRT and Petronas Twin Tower. It was reported that at least 21 manufactures and suppliers of
IBS are vigorously promoting and prop up their systems and company, as well as competing in the
industry of IBS in Malaysia. IBS shift to the next step of the development through the founding of IBS
Centre at Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The responsibility to implement IBS serves both to
improve the performance and quality in construction as well as to take it to the next level of construction
maturity. In the same time, to battle upon the first major problem which is dependency on unskilled
foreign labor in the construction industry market (Kamarul Anuar Mohamad Kamar and Rahim 2007).

Consequently, industrialized building system is not new and fresh to the Malaysian construction industry.
It is nowadays, the system reemerged as an acceptable solutions to improve construction image and
performance. Although members of the construction industries such as architects and contractors, aware
and open to the idea of IBS, but still the implementation of using it is still under poor consideration. Thus,
the focus of this paper is first, to study limitations and barriers the usage of IBS among architects and
other construction members and the importance of IBS in Malaysia. Finally, the research will propose
recommendations on how to improve the level of acceptance on IBS among them, due to the benefits of
IBS.
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3.0 Research Aim

The aim of this paper is to have a thorough study on barriers of implementing Industrialized Building
System (IBS) among architects and other construction members in Malaysia. As this method of
construction is a way to overcome the construction problems and improves overall construction
performances in Malaysia, the importance of IBS will also be discussed. And due to this, the research will
propose recommendations on how to improve the level of acceptance on IBS among them. This research
will find the best and most proper way to overcome the problems that is faced by the construction
scenario in Malaysia.

4.0 Research Issues

The need of using IBS in Malaysian construction industry is recently increasing. This is due to strong
encouragement from the government and the guidelines which have been prepared and organized by
them. The implementation plan in place is just the matter of time and reluctant by the construction
members.

Early survey in 2003 reported in IBS Roadmap 2003-2010 (2003) and IBS Survey (2003) point out that
only 15% of overall construction projects throughout Malaysia implement the usage of IBS. However,
percentage of completed projects using IBS components have decreased to the range of 10%, according to
current study in 2006, which is published in IBS Roadmap Review. Moreover, less than quarter of total
construction projects implement the usage of IBS, at least one single IBS products in the year (IBS
Roadmap Review, 2007). Somehow, this percentage is much more lower than predicted even with huge
and lots of exposure campaign and guidelines from the government. Decreasement in the percentage is
not only the issue to be highlighted, beside that, the low labor cost in Malaysia is also the cause of the
significant problem (IBS Roadmap Review, 2007)

Although members of the construction industries such as architects and contractors, aware and open to the
idea of IBS, but still the implementation of using it is still under poor consideration. Inadequate
information on IBS and lack of technology transfer methods to support possibility of change to IBS are
several factors due to failure of using IBS as the construction method (Kamarul Anuar Mohamad Kamar
and Rahim 2007).

5.0 Research Objectives

The research objectives are;

a) To identify and spot the barrier of implementing IBS construction in Malaysia among Architects
and other construction members.

b) To find the best solution and way to enhance the implementation of IBS in Malaysia as well as to
improves the construction performance

c) To identify the popular types of systems that had been used in Malaysian construction Industry

d) To learn the differences in construction works when using Industrialized Building System (IBS)
technology compared to the conventional method.

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6.0 Research Question

The investigation is guided by the following research questions, which is:

a) What is the problem and barrier of construction members in Malaysia in implementing the usage
of IBS?

This question will help in uncovering the problems of construction members in Malaysia in applying
IBS as well as to generate the solution. Therefore, the question is aimed at discussing and finding out
what exactly the problems are, and why does current stage of using IBS doesn’t work throughout the
construction members.

b) How to improve the level of acceptance of using IBS among construction members in Malaysia,
in order to recover and improve the quality of the construction ?

This question is aimed at finding out the best solution to overcome the problems. Thus, this question
should explain the relation between the problems occurred, and the best solution that should be proposed
in the matter of how to improve and increasing the level of acceptance of using IBS.

7.0 Rational, Context & Relevance

The importance of this study are in the contribution of upgrading and improve the perception of the
Architects and construction members to implement and use the method of IBS. The study would also
increase their awareness as well as the society to be more considerate towards the idea of IBS and the
benefits of it, in reflecting the built environment and other aspects. Furthermore, this research is important
since it documents the relationship of IBS implementation and the construction members on how it will
contribute to Malaysian construction industry and other sector such as economy and infrastructure
development. Thus, the rational of this paper can be used for future reference on the subject matter.

As an architect student, it is important and relevance for me to study and documenting this research. As
we know, the benefits and the contribution of IBS should be studied and aware in the stage of university,
so that, in the future, at least the graduates will know even though a little bit about the other method of
construction instead of conventional construction method. In the same words, this is the stage where the
students, who will replace the future and involved in the construction field, to get ready to know the new
invention and technology of construction method.

A comparison analysis between the conventional methods and IBS methods will be conducted, in order to
identify and trigger out the process and the research gap. Various case studies and analysis will be carry
out between a range of famous building in Malaysia in order to identified the issues and derived the
solutions of implementing IBS

The research will end up with proposal and recommendations on how to develop and improve willingness
among conventional construction method and build a new structure for the change process to be
implemented. For this reason, the next deliberations of this paper are mainly discussing on to identified
what is IBS in the context of Malaysia, map the barriers, overcome the problems and review the best
solutions.

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8.0 Research Methodologies

The research begins from a basis background, then narrowing to more detailed parameters to achieve the
aim of the research. The research methodologies that was chosen consisted of a case study on various
building in Malaysia. The method of doing a case study was chosen because they are qualitative methods
which allow a closer study of the subject which is the barrier of implementing IBS among architects and
other construction members. A case study is also defined as a background study of the subject which
uncovers the truth and facts about the subject. A case study will also help in understanding the past,
present and the future of implementing the IBS in terms of the environmental considerations, the user’s
needs and other relevant aspects. Therefore, a case study of the building that implement the usage of IBS
will strengthen the need for the research of this issue.

Furthermore, the study will not only compared the existing building in Malaysia, which use the method of
IBS in its construction, but also studied on how they effects on issues that derived in this paper. The
comparative study is not limit to only the construction method, but also considering other aspects which
are identified as the major factor that contribute to the barrier. There are 4 major aspects which is need to
be considered and studied in order to understand what exactly is the barrier to implement IBS in
construction industry among architects and other construction members.

The 4 major aspects are:

-Cost Management and Financial Issues

-Technical Design and Technological Issues

-On-site Specialized Skill and Management

-Equipment and Machinery Usage

Cost Management and Technical Design and

Financial Issues Technological Issues

Critical Success factor of

IBS implementation

Equipment and Machinery On-site Specialized Skill

Usage and Management

Figure 1, Critical Success Factor of IBS Implementation

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8.1 Cost Management and Financial Issues

There is a good level of willingness and acceptance among construction industry and government to take
this matter forward. However, there is reluctance among companies to take risk which is mainly related to
cost and unstable market and for this reason lack of investment.

For example, small contractors do have lack of investment and financial support. IBS is such an
expensive business which need its own manufacturing plants. To be competitive with other parties, it
does involve very tough and strong asset of investment. In this matter, financial issues become the main
difficulty for small contractors to compete with other huge construction players, and to move along
forward with the implementation of IBS system.

In this case, the main objective is to study the cost comparison between the existing building which use
the conventional construction method and other building which use the IBS construction method.

Figure 2 shows pie chart of building

cost saving in term of percentage
(Haron, N. A., Ir. Hassim, S., Abdul
Kadir, M.R. and Jaafar, M.S., 2005)

8.2 Technical Design and Technological Issues

IBS system if properly designed and planned can deliver a more efficient construction process due to
many advantages such as greater speed of construction, simpler construction process, reduced
environmental collision and reduce dependence on traditional labors. Therefore the challenge is to
provide a feasible and innovative IBS system that is acceptable to those involved with construction as
well as the users.

In order to achieve a feasible IBS system, the aspect of standardization should be incorporated in
designing the system. The standardization can include the use of typical connections, standard beam and
column sizes. In this stage, involvement of architects, designers and engineers are very important in order
to design and standardize the component of IBS. Standardization of components may be incorporated to
reduce the cost of manufacturing. By implementing standardization, many errors in production or erection
due to variability can be reduced. Standardization may lead to improvement in quality, decrease
variability and increase the ease of manufacturing.

IBS implementation also requires broad and extensive knowledge in term of processes, design and
manufacturing. Collective knowledge, based on past experiences will ensure successful of IBS
implementation. Knowledge on IBS, leads to a better understanding of the manufacturing and process
environment, which in turn may assist in decision making related to design and on –site operation.

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Selection of an appropriate and suitable technology for IBS is important for construction members in
term of business viability. As we know, IBS requires heavy investment in term of technologies and
processes, so the use of technology should be implemented in stages and based on adopter’s maturity.

A case study on the successful implementation of IBS project in Kuala Lumpur will be done to analyze
the planning and design considerations of the building with relation to the technical design and
technological issues.

8.3 On-site Specialized Skill and Management

Successful implementation requires an experience workforce and technical capable in design, planning,
organizing and controlling function due to production, coordination and allocation of components
(Warszawski, 1999).

Skilled labor which is supported by quality training at all level is essential to success of offsite as it is in
more traditional form of construction. It requires tremendous education and training effort of trades
especially people involved in those handling, positioning and erecting the finished product (Thanoon,
2003).

In the case of Malaysia, lack of trained manpower is the main problem related to the negative view in
local construction, and one of the cause why the implementation of IBS is in poor level. The usage of
foreign labor because of the cheap cost are common issues. Involvement of skilled and trained manpower
will highly cost. It is one of the factor why the members of construction in Malaysia still can’t move
forward into the usage of IBS.

In order push the customers, decision makers, clients and other construction members to use advance
technology such as IBS, a strong and sturdy control in both construction and management level are very
important in order to increase the success factor of implementing IBS. Superior characteristic of
leadership is also important to deal with cultural issues, internal confrontation towards implementing IBS
and managing collaborative work on site and office.

A construction members, which is more open and aware to recent technology and innovation will has
more tendency to implement new construction method and more possible in supporting the
implementation of IBS.

8.4 Equipment and Machinery Usage

Heavy crane is required for erecting and gathering precast panels into their location, particularly for more
than one storey building. Extra cost is highly important in implementing and adopting a prefabrication
system (Warszawski, 1999).

Casting large –panel system can decrease the labor cost up to thirty percent, but it is in some measure are
partially counterbalance by the erecting and transportation costs. It is also in the matter to the country’s
road department requirement. These limitations must be taken into consideration when adopting a
prefabrication system (Peng, 1986).

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From the reading, unwillingness of small construction members to use IBS system is due to the truth that
they are already familiar with the conventional method of construction and for them, the implementation
of IBS in small scale construction do not give a proper benefits and suits them well in the matter of small
scale projects.

The successful IBS construction system has some level of dependency to heavy and special equipment
such as cranes. The high preliminary cost in setting up the manufacturing plant as well as the cost of
transportation has reduced the margin of profit. It has been noticed that despite all the advantages of using
IBS, a major portion of the construction members still has a biased perception on IBS system. It is
admitted presently that switching to IBS would not guarantee significant savings in the cost especially
with the small number of buildings constructed. However, IBS has demonstrated that the savings in the
construction time is able to reimburse the higher construction cost gained.

Therefore, a case study on how the usage of equipment and machinery involved in the practice of IBS
project in Malaysia will be investigated and analyze, in order to consider the factor of equipment and
machinery usage is one of the barrier into the usage of IBS.

9.0 Scope of Research

The research examples of the construction methods used all around Malaysia. It will compare the usage of
conventional method and the IBS throughout the building selection. Several building will be chosen based
on its construction method. This research study were done to find and investigate the barrier and the
problems occurred in implementing the IBS, which from the comparison of the construction method and
the chosen building, it will find out more and revealed on the problems occurred specifically.

The paper will only focus on the architects’ and contractor’s viewpoint in order to seek and spot the
barrier for them to implement in the usage of IBS. Even though we know that, problems in the early
stages of IBS implementation engage with lots of other construction members such as manufacturers,
clients, engineers and other parties as well.

Besides that, this type of study is done to find out the best solution to encounter the problems in
implementing the usage of IBS in the construction. Moreover, this study intends to discover the benefits
and goods of IBS, as well as to educate the readers on the usage of IBS, generally.

10.0 Conclusion

This research concentrate on the barrier and the factor of why the implementation of using IBS among
architects and other construction members in Malaysia are still under poor consideration. Thus, the
research will continue to achieve the aims and objectives of the study. The methodologies that will be
used are case studies within the context of building in Malaysia.

The research review shall be a guidance in the steps of the research from the start until the final
completion of the study. Furthermore, this research is perhaps a small contribution in order to give
awareness and knowledge to Malaysian construction members about the benefits and the importance of
IBS. Hopefully, this research will help future construction members to incorporate and implement the
usage of IBS as well as to improve the value of construction and production image in Malaysia, in the
same time giving a positive impact in the built environment overall.

The details of the research will be discussed in the next paper. The focus will be on the factors and issues
that contribute to barrier of implementing IBS.

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11.0 Research Ethical Conduct

I am an architecture student who involved in Built Environment research class as part of my coursework
study. My task is to do a research which related to built environment in any range of scope. It is being
conducted by Associate Professor Anthony William, Head of School, Faculty of Engineering and Built
Environment at the University of Newcastle, Australia. My research is being supervised by Dr Graham
Brewer, (PhD MSc MCIOB MAIB GradCertPTT CertFE) Deputy Head, School of Architecture and Built
Environment.

The purpose of the research is to write a comprehensive Literature Review and preliminary research
proposal which describes the professional significance and rationale of a research topic, demonstrating its
academic and literary context and relevance, its ethical implications and the proposed methodology to be
used. Thus, the objectives of the research generally are to conduct a literature search of relevant material
which enables a description of a built environment problem and research problem. Literature and
synthesis literary arguments will be critically analyses to construct a sustained logical, creative and
complex response to a built environment research problem in the form of a research question and model
or an interpretive investigative framework. Besides that, the objectives of the research is also to evaluate
research strategies and justify a selected methodology and method for inquiry, including a description of
data collection and analysis within an ethical framework which will answer the proposed research
question embedded within the existing architectural or construction research disciplines.

The research will be conduct in ethics approval as required by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct
in Research Involving Humans and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for
Scientific Purposes. The research must take account of professional standards, legal requirement and
contractual arrangements when considering how long research data and primary materials to be retained.
The research data and primary materials should be retain in sufficient time to allow reference to them by
other researchers and interested parties. For published research data, this may be for discussion persists
following publication and as long as interest.

The research data and primary materials must be managed according to the policy of the institution. So,
the records of the research methods and data sources must be keeping clear and accurate and are ensure to
be kept in safe and secure storage provided, even when not in current use. The primary research record
such as laboratory notebooks must be provided the same level of care and protection as to analyses
research data. The research data including electronic data must be retained in a durable, indexed and
retrievable form. The catalogue of research data will be maintained in an accessible form.
The research data and primary data and primary materials are managed according to ethical protocols and
relevant legislation.

The research data and primary materials must be confidentiality maintain when given access and must be
kept in secure storage. Confidential information must be only used in ways agreed with those provided it.
When the confidential data are made available for discussion, the particular care must be exercised. The
data will be retained for at least 5 years at University of Newcastle.

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References

Trikha, D. N. (1999) Industrialized Building System. Prospects in Malaysia. Proceeding World

Engineering Congress, Malaysia

Esa, H. and Nuruddin, M.M (1998) policy on Industrialized building System. Report on Colloquim on
Industrialized Construction System, Kuala Lumpur

Warszawski, A. (1999) Industrialized and Automated Building System. Technion-Israel Institute of

Technology. E & FN Spon

Kamarul Anuar Mohamad Kamar, I. D. Z. A. H., Mohd Khairolden Ghani And Ahmad Hazim And
Rahim (2007) Industrialized Building System: Current Shortcomings And The Vital Role Of R&D

Junid, S.M.S (1986) Industrialized Building System. Proceeding of a UNESCO/FEISEAP Regional

Workshop, UPM Serdang

Thanoon, W.A.M., Peng, L.W., Abdul Kadir, M.R., Jaafar, M.S. and Salit, M.S. (2003), The Experiences
of Malaysia and Other Country in Industrialized Building System in Malaysia, Proceeding on IBS
Seminar, UPM, Malaysia

Haron, N. A., Ir. Hassim, S., Abdul Kadir, M.R. and Jaafar, M.S. (2005), Building Cost Comparison
Between Conventional and Formwork System : A Case Study of Four-storey School Building in
Malaysia.

IBS Roadmap (2003-2010)(2003) Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Kuala Lumpur

IBS Roadmap Review (Final Report 2007), 2007, IBS Centre, Construction Industry Development Board,
Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

IBS Steering Committee (2006) Minute Meeting of IBS Steering Committee, Construction Industry
Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

IBS Survey 2003 (2003), Construction Development Board Malaysia (CIDB), Kuala Lumpur

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