PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2015

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Reflective Essay

Special thanks goes to Mr. Ramar A/L Subramaniam for lecturing us in this interesting subject. As far as I know, this subject has taught us on the knowledge and reality of what a Quantity Surveyor is going to be like in the near future. Basically, the role as a Quantity Surveyor can be summarized as preparing tendering document which must include proof reading before sending out for tender bidding process, advising client on procurement, tendering process and contract arrangement, cost control during construction, cost budget planning prior the start of project, checking on variation and interim progress claim as well as advising of final account.

For this subject, the topic for the individual assignment is related to tender evaluation. I have learnt to think creatively and critically for this assignment. It is true that it required me to think and analysis problem in order to get the most effective solution. After understanding the question, the next significant step was to find sufficient resources. Reading all the resources then extract all information effectively is what I have gained through this assignment as well. I believe that the extra knowledge which I have gained through this assignment is going to be useful for my future.

For the assignment part, it was an individual assignment and we need to do tender evaluation among the six competitive tenderers. We have to look through all the factors like experience, number of ongoing project, number of technical staff, availability of credit facilities, arithmetical errors and especially cost and construction period. We are also need to recommend the best tenderer to the client after the process of tender evaluation and the client can choose to not accept our suggestion for tenderers. However, most of the client will agreed to the suggestion by QS consultant.

ASSIGNMENT

Your consulting quantity surveying firm has been appointed by the Employer to carry out a detail evaluation of the tenders received and to present your recommendation to the Employer for their consideration. You are required to prepare the ‘Tender Evaluation and Recommendation Report’ based on the information provided above. 

STRUCTURES

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2015

STRUCTURES

Reflection

Every time after lectures, Ir. Chai will let us do tutorial on the particular topics that he explains on the lecture session. He always guide us during tutorial session and let us do a lot of tutorial on topics such as Forces and Equilibrium, Shear Force and Bending moment, method of section, method of joint. By doing so, we are able to understand more about the elements of the building and how to calculate the load distribution over the joint and member. He always reminds us that this subject is to give us a simple idea on how the structures were designed by the engineer and what is the factors they consider in order to make the elements work well. So that when we are working in the industry in future, we will roughly understand what the engineer are expressing during the meetings.

Individual Assignment 

We were given an individual assignment to form a shear force diagram and bending moment diagram based on a drawing. This assignment gave us a basic concept on structures in Construction Technology. We are able to see how the force distribute in different way and directions with different loading. We also learned to determine the force working on beams.

SOFTWARE APPLICATION FOR QUANTITY SURVEYING

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2015

SOFTWARE APPLICATION

REFLECTIVE ESSAY

For this module, we are to learn two QS softwares which are Buildsoft and CostX. There are two lecturer teaching this module, which are Sr. Habizah Sheikh ilmi and Sr. Soon Lam Tatt. We were divided into two groups so that each lecturer is in charge of each group until a certain period which is seven weeks then only the lecturers switch their place taking charge of the other group of student. Basically this subject helps to build the fundamental knowledge on preparation of quantities taking off, preparation of rate build up and preparation of bill of quantities by using QS software like Buildsoft and CostX. Upon successful completion of this module, I am able to distinguish the different types of software programs available in the market and their limitations in usage. I also learnt to be independent and get material rate and labour rate from supplier. I also learn the method of utilizing Cost-X and Buildsoft in doing take-off quantity and Bills of Quantity. Sr. Soon and Sr. Habizah are very dedicated and patient in guiding us on using these softwares during tutorials and lectures. This enhanced us further in using these software so that we can pick -up the skills as fast as possible.   

In this subject, we were given two assignment. We start off with the group assignment first, in which we need to do some market research on the types of software being used in Malaysia. We were asked to compare and analyze all the information before proceed to report writing. From this assignment, the team gain extra knowledge in understanding the functions and limitations of other types of software.


The second assignment is no longer a group assignment. The task for this assignment is to come up with the buildup rate of every elements from Measurement 4 and generate all the rates to Bills of Quantities. This assignment provides me a chance to talk to supplier in order for me to take the verbal quotations. 

ASSIGNMENT 1
A) COMPARE THE FUNCTIONS AND LIMITATION OF BIM QS COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN THE MARKET. SUMMARIES YOUR INFORMATION AND RECOMMEND THE BEST BIM QS SOFTWARE WITH SUPPORTING REASONS AND DATA
B) COMPARE BENEFITS AND CONSTRAINTS OF BULDING INFORMATION MODELLING, CAD MEASUREMENT AND MANUAL MEASUREMENT IN
I)PREPARATION/ BRIEFING STAGE
II)DESIGN STAGE
III)PRE-CONSTRUCTION STAGE
IV)CONSTRUCTION STAGE
V)OTHERS

ESTIMATING

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2015

ESTIMATING

Seminar Question

This assessment is in a form of seminar. This seminar will form 10% of the final assessment. During week 4 to 7, a seminar will be carried out during the tutorial session and a group will be nominated as the seminar leader. Each seminar leader will be given a theory question form chapter 1-5 and a calculation question from chapter 6-9, a week before the seminar for preparation.

Group assignment

In this assignment, we were assigned to price the Bills of Quantities including the preliminaries. We were required to submit tender documents at the tender closing date and competing with our course mates in order to get the job. In order to win the tender, we were required to submit the tender in reasonable price with least arithmetical errors and profit.

Reflection

There are total seven members in my group which are Deric Lee, Quinnie Tan, Jeffery Tan, Rya Ghunowa, Siti Nurfarhana Zolkifli and Ladai June. We are asked to obtain quotations and material rates from at least 3 suppliers and do calculation accordingly in order to price the rates in the BQ for each different components 

This assignment exposed us to the industry by obtaining rates and demonstrate the actual scenario when dealing with client or Board of director. However, we had lost the tender after the result of tender evaluation had released. We are required to explain our default on losing the tender to our lecturer, Ms. Dianne. We realized that the preliminaries we priced for this projects were way too high compare to my course mates. This is the main reasons that made us lost the tender. This presentation gave us the opportunities to observe other groups on how they present themselves to the client

During lectures time, Ms. Dianne explained to us accordingly and taught us to do the calculation step by step. This enabled us to understand more since this is the first time we do estimating where we only learned to measure quantities in previous semester. Last but not the least, this subject taught me to price items accordingly that involved in construction.

MEASUREMENT 4

MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2015

MEASUREMENT 4

Measurement 4 is lectured by Sr. Loo. He is always stressed on the importance of using SMM2 during lectures and explained the clauses that need to be followed during measurement in preparing us to do taking off and bills of Quantity correctly in the future. This lessons covered more on external works such as sewerage pipe, drainage system, bored piling and road. Through the lesson, I have a greater understanding of constructing the external elements like culvert, drain and sump. Now, I am able to put theories we have learnt from Construction Technology to the taking off practice.

Just like the other module, we are also having two group assignment for this module, which one of the assignment is to measure all the element of a bungalow at actual quantification while preparing a full set of tender document, while the second assignment is the Elemental Cost Analysis (ECA) workshop.

ASSIGNMENT 1

In this assignment, students are required to form a group which comprises of six members in a group in order to complete this assignment. For the measurement part, my task is to measure and prepare the BQ for doors and windows, internal ceiling finishes. Sr. Loo was kind enough to check our progress of our measurement works every day and in the same time we can ask questions regarding our measurement and he was willing to help us out every time we ask him At the end of this assignment, I am able to enhance my problem solving skills as well as teamwork and leadership.

ASSIGNMENT 2

One of the highlight for this semester us second assignment which is ECA Workshop. All students are divided into specific groups and attended a week of ECA Workshop. It wasn’t an easy for all of us at the first stage since we are not familiar with this. I am glad that we managed to get help from seniors as well as lecturers in completing this assignment. At the end of this assignment, I am able to enhance my time management skills since I have to finish the given work within a short time.