I attended a workshop on interview skills on 25th June 2014 conducted by Mr. Wong Soo Boo, Managing Director of Kumpulun Sepakat Konsult Sdm Bhd. It was a very good workshop and received a lot of information on how the working environment is and job availability and tips on how to prepare for an interview. Gave a better insight on how the work environment is for interns and graduate and the best way to survive it to be successful.
Interview skills workshop
Software application for QS had two group assignments.
The first one was a research assignment to find information on BIM software for QS and compare and analyse the different software in the market. The assignment gave us the opportunity to gain knowledge on the different BIM software in the market and the benefits and drawbacks of each of them. This increased our knowledge base on BIM software and we are more aware of the technology in the real world and will assist us in choosing and proposing software in the working environment. We were able to put a good team effort and gained a lot of knowledge from this assignment.
The second assignment involved the use of Buildsoft software to estimate and price the elements measured in the Measurement 4 grop assignment. We had to combine both measurement and estimating knowledge and apply it in the software. It was time consuming, however managed to finish and submit on time. Through this assignment, I know how to make price break downs and price the elements measured and also how to input measurements in the software and transfer prices. It was very interesting and knowledgeable.
As computer software is becoming increasingly popular for QS use and replacing the manual works of measurement and billing preparations, we learned how to use two QS software; CostX and BuildSoft.
This was extremely useful as we are able to carry out the works of QS within less time and more accuracy. CostX can be effectively used to measure different types of drawings and generate bill of quantities. Buildsoft however required the input of manual measurements to prepare price breakdowns and prepare bill of quantities.
We learned how to use the software and manage our time well, by speeding up the work. It helped us become more technologically aware and keep up with the ever evolving industry.
Assignment was assigned to 4 member groups to calculate the load carried by different members in a building and deduce the dimensions for the foundation.
It was a simple assignment and we were able to apply the knowledge gained from the theory and tutorial classes to answer to the assignment. We learned how the load is transferred from one member to the other until it leads to the foundation.
Furthermore, we learned how to intepret and apply BS codes while solving the assignment problem. We were able to effectively operate as a team and obtain the answer and submit on time. We also learned how this calculation is carried out in real working environment by civil engineers and to use Microsoft Excel to formulate the information effectively.
Structure is a unit focused to provide some knowledge on how and why the components of a building is constructed in a particular way.
Through the course of the unit, I was able to gain knowledge on the physics of building construction. I also learned how to apply mathematical calculations in order to deduce the arrangement of particular components in the building; for example, the arrangement of reinforcement in a concrete member.
It provided a better understanding in the construction technology and improved our knowledge base.
I was able to apply critical thinking and use the knowledge in different angles in order to solve both simple and complex problems. It was overall a very interesting unit.
An individual assignment was assigned for Professional Practice 1, where it requires the submission of a proposal for the most suitable method of procurement, tendering and contract arrangement for construction project.
Through this assignment, I was able to analyse the requirements of the customer and propose the most suitable procurement, tendering and contract arrangement method. As these factors solely depend on the customer requirements, it is important that all requirements are met and analyzed.
I was able to apply the knowledge from the theory classes in to solving the problem and proposing an answer for the assignment in practice. Furthermore, I learned proposal writing and how the practice is in the real working environment. Also I was able to research and analyse many different scenarios and choose the best one for the customer to obtain the best results.
One of the most important units in the QS course, Professional Practice 1 introduces us documents and procedures applied in the course of construction projects and gives us a legal insight.
Through this unit, I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of the role of a Quantity surveyor and the different duties undertaken by QS in the construction industry. I learned that the QS can operate in a wide range of work situations.
I also learned about the contract and tender documents and the procurement processes which are very important in the pre-construction stages of a project. I also gained knowledge on how to interpret the PAM form of contract and application of the contract during various post contract events.
I learned how to prepare formal correspondences for variation orders and grant of extensions of time and liquidated damages.
The assignment for Estimating unit was estimating and pricing a tender document in order to participate in a competitive tender between groups of 7 to 8 member teams.
We had to make a company and follow all professional procedures in any real tendering process and price and win the tender. My team consisted of 8 members and our company was called Mini Ray Construction Ltd. We equally distributed the work of pricing and estimating the different elements in a one storey show house project.
The assignment taught us how to operate as a team and keep a flow of information going. As we had to get current market prices of materials, each member had to contact suppliers in order to get the prices. This experience taught us how to communicate with suppliers and learn how the materials are sold and supplied. We had some trouble acquiring the material rates from suppliers as most suppliers are unwilling to provide the information to students. Labour rates as well, were difficult to find, as there is no updated cost data available in the country.
Group wise, we were able to schedule the work and complete the tender document in time for submission. We were able to complete the tender document as per the instructions and was one of the only 3 groups who successfully completed all the sections of the tender document. As the leader of the team, I was able to manage and guide all members and help out all members to complete the assignment on time. I faced minor problems with some members as they are unable to complete the work as per my instructed time and inability to be initiative in their work and solve problems on their own. Overall it was a good team effort, however we were unable to win the tender due to our contract sum being comparatively higher. This was mainly due to lack of alternative material and labour rates and also we had some errors in pricing preliminaries.
Through this assignment I was able to learn the application of professional practice and estimating in the real working environment as well as how a tendering process takes place. I was also able to gain better knowledge in preliminaries and provisional and prime cost sums and how to price them.
Tender submission
Sealed tender
The unit Estimating is a Major unit for the course as it is one of the major duties of the quantity surveyor. The knowledge is required in order to effectively estimate for construction projects and prepare Bill of Quantities for tendering.
In the course of this unit, I learned how to apply construction and measurement knowledge into estimating unit and total prices for various elements of a building. Also learned about the factors influencing the rates of materials and contract sum of project and how to estimate based on these factors.
We also learned how to prepare and price a tender the procedures involved in tendering by applying professional practice knowledge. We learned how to price and prepare tender documents by theory and also applied the knowledge into practice during the group assignment.
ECA Workshop was a 5-day long event held for all Semester 4 students as part of Measurement 4 coursework in order to learn how to carry out an elemental cost analysis on a project building.
All students were assigned into groups of 11 to 12 members and given a contract document for a project to prepare a cost analysis. We were to follow an ECA manual to carry out the analysis and present it on the last day of the workshop.
The ECA workshop experience was a very different and eye-opening experience. It was an opportunity to apply and show great teamwork, however, our group failed in that sense to effectively keep a flow of information between all the members and work as a team. Everyone was focused only at their parts or not having anything to do and not looking at the ‘problem that need to be solved’ as a whole. Our mistakes were pointed out during the presentation which we had to re-do.
Nevertheless, we were able to re-do and complete the cost analysis at its best and through the bitter experience learn the importance of teamwork and flow of information in order to complete a task effectively. It is also important not to depend on one person alone, and everyone to look into the matter to view the problem in different angles so that human errors are greatly minimized. We also learned the importance of using skills and resources when available.
Furthermore, as for the ECA, I was able to learn how to carry out a complete cost analysis with the guidance of my lecturers and also the manual. So the experience was beneficial in more ways than one.
ECA team.
(Left to right) Yasmina, Boon Hua, Naina, Iuthisam, Ru Huey, Amina, Maureen, Mun Chun, Cyn Nie, Jia Qi (Leader), Wei Nie and King Sin
First Day of workshop
Seminar
iuthisam mariyam 