HDB eyes 25% productivity boost by 2020
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) is looking to boost construction productivity by up to 25 per cent by 2020 amid concerns over a labour crunch.
It has launched a new HDB Construction Productivity
Framework aimed at encouraging the use of innovative construction methods and
optimising current processes and systems.
As the government moderates foreign worker growth, the
adoption of unconventional ways to sustain the construction industry's growth
is mandatory as it faces strong projected demand in the foreseeable years, said
Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi
Shyan.
"The fact that SMEs are facing a severe manpower crunch
is real and painful, but the policy of moderating foreign worker growth is also
a reality," he said.
In its bid to implement innovative construction methods, HDB
is exploring technologies that facilitate mechanisation and automation to
reduce on-site construction time, labour, noise and dust pollution.
HDB is also looking at improving productivity in precast
plants through automation, given that many existing prefab plants here are
still very labour-intensive, said Mr Lee.
On the process optimisation front, HDB is promoting the use
of building information modelling (BIM), which eliminates the need for manual
2D drawings, facilitates better teamwork and reduces abortive work.
Project submissions to HDB will be required to be in BIM
format from 2015.
Mr Lee was speaking at the launch of the inaugural HDB
Professional Engagement and Knowledge-sharing Forum (PEAK Forum), which
represents HDB's focused engagement with professionals in the building and
construction industry.
An exhibition showcase on the next phase of development of
Punggol was also launched for public consultation. It ends on Oct 28.
Source: Business Times – 18 October 2012