• Workshop Planning and Management

Available courses

SITE ORGANISATION AND WORK STUDY

The “Site Organization and Work Study” course focuses on the principles and techniques for managing construction sites and optimizing work processes to ensure safety, efficiency, and economy. It covers practical aspects of planning, executing, and monitoring construction projects. 

 

Site Organisation Summary

 

Site organisation is the detailed planning and arrangement of a construction site to ensure a safe and efficient working environment throughout the project duration. 

Key topics typically include:

  • Site Layout Planning: Involves identifying, sizing, and placing temporary facilities (offices, storage areas, workshops, welfare amenities, access roads) within the site boundaries. Factors like topography, material handling, and safety regulations are critical considerations.
  • Safety, Health, and Welfare: Emphasizes adherence to regulations, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), first-aid points, fire safety measures, proper sanitation, and secure storage of hazardous substances.
  • Administration and Management: Covers the roles and responsibilities of various site personnel (site manager, resident engineer, planning, quantity surveying, and safety departments), communication channels, and effective management functions like planning, controlling, and coordinating.
  • Logistics and Material Management: Focuses on procurement procedures, storekeeping methods (stock control, documentation), reducing material wastage, and minimizing material handling costs.
  • Labour Organisation: Includes forecasting labour requirements, recruitment methods, and implementing incentive schemes (financial and non-financial) to motivate employees and improve job satisfaction

Work Study Summary

 

Work study is a management service technique used to examine human work in all its contexts to improve efficiency and economy. It is comprised of two complementary areas: 

  • Method Study: The systematic recording and critical examination of existing and proposed ways of doing work to develop and apply easier, more effective methods and reduce costs.
    • Procedure: Involves selecting the work, recording facts using charts and diagrams (e.g., flow charts, string diagrams), critically examining the facts, developing a new method (eliminating, combining, re-sequencing, simplifying activities), defining, installing, and maintaining the new standard practice.
    • Objectives: To improve processes, workspace layout, equipment design, and the use of resources (men, machines, materials), while reducing unnecessary fatigue and improving the working environment.
  • Work Measurement: The application of techniques designed to establish the time for a qualified worker to carry out a specified job at a defined level of performance (setting standard times).
    • Techniques: Includes time study (using a stopwatch), predetermined motion time systems, synthesis from previous data, and work sampling.
    • Objectives: To compare the efficiency of alternative methods, provide data for cost estimation and pricing, aid in production scheduling and capacity planning, and form the basis for incentive pay systems. 

 

Overall Course Benefits

 

Together, site organisation and work study aim to increase productivity, reduce operating costs, improve safety, and enhance overall project control and performance. 

 

ESTIMATING AND COSTING

 

An "Estimating and Costing" course provides the knowledge and techniques to forecast the probable expenditures of a project, determine its financial feasibility, and control costs during execution. It equips individuals with the skills to prepare accurate budgets and tender documents for construction and engineering projects.

Course Summary

The course generally covers the following key areas:

Introduction to Estimating and Costing: This module defines the purpose and importance of estimates, outlines the different types of estimates (e.g., approximate, preliminary, and detailed), and discusses the necessary data for preparation, such as drawings, specifications, and current market rates.

Quantity Surveying and Measurement: A core component that teaches systematic methods (like the long wall-short wall method or the centerline method) to accurately measure and calculate the quantities of materials and work items from construction drawings. This process is crucial for creating a detailed Bill of Quantities (BOQ).

Rate Analysis: Students learn to determine the cost of a single unit of work (e.g., per cubic meter of concrete) by breaking down expenses into direct costs (materials, labor, equipment) and indirect costs (overheads, transport, contingencies, and profit margins).

Preparation of Estimates and Budgets: This involves compiling the measured quantities and unit rates into detailed estimates and an abstract of the estimated cost. The course also covers the preparation of project schedules and initial cost advice.

Tendering and Contract Management: The syllabus covers the tendering process, different types of contracts (e.g., lump-sum, cost-plus), preparation of tender documents, and methods for selecting competitive bidders.

Cost Control and Management: Participants learn techniques to monitor project costs, conduct variance analysis, manage changes and variations to the original plan, and prepare interim and final payment certificates to ensure the project stays within budget.

Valuation and Depreciation: In some courses, the principles of valuation of buildings and structures, including the calculation of depreciation, may also be covered.

Modern Tools and Software: Modern courses often integrate the use of software tools like MS Excel, AutoCAD, and specialized estimating software to enhance efficiency and accuracy in the estimation process.

Upon completion, students are expected to be able to prepare comprehensive estimates, manage project finances effectively, and make informed decisions regarding project feasibility and bidding

MEASUREMENT OF BUILDING WORKS

A "Measurements course" generally provides a systematic approach to quantifying physical variables, analyzing data, and using instruments correctly across various fields like engineering, construction (quantity surveying), or research. 

The summary can be broken down based on the typical applications:

General Principles of Measurement

Most measurements courses begin with core concepts applicable across disciplines. 

·        Fundamentals and Terminology: Definition of measurement, units (focus on the International System of Units, SI), standards, and the functional elements of a typical measurement system (sensing, conversion, and data presentation elements).

·        Measurement Quality and Error Analysis: Understanding essential characteristics like accuracy, precision, resolution, sensitivity, and range. A major component is learning to identify sources of errors (systematic and random), apply statistical methods, and perform uncertainty analysis.

·        Calibration and Traceability: The process of checking and adjusting instruments against known standards to ensure accuracy and establish traceability of results.

·        Signal Processing and Data Acquisition: Introduction to how signals from sensors are conditioned (e.g., amplification, filtering) and converted to digital form for analysis and recording using software like LabVIEW or MATLAB. 

Specializations and Applications

Depending on the specific discipline, the course will focus on particular techniques and instruments:

Engineering Measurements (Mechanical, Electrical, etc.)

This track focuses on measuring physical quantities in industrial and experimental settings. 

·        Instrumentation and Transducers: Study of sensors and transducers (e.g., thermocouples, strain gauges, LVDTs, photodiodes) used to measure various physical parameters.

·        Measurement of Specific Quantities: Principles and instruments for measuring:

o   Mechanical: Displacement, strain, force, torque, pressure, fluid flow, speed, vibration, and temperature.

o   Electrical: Voltage, current, resistance, power, using meters, oscilloscopes, and bridges.

·        Experimental Design: Designing and conducting experiments to obtain reliable data, followed by data analysis, interpretation of results, and technical report writing. 

Quantity Surveying/Construction Measurements

This track focuses on quantifying materials and labor for construction projects to aid in cost estimation and planning. 

·        Quantity Take-Off: Systematic methods for measuring quantities of building elements (e.g., excavation volume, wall area, concrete volume) directly from engineering drawings.

·        Standard Methods of Measurement (SMM/NRM): Adherence to industry-specific standard rules to ensure consistency and clarity in tender documents and Bills of Quantities (BOQ).

·        Tools and Technology: Use of manual methods, CAD software, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for automated and precise quantity extraction. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, students are typically able to select appropriate measurement tools, perform accurate measurements, analyze data effectively, quantify uncertainty or quantities of work, and communicate their findings through structured reports