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Introduction to Construction
Industry --
An Interview with a Quantity Surveyor
(Consultant)
MR. SIA CHENG SENG
FNBE AUG 14| Issue 13
SIA CHENG SENG 47 YEARS OLD
GRADUATED AT UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH @ UK
DEGREE IN QUANTITY SURVEYING 20 YEARS OF WORKING EXPERIENCES
IN 3 DIFFERENT COMPANIES
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BIODATA
Why did you choose QS as your career? Are you happy with being an QS? My father is a builder and I’m often exposed to constructions since young and then I eventually grew interested in QS. I enjoy and feel rather satisfied when I see the end product of my efforts. How long have you been working in this line? After my diploma in Building Surveying, I worked as an assistant QS at my dad’s company for about a year plus before furthering my studies at UK taking degree in QS for a year. After graduating from UK, I worked as a consultant QS for 10 years and then joined a Design and Built Contractor company which is also the company I’m working with for 12 years now. I obtained the qualified and registered QS of ISM and RICS in my early thirties, with that, I formed two of my own companies. Who do you usually work with? I usually go for site meetings and meet clients, subcontractor and architect. But I work mostly with contractors as I need to make sure the work meet the budget and expectations of clients.
Q&A
Tell us more about your company. I have two companies, I was a consultant in a developer company belong to my father and then decided to form another contract company with my elder brother to make projects a lot more convenient. My brother has now taken over that developer company and I am taking care of this four-‐year-‐old contracts company, Wei Sheng Builders Sdn. Bhd.
Wei Sheng Builders Sdn. Bhd
(905863-K)
905863-‐K
No. 1, Ground Floor Jalan Perwira 1, Taman Perwira, Bukit Bakri, 84200 Muar, Johor
Date of registration: 25th June 2010
Certified by: Noorlida Hanim Binti Ahmad (Assistant Registrar of Companies, Malaysia)
Authorized capital: RM 500,000.00
Paid-‐up capital: RM250,000.00
“We plan to achieve mutual satisfaction and to reach bigger goals in the construction industry, we are fully committed to complete all construction project undertaken on time, within reasonable price and with the excellence quality.”
Organizational chart
Slightly brief us about two projects you would like to share with us and tell us why.
1) Two projects? Hmm, a 10 units of semi-‐d and 2 units of bungalow project in Ampang Jaya, Selangor which is not yet awarded so we cannot proceed. I chose to share the Ampang Jaya project with you is because I am really looking forward to work with the contractors involved in this particular project because I have never worked with them before.
Projects
“I was actually invited by a client to tender the Ampang project, which means I have to arrange the tender documents such as drawings, plans etc. and if the drawings are lump sum (not stated specific), this is where I become important. I have to estimate, foresee and to also visit the site so the estimations are more accurate. Choosing types of cement and tiles such as the marble ones, china ones and so on are also part of my responsibilities as well. Once everything is settled, I’ll check the drawings one last time and then summit them to the contractors (yes, the one I’m looking forward to work with) during meeting and procurement questions concerning my documents, supplier or anything related. Now, we’re just waiting for our tender to be awarded so that we can proceed.”
2) The second one is 15 units of double storey in Muar, Johor, that cost about 3 million, which is already completed for about half a year now. While for Muar, I am proud and satisfied with my work and achievement as both my company and my brother’s company worked hard together.
“I took over this Muar project from my brother’s company so I had lesser responsibilities here. My brother will have to take photos, measurements and to also calculate the amount and total cost of materials needed to be used. As a consultant QS, I will have counter check the measurements and such that he had calculated as well as the preliminary price overhead (electricity, water, QS price etc.) When everything is settled, meeting will be held to talk about the project to get awarded to proceed. Clients will pay when we pass them the progress plan but if there are any variations or changes that the clients want to add, extra charges will be charged. After whole project is finished, we’ll have to claim on final accounts and that’s it.
“It is tiring being a QS and sometimes, it might even get boring.
But look ahead of those negativity, success is all you want.
So just do it!”
MR SIA’S ADVICE
FOR STUDENTS
“Make sure to brush up your general knowledge because as a QS, we learn things depending on our surroundings and also about IT and technology because the world now can solve mostly anything with a computer especially AutoCAD.”
Special thanks to:
§ Wei Sheng Builders Sdn. Bhd. § Taylor’s School of Architecture, Build and Design § Author : Cynthia Fong § Interviewers : Hau Hui Yee, Lim Zia Huei
Ee Yun Shan, Gabriel Chin
Available at all major bookstores & newsagents. Next month’s issue about: Developments of A New Land
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