`

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  

`                          

 

     

           

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