The state of skilled components installers for industrialized building system (IBS) construction in Malaysia

Abstract

In an IBS construction, the role of the contractor is shifted from a builder to an assembler on the site. Therefore, this requires the contractor to be prepared technologically with IBS knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, the number of skilled IBS installers in Malaysia is still low even though the system has been implemented for a long time. This research is carried out to find out whether the existing number of IBS installers matches existing needs. Primary data has been collected through interviews with construction workers at an IBS construction site in Penang Island in order to get the contractor's feedback regarding this issue. Meanwhile, secondary data has been collected from government agencies to establish the number of existing IBS installers and the number of IBS projects within government projects. The results from this study indicate that not all types of IBS's skill sectors have a shortage of skilled workers. However, there is a critical shortage of precast concrete installers. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2014.