Development of a defect monitoring system (DMOSYS) for building maintenance at polytechnic

Facilities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 403-422
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Bin Ismail

Purpose The current maintenance management method has affected the efficiency of the building facility management at Polytechnics. Many issues such as poor service delivery, inadequate finance, poor maintenance planning and maintenance backlogs have emerged due to the usage of conventional method application (paper-based form and unsystematic database. The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and case studies project of the technologies in maintenance management at Polytechnic, and subsequently to identify the challenge in improving the current maintenance management technologies. Design/methodology/approach The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and case studies project of the technologies in maintenance management at Polytechnic, and subsequently to identify the challenges of information and communication technology (ICT) implementation for strategic defect diagnosis and decision-making in improving the current maintenance management technologies. Eight Polytechnics are selected on the basis of the major problems of using the conventional method in the comparison to investigate the maintenance management practices in each Polytechnic. There are around 32 Polytechnics in Malaysia and most are using conventional methods. Findings The findings reveal the need for a more sophisticated maintenance management system that provides guidelines for decision-making processes with the implementation of ICT. The interview results also reveal irregularities within the Malaysian Polytechnics’ maintenance management database. The system architecture and the information system prototype are presented to integrate the information database and maintenance management processes in improving the building diagnosis approach and decision-making process for managing building maintenance. Originality/value This new system is expected to become the successful technology in assisting the maintenance contractors, clients and developer for effective management of maintenance defects at Polytechnic.

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose – The current maintenance management method has affected the efficiency of the building facility management at Polytechnics. Many issues such as poor service delivery, inadequate finance, poor maintenance planning and maintenance backlogs have emerged due to the usage of conventional method application (paper-based form and unsystematic database). Therefore, the proposed system improvement is intended to be used for maintenance management practices at Malaysian Polytechnics in order to provide high quality of building facility with safe and healthy environments. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Eight Polytechnics were selected based on major problems of using conventional method in the comparison to investigate the maintenance management practices in each Polytechnic. Findings – The overall findings of this research indicated; poor service delivery, inadequate financial, poor maintenance planning and maintenance backlogs. The system architecture and the conceptual process model are presented to integrate the information database and maintenance management processes in improving the building diagnosis approach and decision-making process for managing building maintenance. Originality/value – This new system development provides a better maintenance assessment for identifying symptoms, causes and reasons of building defects without depending on the expensive instruments, for instance, non-destructive testing (NDT) and sensor technology. It also has the potential to become the successful technology in assisting the maintenance contractors, clients and developer for effective management of maintenance defects at Polytechnic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 510-527
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose The improper management of conventional systems for recording, diagnosing and analysing information appears to be a major problem in the maintenance of heritage buildings. This is because of a lack of detection of patent or latent defects, ineffective repair methods and inappropriate planning decisions, which increase the risks of failure throughout the lifetime of heritage buildings. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The concept of maintenance management practices, as well as techniques and tools from information and communication technology, was reviewed to identify suitable processes and construct an information database of maintenance and management techniques. A maintenance index framework was then formulated by analysing these concepts. Findings The initial findings identify the need for decision-making support in the diagnosis of heritage building maintenance based on robust data collection. This should include the selection of a durable replacement design and material or an appropriate rehabilitation method for managing quality and reducing associated defects. Originality/value Further research into the maintenance of heritage buildings should consider various aspects in terms of sustainability. The paper concludes that implementing a maintenance index framework can help improve the decision-making performance with regard to the design, construction and maintenance operations of heritage concrete buildings.


2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (7) ◽  
pp. 1485-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the principles for managing precast concrete (PC) building in the context of Malaysian maintenance practice. A large number of clients/contractors in a PC building maintenance project faced many issues due to poor service delivery, less-competent contractor and defect repetition. Meanwhile, conventional method practices tend to be ineffective in Malaysian PC building. Design/methodology/approach Case studies were used to investigate the practice of maintenance management with eight professional engineers working in the Malaysian PC building maintenance departments. Findings Interviews were held with these departments and content analysis was used to identify themes that demonstrate effective PC building maintenance management practice. The frontline approaches (new system development with the integration of BIM) and underlying approach such as decision making in defect diagnosis are presented to address the maintenance management problems on PC building such as defect repetition and less-competent contractor. Originality/value The underlying approaches include sustaining existing maintenance quality and providing decision making in diagnosis support while the frontline approaches include the use of emerging technologies, efficient control of building performance-based design and monitor the defect component operation in maintenance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 803-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose The improper maintenance affects the performance of management practices for Green Building (GB) in Malaysia. This is due to the issues of lack of GB knowledge and competency for maintenance activities in GB projects. However, only a few researchers have investigated maintenance within the GBs. This may be due to industry’s lack of awareness concerning the currently existing maintenance problems and their causes. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper intends to develop a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based approach for managing maintenance in GB schemes. As a precursor to this work, the current maintenance management activities, ICT tools and techniques are reviewed and explored in such projects to gather processes and information database of maintenance and management. Findings The findings reveal the need for more sophisticated maintenance management solutions that accord with the needs of GB schemes to manage quality and reduce associated defects. Originality/value The paper concludes by presenting a research framework for developing such a system in the future. It is also suggested that further research into maintenance of GB should consider issues in terms of concern for lifecycle assessment and sustainability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-343
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of an integrated computerised maintenance management system to improve the information storage of design and construction, diagnostic and defect risk assessments on IBS building through the integration of building information modelling (BIM). Design/methodology/approach The methodology used interviews with the IBS building client/maintenance contractor in Malaysia to gather information about maintenance management problems, approaches to address problems, information and communication technology implementation and use of emerging technologies, in addition to prototyping a system development life cycle for system development. Findings Relevant process flowchart documents of system development were obtained from the case study and reviewed to assist in providing an automation technique for decision-making and structural defect diagnostic operation through the integration of Visual Basic.Net, MS Access and Autodesk Revit software. Originality/value This research focuses on automatic bidirectional communications between an Expert System and BIM on a database level. Adoption of the approaches suggested in the research will enable the system to promote the development of zero IBS building maintenance.


Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 247-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish K. Dixit ◽  
Charles H. Culp ◽  
Jose L. Fernandez-Solis ◽  
Sarel Lavy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of a life cycle approach in facilities management practices to reduce the carbon footprint of built facilities. A model to holistic life cycle energy and carbon reduction is also proposed. Design/methodology/approach A literature-based discovery approach was applied to collect, analyze and synthesize the results of published case studies from around the globe. The energy use results of 95 published case studies were analyzed to derive conclusions. Findings A comparison of energy-efficient and conventional facilities revealed that decreasing operating energy may increase the embodied energy components. Additionally, the analysis of 95 commercial buildings indicated that nearly 10 per cent of the total US carbon emissions was influenced by facilities management practices. Research limitations/implications The results were derived from case studies that belonged to various locations across the globe and included facilities constructed with a variety of materials. Practical implications The proposed approach to holistic carbon footprint reduction can guide facility management research and practice to make meaningful contributions to the efforts for creating a sustainable built environment. Originality/value This paper quantifies the extent to which a facilities management professional can contribute to the global efforts of reducing carbon emission.


2018 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose The current maintenance management method affects the efficiency of the complex, high-rise industrialised building system (IBS) building maintenance management projects in Malaysia. The usage of a conventional system (paper-based reports/unsystematic database) has various drawbacks, such as IBS component aesthetic and structural defects which occur repeatedly in the building and maintenance of conventional building, lack of integration between maintenance systems and lack of the intelligent capabilities of linking defect diagnosis operations in maintenance affecting various building elements with IBS component defect knowledge. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of a mechanism to improve IBS component defect knowledge transfer in IBS building maintenance projects through the integration of building information modelling (BIM). Design/methodology/approach Eight clients/maintenance contractors were selected based on the major problems of using a conventional system to investigate the maintenance management practices in each complex and high-rise IBS building. Findings The findings indicated that several computerised systems such as Building Automation System and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System are used by a client/maintenance contractor. Moreover, BIM technology awareness was found to be limited, with no implementation in IBS building maintenance till now. The results of this case study were used as a foundation for the development of a prototype system using Computerised Maintenance Management System, Expert System and BIM. Originality/value The development of this new system improves IBS component diagnosis knowledge integration with the BIM technology.


Facilities ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Ismail

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the system approaches and their application for managing IBS building in the context of Malaysian maintenance practice. Currently, the maintenance management method has affected the efficiency of the complex and high-rise industrialised building system (IBS) building maintenance management in Malaysia. Many issues such as poor service delivery, limited budgets, less competent staff and defect repetition emerged because of the usage of conventional method applications (paper-based form). The data revealed that the practice of maintenance management for complex and high-rise IBS buildings needs to be digitalised. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative research was carried out by conducting literature review and semi-structured interviews. Eight major maintenance organisations were selected based on a conventional method of practice in managing maintenance for complex and high-rise IBS buildings. The computerised system was developed using a data flow diagram and coding. Subsequently, the prototype system was tested. Findings By having this prototype system, the defect diagnosis and decision-making process become easier, faster and cost-effective in facilitating the maintenance assessment, defect diagnosis and control in relation to IBS building structure components. Originality/value In conclusion, the prototype system may improve the effectiveness of maintenance management practices for IBS building structure components in reducing defect design risks such as design calculation error to provide high-quality IBS building structure components for a safe and healthy environment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Macchi ◽  
Adolfo Crespo Márquez ◽  
Maria Holgado ◽  
Luca Fumagalli ◽  
Luis Barberá Martínez

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for the engineering of E-maintenance platforms that is based on a value-driven approach. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology assumes that a value-driven engineering approach would help foster technological innovation for maintenance management. Indeed, value-driven engineering could be easily adopted at the business level, with subsequent positive effects on the industrial applications of new information and communication technologies solutions. Findings – The methodology combines a value-driven approach with the engineering in the maintenance scope. The methodology is tested in a manufacturing case to prove its potential to support the engineering of E-maintenance solutions. In particular, the case study concerns the investment in E-maintenance solutions developed in the framework of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system originally implemented for production purposes. Originality/value – Based on literature research, the paper presents a methodology that is implemented considering three different approaches (business theories, value-driven engineering and maintenance management). The combination of these approaches is novel and overcomes the traditional view of maintenance as an issue evaluated from a cost-benefit perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian R. Hodgkinson ◽  
Thomas W. Jackson ◽  
Andrew A. West

Purpose Customer experience is more critical than ever to firms’ successes and future growth opportunities. Typically measured through aggregate satisfaction scores, businesses have been criticized for oversimplifying what experience means. The purpose of this study is to provide a new perspective on experience management and offers a novel way forward for customer-centric strategizing. Design/methodology/approach Mapping the current digital technologies being used across businesses in all sectors to engage and connect with customers more effectively, this paper outlines some of the fundamental challenges of experience management and future opportunities to enhance business practice. Findings Businesses are capturing what they know about customers, rather than what a customer thinks and feels about the firm. Many experience management initiatives create customer pains (not gains), while for businesses, decision-making can be jeopardized by fake customer data. A framework based upon the five experience dimensions is presented for optimal customer-driven decision-making. Practical implications Going beyond aggregate satisfaction scores that serve as an output rather than an input into businesses strategizing, the paper presents an actionable framework for targeted investments and enhanced experience management practices. Originality/value Businesses are seeking to grow intelligent customer experience analysis capabilities to disrupt traditional business models toward greater customer-centricity and to track the digital spread of positive and negative experiences. Examining how this is being done and where the weaknesses lie by bridging management practice and the scientific literature, this paper provides new knowledge to advance customer-centric strategies for growth and profitability.


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