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Industrialized Building System (IBS) is one of the initiatives underpinning the green construction zeitgeist. A myriad of advantages can be associated with adopting IBS in construction, including inter alia, improved construction quality and productivity, minimisation of construction waste, optimisation of construction materials on-site, enhanced environmental sustainability, and many others. In spite of these advantageous propositions, there is exist a gap in the exposure towards IBS construction methods, particularly in the city of Kuching, Sarawak, as compared to more familiar conventional methods. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the issues and challenges experienced by contractors in their IBS endeavour as well as to propose a framework of solution. Moreover, this study investigated the impact of IBS adoption by G7 contractors registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) of Sarawak. Data of this study was collected via questionnaires distributed to the G7 contractors and subsequently analysed using descriptive and mean analysis. Results obtained from the study suggested that IBS construction method enhances the efficiency of construction for speedier completions, which recorded the highest ranking. Conversely, lowering the costs of construction through optimisation of materials registered the lowest ranking, suggesting that contractors do not necessarily perceive IBS as having a cost-saving ability. This study showed that IBS helps to improve the efficiency of the construction process. However, respondents were still uncertain that adopting IBS can reduce costs. This corresponds to the finding in which the most significant challenge perceived by the contractors was related to cost. This suggested a lack of integration between the different stakeholders, especially during the design stage, often resulting in the need for redesign works that required additional costs when IBS is to be adopted. In this regard, it was not a surprise to find that “promotions” obtained the top ranking as a solution in overcoming the IBS challenges. Hence, support from both the government and the private sector needs to be garnered and diligently promoted, so that the adoption of IBS in the Sarawak construction industry can be properly enhanced.

The construction industry believes that Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a platform to transform the construction industry to a higher level by enhancing productivity and efficiency. It is proven that with BIM process execution, productivity can be enhanced through the effective collaboration process, increased return of investment, and reliable information to support the decision-making process. Efficiency can be enhanced through an integrated design process, reliable and accurate cost estimates, reduced financial risk, and reduced potential dispute. Thus, clients are gradually enforcing the use of BIM in their projects, resulting in many construction companies investing in BIM technology to fulfil clients’ needs. This paper presents a review of over recent research to identify the key of elements of awareness, benefits, strategies and implementation of BIM. The result reveals that the top ten (10) ranking of BIM awareness, BIM benefits, BIM challenges and BIM strategies for the industry player to implement and adopt BIM in Sarawak construction industry.

This study investigates the issues constraining the growth of small and medium-scale contracting firms, which can, in turn, reflect the small and medium-scale contractors’ needs that are corresponding to the needs or supports required by small and medium-scale contractors. The purpose of this study is to help SMCEs realise their own needs and also to assist government and policymakers to discover the approaches that should be executed and allocate scarce resources to the critical parts through needs identification and appraisal. A closed-ended questionnaire survey was deployed and the responses collected only reflect the construction players that are currently working in CIDB registered Grade 1 to Grade 6 contracting enterprises in the Klang Valley area. Five critical needs were identified through factor analysis. They are technical and technological needs, job accessibility needs, favourable fiscal and monetary policy needs, business development needs, and anti-corruption needs. Besides, this study reveals that the success of SMCEs can be perceived in the aspects of their business growth, profit growth and employment growth. Research studies on this topic are limited in the Malaysian construction industry. Therefore, this study provides guidance and references for SMCEs and policymakers concerning the capacity building needs and how their successes can be achieved so that SMCEs can be assisted in a way that they are capable to build their capabilities in today’s construction sector in Malaysia.