Construction Manager: The Site Orchestrator

Q: What do you do as a construction manager?

A: As construction managers, we oversee projects focusing on four main areas: time, safety, cost, and quality. At the site, we ensure that the project stays on schedule by managing material delivery and manpower, monitoring costs to ensure they adhere to budget constraints, maintaining high-quality standards, and enforcing safety measures.

Productivity is improved by leveraging robotics and automation, such as tile pointing machines, which automate the tiling process. Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) also helps boost productivity, where modules such as toilets are made off-site and assembled on-site, reducing waste, reducing on-site manpower needs and enhancing safety.

Q: What is the common misconception/s of what you do?

A: People tend to have the impression that the construction process is very labour-intensive. However, technology and innovation are transforming the way we work, and the environment that we work in.

Tools now offer greater convenience and efficiency, and repetitive or risky tasks are now performed with robotics or are automated. For example, there are now robots that paint and lay floor tiles, allowing us to do more with less.  To enhance safety, we also use CCTVs for real-time monitoring, which alert us to unsafe practices for immediate action.

Q: How does one become a construction manager? Can you tell us more about your journey?

A: When pursuing my civil engineering undergraduate studies, I interned at both consultancy and contractor firms which exposed me to both site-work and desk-bound jobs. Over time, I discovered that I prefer the former over the latter being an active person who enjoy outdoor activities. I was especially attracted by the job scope of a construction manager at a contractor firm, which provides a good balance of on-site and office work. So, after graduating, I decided to pursue a career in a contractor firm.

Q: What is one interesting thing about your job?

A: The Built Environment sector is always evolving, which means we have to pick up and learn new skills and techniques to effectively tackle fresh challenges.

Recently, I work on a project using a new method called top-down construction. Unlike the traditional bottom-up approach, where we start by digging down to the basement and building upwards, this method starts by building level one first while simultaneously building upwards and downwards, saving considerable time. It is also an engineering marvel, and a sight to behold!

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

A: Seeing a project evolve from concept to completion is incredibly rewarding. Each day presents new challenges with consultants, clients, and authorities, and solving these issues provides a strong sense of satisfaction. I also take great pleasure in exploring innovative engineering methods to boost productivity. Leading one of the first PPVC projects was challenging, but overcoming those challenges and successfully implementing this new construction method was particularly fulfilling.