Journal of Advanced Research Design

Understanding the Common Defects in Commercial Buildings: Types, Causes and Remedial Actions

Mohamad Aieman Daud — 2024-11-01

Commercial building maintenance management constitutes a pertinent issue of global concern for all related stakeholders. In Malaysia, the management of commercial building maintenance plays a crucial role in achieving the goal of providing safety to occupants and the building itself. However, there is a paucity of studies that have comprehensively explored all dimensions of commercial building defects in relation to maintenance management. This research was also conducted to identify and analyze the typical defects that occur in commercial structures, understand their underlying causes, assess their impact on safety, functionality and propose effective remedial actions. The study utilized a qualitative approach for data collection. The findings indicated that cracked floors, floor tile failures, wall tiles failure, damaged ceiling, paint peeling and faulty light bulbs were some of the flaws that degrade commercial building. The study’s outcome revealed that defects not only deface the aesthetic appearance of the commercial buildings but also inhibit the functionality of the buildings and depreciate the overall satisfaction. The research limitations include using commercial buildings (shopping complexes or malls) that have been operating for more than 20 years. This study offers invaluable insights for maintenance organizations and maintenance department staff who are genuinely interested in improving commercial buildings’ maintenance management to optimize staff’s performance and enhance the user satisfaction of the buildings in Malaysia and globally.

Study on the Engineering Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete Modified with Palm Stalk Fiber as an Additive

Md Azree Othuman Mydin — 2024-11-01

The escalation of agricultural waste in Malaysia has emerged as a significant focal point today. Agricultural trash is typically disposed of in landfills without regard for environmental considerations. Prior studies have demonstrated that highly reactive silica-containing debris can interact with calcium hydroxide in concrete, resulting in a thick microstructure. This study examines the possible application of palm stalk fibre (PSF) as an additive in lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) to enhance its engineering properties. The assessed engineering properties include compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, shrinkage and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Four distinct PSF percentages of 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 % were utilized as additions to the LFC mix. The findings indicated that incorporating 0.45 % PSF into LFC yielded optimal outcomes for compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, shrinkage and ultrasonic pulse velocity of LFC. The surface roughness of PSF enhances fiber-to-matrix interfacial bonding, since a rougher surface facilitates the interlocking of SBK fibre with the matrix within the LFC cementitious matrix.

Construction Waste Management Strategies Towards Sustainable Practices in Malaysia

Chun Han Lim — 2024-11-01

Malaysia has witnessed substantial rapid growth in construction waste management (CWM). However, this expansion has brought with it an obvious dilemma, namely an increasing amount of construction waste. The main aim of this study was to examine the critical issues of CWM in Malaysia, considering its various impacts on the environment, economy and society. Waste from various building materials increases with time, placing a heavy burden on ecosystems, public health and the economy. This study develops a strategic approach to CWM in Malaysia. The study focuses on identifying the common practices of construction waste and its’ relevant future strategies for enhancing sustainability. The method approach for this study was qualitative research, which consists of observation and semi-structured interview techniques. Respondents were from developers, management teams, contractors and site supervisors with expertise in CWM. Open-ended questions were designed and distributed to the respondents during the interview session to achieve information related to the current practice, challenges and solutions for improving CWM practices in Malaysia. The study highlights the importance of incorporating safety, health and environmental factors into CWM to facilitate the transformation of Malaysia's construction industry into a more ecologically conscious and productive sector. This will ultimately lead to a future characterized by enhanced security, improved sanitation and greater sustainability.

The Solution of Paint Coloring Causes by Sun Radiation on External Wall

Muhammad Alif Zakwan Mohd Zamran — 2024-11-01

There are many different types of building designs available today. As a result, the focus of the design is on the quality of the building's paint. The unique use of paint, as well as the quality and durability of the paint will increase the visual value of the building. Thus, the researchers believe that the fading of the paint color on the exterior walls of the building is caused by a natural factor which is the sun's rays. The researchers have decided to conduct an in-depth study of paint fading as well as potential methods to overcome and control the problem produced by sunlight on paint. This experimental study aims to identify a solution for the fading paint color caused by sun radiation on the external wall of the building. This study used two approaches to examine paint color fading, including a literature review and interviews with a panel of experts. This study also focused on solutions that can be implemented to meet the objective of the study, which was to study the effects of sun radiation on paint fading on the external walls of the building, determine the actions that need to be taken to reduce fading on the external walls and recommend solutions of retaining the paint coloring external wall of the building.

The Effect of Lean Manufacturing on Production / Operation for the Small and Medium Enterprise in Malaysia

Nur Sahira Aslan — 2024-11-01

At the start of 2022, the government announced its focus on supporting the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve living standards following the COVID-19 pandemic. SMEs contribute significantly to the national economy, with the clothing industry playing a major role. This research applies lean manufacturing techniques to enhance the performance of SMEs in the clothing sector, specifically in T-shirt printing. Therefore the first objective was to collect, analyze processing times and recording of all issues encountered during production. The second objective involved using value stream mapping (VSM) to analyze the T-shirt printing process from raw material supply to finished product packaging. We also employed a why-why analysis to pinpoint the underlying causes of inefficiencies and devise specific solutions. The last objective focused on process improvement using VSM, along with the Kanban system, 5S and Make to Stock (MTS) to optimize block preparation and T-shirt printing. We selected Flexsilk Printshop as the case study. The findings showed a 66.59 % reduction in waiting time, a 30.77 % improvement in lead time, an increase in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) from 93.3 to 97.45 % and a 50.41 % increase in efficiency.