Chapter I: Introduction for the project
Background for the project
Building maintenance is essential, for different reasons: The first reason for the importance of maintaining a building is because it retains the value of the investment and to ensure longevity of the components of the building. For example, a property that has missing roof tiles, a boiler that requires replacing, or windows that need to be repainted cannot retain its value as much as one where regular maintenance has been undertaken (1998). The second reason for maintaining a building includes the desire to continue the buildings function, maintaining a building puts it in a condition in which it continues to fulfill its function. For example, where condensation has been persistent and extensive, and no rectifying measures have been adopted, the health of the occupants may be severely affected; eventually the area of the building affected becomes a health hazard, thus no longer providing a clean, safe environment to inhabit. A reason to maintain a building is to present a good appearance, by regular decoration of walls, doors, windows, and so on, which indicates that a building is probably well maintained, as well as being a more pleasant to live ( 1998).Maintaining a building is necessary to make sure that problems and tragedies will not strike the owner, tenants and clients of the building. There are many issues that have to be put into consideration as building maintenance is managed. One of which is the maintenance of risers. This paper is a dissertation on the streamline process flow along the riser inspection and maintenance process to achieve higher productivity and enhance overall effectiveness.
Company Profile
The oil industry is regarded as one of China's pillar industries. The restructuring of the oil industry is significant for the reform of China's large State owned Enterprises (SOE) and for the country's effort to construct competitive modern companies. Following the nation-wide restructuring of the industry, he company-wide restructuring for flotation created two giant integrated companies, PetroChina (PetroChina Company Limited) and Sinopec (China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation). The two companies have been successfully listed on the international market and have entered the league of top ten publicly-traded oil companies in the world. In China, the oil sector is held up as a beacon for other sectors to study in restructuring to face the challenge of globalization and consolidation. China's oil industry is of great importance for the global political economy, with major implications both for the main supplying regions, for the high-income countries, and for the firms based in those countries. Each of the global leading oil companies has major investment commitments in China and has formed various partnerships with the Chinese majors (2004).
The global leading firms must recognize that the transformation of the business capabilities of the Chinese majors is not easy to predict. It is necessary for them to keep in mind the fact that large Chinese companies operate in a different political-economic environment from theirs. China's political leaders have to consider the huge difficulties that stem from the existence of around one billion poor people within their boundaries, and the complexities involved in the reform of China's political system. Locking China into the world economic system by agreeing to accept the rules of the WTO does not guarantee a politically stable and economically rational environment for investment. China still has a long way to go in its transition. China's large firms were to experience widespread defeat, especially in key 'strategic industries', in the battle on the global level playing field of the WTO, that would raise deep issues not only for the Chinese government, but also for international relations, and, ultimately, for the large firms headquartered in the high-income countries ( 2004). One major oil company in Hong Kong and China is Hong Kong and China gas Co. Ltd. Hong Kong and China gas Co. Ltd. (Towngas) was the first public utility in Hong Kong. Currently, with more than 3,000 km of pipeline network and an 85% economic reach, the Company supplies town gas to over 1.5 million customers in the territory. The core business comprises production and distribution of gas, marketing of gas and appliances, and comprehensive after-sales services. In recent years, Towngas has diversified into various green businesses including LPG filling stations and utilization of landfill gas. There are about 16,000 residential buildings using Towngas in Hong Kong. As service risers are installed at the same time when building constructed, their ages are about the same as their buildings ages. Among all the buildings, 24.9% of buildings are between the ages of 20-30 years, while 19.6% of buildings are over 30 years old. Since the aging problem of service riser increase, workflow management system was considered not only to improve their performance, but also to create a platform for better management.
Project management process
Triple constraint of project management
Projects are fraught with risks of many kinds. When the project contract is finalized, many factors will have been considered and an agreement about the risk assumption will have been reached. There are three prime risks associated with project construction and completion. Generally, they are described as cost overrun risk, risk of delay, and technical risk. Cost overrun risk refers to the fact that many projects are finished significantly over estimated cost ( 1997). One constraint for the project is the scope or reach of the project. This involves what aspect of the business will be changed. The scope determines the boundaries of the project. Another constraint for the project is the time that will be used to finish the project. Time is important because it will determine which aspect of the project needs more focus. This constraint needs to be balanced thoroughly so that the project can achieve all of its purpose. Lastly a constraint for the project is the budget. The budget is the one used to finance all that will be needed to finish the project. The budget is important because without it the project cannot move on to its other aspects.
Aim, objectives and Scope
Aim
The goal of this project was to design an efficient workflow management system in Riser inspection and maintenance. The recommendation aimed to simplify and smooth out the various processes that involved the operation in regular safety inspection section.
Objectives
1. Propose solutions to the existing problems in the section.
2. Design a simple and efficient process flow, make good use of resources
3. Propose regulation and guidelines to standardize the riser inspection and maintenance processes.
4. Increase performance level while creating a more desirable working system for the employee.
5. Better management over the information in the section. The leader for the project and their skills
Project leader
The leader for the project will be the manager of the company’s maintenance team. He will closely work with the top management and the administration staff. The project manager needs to have perseverance and diligence in making sure that all aspects of the project will push through. The project manager needs to have the drive that will help them finish the project no matter what happens. The project manager needs to make sure that he can relate well with all the personnel that will be involved in the project. The project manager needs to have enough patience in dealing with various kinds of personnel. The project manager need to make sure that he is responsible and is willing to do the best they can to finish the project. He needs to plan wisely the actions that will be taken and take full responsibility once the project fails. The Project manager should be prepared for the criticisms and intrigues that will be hurled towards him. He needs to be ready for all people that will try to discredit them or the improvements he has done in the project.
Stakeholders for the project
The stakeholders for the project include the management team of Towngas, the clients of the company, the company’s employees and the lawmakers of the country. The management team of Towngas is a stakeholder because the success of the project will depend on how well they supervise the planning and implementation of the project. The clients are stakeholders because the success of the project and the opening of a new branch will affect the way they can transact business with the firm. The employees are stakeholders because improvements in the risers can help improve their effectivity and efficiency. The lawmakers are stakeholders in the case because they are that ones that will create or change laws pertaining to building maintenance.
Scope
The scope of this project includes the development of a web-based workflow management system for productivity monitoring, process lead time measurement and outstanding order notification. Beside the development of such web-based system, all data in the system used for standardize the riser inspection and maintenance workflow so that the time and human resource for the process are reduced for better performance.
Structure of dissertation
There are different chapters for this project. Each chapter has a different focus for a specific course of action that will benefit the study. The different chapters will contribute to the success of the study and it can be used as a starting point for further studies. The first chapter was the introduction part wherein general ideas and goals of the study were discussed. The second chapter will be the literature review part. The second chapter used various resources to gather necessary data. The literatures presented will come from books and other sources that are deemed to be helpful in the advancement of awareness concerning the subject. The third chapter will focus on discussing the instruments and methods used for the study to be a success. The fourth chapter will focus on the identification of the problems. In this chapter the issues with the project will be discussed. The barriers of the project will also be given attention at this chapter. The last chapter will focus on the progression of the project and the changes it has created.
Chapter 2 Literature Review
What kinds of buildings that require attention
Throughout the 1990s the construction industry operation has remained labor-intensive despite the labor shortage and consequently high wages. The private building sector had shown little sign of any significant technological advancement. The housing sector was such a context and the incubator for the development of advanced technology and management techniques, to be applied, adopted and adapted by the construction industry at large. There has always existed the need for continued strife for greater efficiency and raising standards (2003). Housing remained one of the most coveted and expensive commodities in Hong Kong while construction itself was a complex task of converging diverse skills and techniques to produce a tempting object. Probably stemming from the then downturn in the property market, it was observed that a number of developers in the private sector have shown a heightened interest in the adoption of more efficient construction methods. With the drastic reduction in land prices, construction costs have become more significant in the equations of developers' profits (2003). As changes in the housing and construction sector continue the kinds of buildings that needs attention remains the same. The kinds of buildings that require attention includes those dilapidated and hazardous buildings. These buildings can threaten the safety of the tenants. Other buildings that require attention is those buildings that doesn’t follow building codes and safety measures. The improved construction and housing technologies can give further assistance in determining the buildings that need attention.
Current legislation
There is a fundamental problem with building and housing codes and standards. The problem revolves around the question of who defines what is minimally acceptable. Throughout the world, official standards have been set by the dominant groups in society, essentially reflecting their own standards of health and comfort. All such standards make it illegal to construct or inhabit substandard housing without regard to either the views or the resources of large segments of society unable to afford them (2000). The current legislation in Hong Kong assist in ensuring that the buildings and housing systems are free from being branded as buildings that require attention. The legislation makes sure that there are fines and punishments for buildings and housing systems that they see as something that is hazardous. The non legislative initiatives give a secondary reason for owners to ensure that their building will be safe and free from safety threats. The non legislative initiative provides reminders on how the building management can make sure that it is properly maintained.
Building management and the issues
Facilities management may be in the hands of a large structured organization that accepts contracts for integrated or specialized facility management. Building asset management must make decisions on how maintenance, repair and renewal should be carried out. This task can be executed by in-house staff, or contracted out on a one-off or permanent basis. Facilities management requires technical and management skills. It also includes leadership functions for co-coordinating an organization’s internal and external relations (1998). The building and facilities management accepts comments and ideas from different sectors; they are open to ideas that will help in reducing the instances of building maintenance and unsafe building situations. The building and facilities management carefully checks for safety issues towards the building and do initial steps to solve the problem.
Measures in overseas countries
A private housing industry indeed exists and is the dominant force in the housing supply system, but it operates within, and is dependent on, governmental action at every step of the housing-provision process. The laying out and paving of streets; the supply of water; sewage disposal; utility provision; building codes; zoning restrictions; health, fire, and safety codes; standards for materials; regulation of labor as to wages, hours, conditions of work, and safety standards; mortgage insurance; the financing and regulation of financial institutions; direct research and development; the setting of industrial and materials standards; the control of imports; the provision of those public services and facilities without which most persons would not be able to remain in occupancy of housing; the regulation of tenancy, including eviction controls, requirements, or prohibitions as to relations between landlord and tenant; mortgage foreclosure laws all of these things are public activities ( 1990). The legislation in the US has minor differences with the legislation in Hong Kong. Both of the legislation aims to provide assistance to the private residential building owners and their clients. Both provide safety measures that must be followed. The main difference of the legislation pertains to how the legislation is made. In the US, legislations were made by lawmakers together with some feedback from the constituents while in Hong Kong the legislations were made based from the law makers own idea of what’s best for the region. The legislations can affect the kinds of systems that will only be permitted. The legislations dictate the boundaries of the change in system.
Maintenance and Inspection of Risers
To begin with, the modern office building demands an integrated approach towards building fabric and building services. The previous tendency was for services to be planned following the basic design of the building fabric. Unfortunately, with notable exceptions, current designs still attempt to adjust traditional building types to new service demands. Office machinery includes the possible provision of telephones, faxes, printing, photocopying, scanning, e-mail, internet access, document management, and mobile computing through wireless networks. Many modern offices still require a local equipment room to house communications equipment and servers but these are much smaller than even 10 years ago. The accent here is on flexibility and data security rather than a controlled environment. One of the consequences of introducing new forms of office machinery is the need to provide more power sources and accommodate heavy-duty cables in the office environment. Humidity levels also have to be regulated, and something within the range of 30-50 per cent is desirable, whereas 20-60 per cent might just be acceptable for most machines
The creation of workstations is probably the most distinctive feature of the modern office. These combine a degree of personal privacy with varying levels of information technology. There are now a wide range of proprietary packages available on the market. In many, worktops, filing drawers, cupboards and the like are hung from tracks fitted to modular partitions or walls. This permits many variations to be introduced and ensures that there is little waste to floor space. In this way, workstation systems liberate space, make more efficient use of internal areas, and improve occupancy rates. The planning and development of any substantial office building is inextricably bound up with the matter of lift production ( 2002). In the past it was a common failure in design to neglect proper consideration of the size, number, type, speed and location of lifts until too late in the process. It is not too much of an exaggeration to state, as has one leading manufacturer that a successful office scheme of any size and quality has, to a very large extent, to be built around its lifts from the beginning. It is not possible merely to insert them at a later stage in standard-size holes, which have been left in the concrete. The lift manufacturer should, therefore, be brought in at the earliest possible stage of design, preferably in the capacity of a nominated subcontractor. One of the main considerations in the provision of lifts is the future nature of occupancy that is envisaged. Single tenant or owner-occupation usually calls for a different lift layout and produces a different pattern of lift traffic to multiple occupancy. On the other hand, it is normally advisable to ensure that the flexible letting potential of the building is not circumscribed by an inappropriate lift provision ( 2002).
Lift installation must therefore be capable of satisfying the needs of different users as well as a single occupant. Modern micro technology now enables lift services to be reprogrammed in accordance with changing occupiers' needs. Problems with lifts are frequently the major cause of complaint from tenants and need constant care. Therefore, the treatment of lifts as an important part of the overall design is attracting more attention as developers become increasingly aware of the need to create a more attractive and harmonious environment. Riser cabling refers to cables that link equipment in the main building distribution facility (BDF) with equipment in the local distribution facilities (LDFs) on each floor. The riser cabling connects individual workstations to the campus backbone through network electronics located on each floor or in the BDF. Wherever possible, redundant connections should be provided between the BDF and the backbone network. Local distribution facilities are generally located above one another on each floor and are directly connected to the BDF using large metal conduits. Most modern buildings are constructed with building networking in mind, with spacious BDF and LDF facilities. Adequate space should be included to accommodate network expansions and upgrades. The distribution facilities should not be designed for multiple uses, and should be physically secured to prevent unauthorized access. Some older buildings do not provide adequate distribution facilities or riser conduits, and should therefore be upgraded during renovation projects to correct these shortcomings ( 1993). Building equipment such as lifts and risers are very vital for the success of the operations of the building and its tenants. There is a need to inspect the risers to see any problems with its operations. Risers need to be maintained to make sure that its performance will remain the same. Risers need to be maintained to make sure that the accidents will not occur. A good system is needed to maintain and inspect risers and related systems.
Chapter 3: Methods and Procedures
This chapter will give a discussion of the different methods and procedures used and done in the study; this chapter will discuss the research method; this chapter will also give a description of the research method, the different techniques used in the research method will be discussed to give explanation of its purpose and application to the study.
Research methods
This study employed the qualitative research method, since this research intends to find theories that would explain the relationship of one variable with another variable through qualitative elements in research. The qualitative research method will make use of studies and literatures to determine the available means or systems that will help in the inspection and maintenance of risers. Qualitative research designs in the social sciences stem from traditions in anthropology and sociology, where the philosophy emphasizes the phenomenological basis of a study, the elaborate description of the meaning of phenomena for the people or culture under examination. Often in a qualitative design only one subject, one case, or one unit is the focus of investigation over an extended period of time. Qualitative research is multi method in focus, involving an interpretive, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. This means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical material such as case study, personal experience, introspective, life story, interview, observational, historical, interactions, and visual texts on the described routine and problematic moments and meanings in individuals' lives. Observation is the most frequent data-collection method used in qualitative research. Observation has greater face validity than a second-hand account gathered either through interviewing or document study ( & 1998).
Observation is the technique of gathering data through direct contact with usually another human being. The researcher watches the behavior and documents the properties of the object. It is a very important method of data collection used by both qualitative and quantitative researchers. Quantitative scholars usually have an a priori highly structured plan that directs them to remain aloof and observe certain behaviors. In contrast, qualitative researchers usually observe from a phenomenological perspective; they immerse themselves in natural environments and watch a situation as a diffuse, ambiguous entity and allow themselves to be struck with certain peculiarities or interesting happenings. In many examples of qualitative research, the researcher goes into the field to observe and interview people. This raises an important concern about how the researcher is to present him or herself in the community being studied. One option is that researchers could be anonymous so no one in the situation being studied would know the researcher is there to gather data. The interpretive nature of qualitative research does indeed present a real problem to scholars who attempt to explain the process. This is why most theoreticians do not explicate the process of analysis as a set of steps. Rather, they talk about the analysis process as an organic whole that begins in the data-gathering stage and does not end until the writing is completed. The process allows for multiple iterative passes back and forth from data gathering to writing and back to data gathering ( 1996).
Reliability refers to consistency in measurement. In common terms the reliability of a test is the extent to which subsequent administrations would give similar results. A test which is not reliable will give different results every time it is taken. Accepted practice uses such measures as test-retest reliability coefficients to indicate reliability. In qualitative research, reliability suggests that different qualitative researchers would come to the same conclusions given exposure to the same situations. The extent to which data relate to objective criteria will improve reliability. When the data are based on personal impressions they tend not to be reliable. However, when they relate to counts or physical measurements or the number of correct math problems, they are generally reliable (Anderson 1998). There are two basic approaches to defining qualitative research problems, open and focused. It entails collecting a broad spectrum of data and is typically used to discover the nature of the phenomenon, often leading to hypotheses as well as conclusions. Qualitative and quantitative researchers alike define problems, select research designs, develop methodologies, collect, analyze and interpret data, and report findings. There is, however, one significant difference between the two. In qualitative research, the researcher is the principal data collection instrument; whereas in quantitative research, scientifically designed data collection tools are developed (1998). Qualitative research intends to find theories that would explain the relationship of one variable with another variable through qualitative elements or components in research. The qualitative research is described as multi-method in focus, involving an interpretative, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. This means that a qualitative researching procedure acts on studying things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of situations, or interpret events in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Qualitative research makes use of written and recorded sources of information.
Research Design
The research process onion of (2003) will be used in the entirety of the study in order to formulate the most suitable research approaches and doable strategies for this study. The first layer raises the question of the research philosophy to adopt, the second considers the subject of research approach that flows from the research philosophy, the third examines the research strategy most applicable, the fourth layer refers to the time horizon a researcher applies to his research, and the fifth layer is the data collection methods to be used (2003). The research process onion assists the study in gathering detailed information on the different methods used to know the means or the systems that can be used in inspection and maintenance of risers. The research process onion will act as a guide and it will provide the step by step procedure that will make sure that the goals of the study will be met.
Ethical Issues that might be faced
Informed Consent
Worries about protecting clients' rights to privacy can similarly be understood as concerns about issues of autonomy. The right to privacy follows from the assumption that autonomous individuals have the right to make decisions about their own lives and the information relevant to it, including to whom that information is confided. Thus, for example, although students and supervisees may not have the right to confidentiality in a strict sense when they confide information to professors or supervisors, they do have a right to expect that the information will be treated with respect and kept private to the extent that it is possible ( 2000). The use of informed consent in research, practice, and teaching is certainly no panacea for the ethical problems psychologists face. On the other hand, informing consumers or participants ahead of time about the aspects of the experience that may cause them discomfort or clarifying misconceptions could go a long way to helping psychologists avoid ethical mistakes ( 2000).
Whether in practice or in research attending, to the competence of the participant to give consent, the clear disclosure of necessary information, the participant's understanding of the information, the voluntariness of the decision, and the right of the person to authorize consent helps fulfill the spirit of consent. It may be necessary to experiment with different methods of providing consent depending on the group involved (2000). From an ethical perspective, maintaining confidentiality is grounded in the principles of autonomy and fidelity. Respect for autonomy, or the right to self-governance, implies that individuals have the right to make decisions about those with whom they wish to share private information and those from whom they wish to withhold it ( 2000). Without control over who has access to information about themselves, individuals could not protect private information or guard against dangerous disclosures ( 2000).
Second, respecting the privacy of intimate human interactions and the personal secrets others share is at the core of human relationships, thus, the principle of fidelity adds further justification for keeping confidences. Third, when consumers or research participants share private information about themselves after a psychologist has extended a professional promise of confidentiality, a fiduciary relationship has been formed (2000).Any person/organization asked to participate in a certain research should be given enough information on why the research is important and how the information acquired for the research will be used. It will give the sources of information assurance that the information will be used in accordance with proper respect and within boundaries and limitations set by the society. It will also assure them that the information that they divulge will not be used against them. The research about the different systems that can be used to maintain and inspect risers will ensure that proper information about the need, objectives and future implications for the research will be given to the sources of information.
Issues on Confidentiality
This extends to the way in which researchers treat people involved in their study. It is tempting to slip into a mode of seeing informants as sources of data rather than as interesting human beings. Violating their person through disrespect in this way may scar them for a long time, and cause them to see future research in a cynical or negative light. In some instances, researchers may be collecting data from people who cannot take complete responsibility for their own decisions, such as children or consumers with learning difficulties. They need special protection ( 2002) .Privacy and protection from harm is closely related ethical principles because, if a researcher betrays participants' rights of privacy, then they are failing to protect them from harm. Rights of privacy are neglected if they publish research findings which present confidential information, or if they expose confidences which can be traced back to participants ( 2002). Confidentiality is an important aspect of qualitative research because it can help in making sure that sources of information will have the trust and confidence to participate in research undertakings in the future. If confidentiality is violated, sources of information may not want to share information that can be valuable to future research. The research will not disclose personal information of the sources of information. This will result in lesser ethical problems. It is necessary for the researchers to explain to the sources of information that the information collected will be used solely for assessment. The researchers will inform the sources of information that the study will allow them access to the designed results.
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