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1 – 5 of 5Zhikun Ding, Wanqi Nie, Vivian W.Y. Tam and Chethana Illankoon
The preferences and adoption of recycled materials by consumers are subject to a variety of factors, such as enablers and barriers. Despite this, there exists a paucity of…
Abstract
Purpose
The preferences and adoption of recycled materials by consumers are subject to a variety of factors, such as enablers and barriers. Despite this, there exists a paucity of research concerning stakeholders' perceived value and real purchase decision towards recycled products. Consequently, this research study aims to fill this gap by investigating stakeholders' perceived value of recycled products derived from construction and demolition (C&D) waste and its effect on purchase decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
Research data were collected from 219 valid questionnaires completed by Chinese stakeholders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was then employed to test eight hypotheses.
Findings
The results show intrinsic cue (materials) and extrinsic cue (brand) influence the stakeholders’ judgment on C&D waste recycled products’ value and then their purchase intention. However, cues such as quality, word-of-mouth, price, policy and advertised have not play a significant role in practice.
Originality/value
This research study verified the significance of brand and material cues on decision making for purchasing C&D waste recycled products, providing new insights to policy making to enhance the uptake of C&D waste recycled products in construction industry.
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Several previous studies have described the use of maintenance management (MM) at polytechnic institutions. However, a major drawback of those studies is that they did not reveal…
Abstract
Purpose
Several previous studies have described the use of maintenance management (MM) at polytechnic institutions. However, a major drawback of those studies is that they did not reveal the actual support for MM as practiced using the conventional method. To describe the full situation at polytechnics, the gaps in the conventional method must be determined. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyse the gaps in the conventional method for actual MM as practiced at Malaysian polytechnics.
Design/methodology/approach
The existence of these gaps must be explored further to reach a better understanding of the utilisation of the conventional method for MM. Primary data were gathered through interviews to develop the proposed system. The major conclusion drawn from the interview results is that there is a lack of comprehensive MM systems that integrate the operation and maintenance processes of facilities management and software programming to guide the decision-making processes. The interview results also reveal irregularities within the MM database used by Malaysian polytechnics related to e-complaints, as well as the fact that the database is unsystematic.
Findings
The findings show the need for sophisticated MM at polytechnics.
Originality/value
The identified gaps will guide future improvements to develop MM systems that meet the solution needs.
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The conventional methods practiced by Development and Facilities Management Unit (UPPF) faced issues due to management deficiencies and negligent staffs to handle operation and…
Abstract
Purpose
The conventional methods practiced by Development and Facilities Management Unit (UPPF) faced issues due to management deficiencies and negligent staffs to handle operation and maintenance processes of Chemical Facility (CFs) management at Malaysian Polytechnic. The prime objective of this paper is to improve the conventional methods which tend to be both cumbersome and ineffective in the Maintenance Management Systems (MMS) for UPPF at Malaysian Polytechnic.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data was gathered through the interview to develop the proposed system. The major conclusion drawn from the interview results was that there is a lack of comprehensive MMS that integrate operation and maintenance processes of CF management and software programming that provide the guides for decision-making processes. The interview results also revealed irregularities within the Malaysian Polytechnic's maintenance management database.
Findings
The conventional methods had significantly little emphasis on defect diagnosis tools. It had also increased the inadequate strategic decision making to analyse information in improving the maintenance project outcomes for Malaysian Polytechnic's building. New MMS tools is suggested from findings and lessons learned as a good practice to reduce the frequent overhauling and repairs on the durability's performance and design of building control instrument.
Originality/value
The new MMS potentially transform operation and maintenance processes of CF management into one of the most sophisticated technologies by providing access to all information published by all Malaysian Polytechnics institutions. This is in order to foster financial cooperation, the idea that being that Polytechnics who compete with one another become financially independent towards successful achievements of CF management for laboratory building and equipment.
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Mohammad A. Hassanain, Mohammad Al-Zahrani, Abdullatif Abdallah and Ahmed M.Z. Sayed
The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the significance of various factors affecting maintenance costs of public school facilities.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the significance of various factors affecting maintenance costs of public school facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
Detailed literature review resulted in identifying 54 factors that were categorized under nine groups. This was followed by a questionnaire survey completed by 60 experienced professionals. The relative importance index was used to determine the in-group ranking, as well as the overall ranking of these factors.
Findings
The study established that the five most significant factors affecting the maintenance cost of public school facilities were “not providing operations and maintenance manuals to maintenance group” in the “construction phase” category, “ignoring maintainability studies in design” in the “design phase” category, “specification of low-quality materials” in the “design phase” category, “selection criteria of contractors” in the “regulations and contracting” category, and “lack of quality control during work execution” in the “construction phase” category.
Originality/value
The present research represents the first research covering the maintenance cost of public school facilities in Saudi Arabia. The study also presents the unique landscape of facility maintenance in the Saudi Arabian context. The outcome of this research has the potential to significantly cut down unnecessary costs rooted in expensive maintenance of public school facilities, enhancing the quality of these facilities. The findings also underscore the necessity of collaboration and coordination of the various key disciplines toward the realization of cost-effective school facilities.
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Achini Shanika Weerasinghe, Thanuja Ramachandra and James O. B. Rotimi
Rising energy costs and increasing environmental concerns are catalysts for introducing sustainable design features in buildings. Incorporating sustainable design features in…
Abstract
Purpose
Rising energy costs and increasing environmental concerns are catalysts for introducing sustainable design features in buildings. Incorporating sustainable design features in commercial buildings cannot be overstated because it could confer benefits to the investor (owners) and occupants. This study aims to develop a model that could aid in the prediction of operation and maintenance (O&M) costs from the knowledge of building-design variables. There is little evidence that design variables influence the O&M costs of buildings. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between design variables and O&M costs in commercial buildings with the intent of developing a cost model for estimating O&M costs at the early design phase.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was approached quantitatively using a survey strategy. Data for the study were obtained from 30 randomly selected commercial buildings in the CBD in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pareto's 80/20 rule, correlation and regression analysis were performed on the data to prove the statistical relationships between the buildings' O&M costs and their design variables.
Findings
The study found that 12 significant O&M costs elements contribute to about 82% of total O&M costs. Repairs and decoration had a strong correlation with building shape. Furthermore, the regression analysis found that O&M costs values were primarily dependent on the building size (the gross floor area and height of the buildings). The gross floor area and height handled over 73% of the variance in the O&M costs of commercial buildings in Sri Lanka.
Originality/value
These findings are a useful insight into the principles for design economies that could contribute to more sustainable commercial buildings.
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