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Submission or placement of articles in JuRuTERA could be made to the:Chief Editor THE INSTITuTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAySIA, Bangunan Ingenieur, Lots 60 & 62, Jalan 52/4, P.O. Box 223 (Jalan Sultan), 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: +(603) 7968 4001/4002 Fax: +(603) 7957 7678 Email: pub@iem.org.my or sec@iem.org.my IEM Website: http://www.MyIEM.org.my
Majlis Bagi s esi 2010/2011 (ie M Coun C il s ession 2010/2011)
YA ng D I perT uA / p res ID en T:
Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Prof. Dr Chuah Hean Teik
T I mbA l A n YA ng D I perT uA / Depu TY p res ID en T:
Ir. Chen Kim Kieong, Vincent
nAI b YA ng D I perT uA / V I ce p res ID en T s:
Ir. M.C. Hee, Ir. Lee Weng Onn, Y. Bhg. Datuk Ir. Rosaline Ganendra, Ir. Yim Hon Wa, Ir. Prof. Dr Ruslan bin Hassan, Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin, Ir. Choo Kok Beng
s e TIAus A h A Keh O rm AT / hO n O r A rY s ecre TA rY:
Ir. Prof. Dr Lee Teang Shui
b en DA h A r I Keh O rm AT / hO n O r A rY TreA surer:
Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Chiang Choong Luin, Jeffrey
WAKI l AWAm / c IVI l r epresen TATIV e:
Ir. Prof. Dr Mohd. Zamin bin Jumaat
WAKI l m e KA n IKA l / m ech A n I c A l r epresen TATIV e: Ir. Tan Chee Lin @ Tan Ah Kow, Phillip
WAKI l e le KT r IK / e lec T r I c A l r epresen TATIV e:
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WAKI l sT ru KT ur / sT ruc T ur A l r epresen TATIV e: Ir. Tu Yong Eng
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Wakil lain-lain displin / Rep R esentative to othe R disciplines:
Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Cheong Kuan Yew
A hl I m A jl I s / cO unc I l m embers:
Ir. S. Kukanesan, Ir. Lai Sze Ching, Ir. Manogaran a/l K.Raman, Ir. Oon Chee Kheng, Ir. Li Thang Fai, Ir. Prof. Dr Mohd. Saleh bin Jaafar, Ir. Noor Hisham bin Yahaya, Ir. Prof. Dr Lee Sze Wei, Ir. Yee Yew Weng, Ir. Mah Soo, Ir. Dr Ahmad Anuar bin Othman, Ir. Yau Chau Fong, Ir. Wong Chee Fui, Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad, Y. Bhg Dato' Ir. Hj. Mohd. Isa bin Hj. Sarman, Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Marlinda binti Abd. Malek, Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Lim Chow Hock, Ir. Lai Kong Phooi, David, Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Chee Shi Tong, John, Ir. Gopal Narian Kutty, Ir. Tan Yean Chin, Y. Bhg. First Admiral Dato' Ir. Hj. Ahmad Murad bin Hj. Omar (Rtd), Ir. Ng Shiu Yuen, David, Ir. Kim Kek Seong, Ir. Chong Chew Fan, Ir. Hj. Mohamed Ali bin Yusoff, Ir. Kok Yen Kwan ahli majlis / council m embe Rs (by a ppointment):
Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Ahmad Husaini bin Sulaiman, Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. (Dr) Seo Kian Haw, Andy, Y. Bhg. Dato' Dr Ir. Gan Thian Leong
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2. Selatan – Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad
3. Perak – Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Md. Azlin bin Md. Said
5. Negeri Sembilan – Ir. Hj. Baharuddin bin Ahmad Nasir
6. Timur – Ir. Hj. Roslan bin Abdul Azis
7. Terengganu – Ir. Mohd. Azmi bin Ali
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9. Sarawak – Ir. Dr John Panil
10. Sabah – Ir. Teo Chee Kong
11. Miri – Ir. Ting Kang Ngii, Peter
A hl I jAWATA n KuA s A I n FO rm A s I DA n penerb ITA n / s TA n DI ng c O mm ITT ee O n I n FO rm ATIO n A n D publ I c ATIO ns 2010/2011: Pengerusi/Chairman cum Chief Editor: Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin Naib Pengerusi/Vice Chairman: Ir. Tan Yean Chin Setiausaha/Secretary: Ir. Lau Tai Onn Ketua Pengarang/Chief Editor: Y. Bhg. Dato' Ir. Hj. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin Pengarang Buletin/Bulletin Editor: Engr. Abi Sofian bin Abdul Hamid Pengarang (Jurnal)/Journal Editor: Ir. Assoc. Prof. Dr Marlinda binti Abdul Malek Pengerusi Perpustakaan/Library Chairman: Ir. CMM Aboobucker AhliAhli/Committee Members: Ir. Yee Thien Seng, Ir. Oon Chee Kheng, Ir. Chin Mee Poon, Ir. Prof. Dr Mohd. Saleh bin Jaafar, Ir. Hj. Look Keman bin Sahari, Ir. Mohd. Khir bin Muhammad, Ir. Prof. Dr Mohd. Zamin bin Jumaat, Ir. Tu Yong Eng, Ir. Yee Yew Weng, Y. Bhg. Datuk Ir. Prof. Dr Ow Chee Sheng, Ir. Cheong Loong Kwong, Allen, Ir. Ong Guan Hock, Ir. Tey Choo Yew, Calvin, Engr. Chin Kok Keong, Steven, Engr. Shuhairy bin Norhisham
IEM Secretariat: Nor Aziah Budin, Nurul Aida Mustafa
the institution of engineers, M alaysia Bangunan Ingenieur, Lots 60 & 62, Jalan 52/4, P.O.Box 223, (Jalan Sultan) 46720 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 6037968 4001/4002 Fax: 6037957 7678 Email: sec@iem.org.my Homepage: http://www.MyIEM.org.my
trends in Professional engineering Practice in Malaysia
by Ir. Dr Ooi Teik Aun FIEM, P. Eng.
Prior to 1970s the submission of plan to the local authorities is regulated by the local town councils. The registration of submitting person is on adhoc basis through the individual local authority. In 1960s, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) initiated the formation of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM). The Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (REA) was enacted with the basic aim at that time to register engineers for the purpose of submission of plan to local authorities. Engineers who are registered with BEM as P. Eng. are deemed to meet the requirements to practise as a ‘qualified person’ and to sign plans submitted to local authorities. However, the REA was only implemented in 1972. To register as a graduate engineer, one must be in the Government service or has been exempted from the service. Currently, graduate engineers are exempted from Government service. Members of IEM with corporate membership are deemed qualified to apply for registration with BEM as P. Eng.
The BEM’s equivalent is that of the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, however, the Engineering Council only registers individual engineer as C. Eng. upon him being admitted as an AMICE (this was later change to MICE) of The Institution of Civil Engineers for civil engineers. The Engineering Council does not register the Engineering Consulting Practice (ECP). The C. Eng. is held in high esteem globally.
In Malaysia, BEM has recently amended the REA and carry out registration of individual P. Eng. who are in private practice as sole proprietor and the registration of all engineering consulting firms as body corporate. BEM has of late been contemplating classification of ECP according to the size of the practice. The IEM is not in favour of such classification as in the eyes of the REA all P. Eng. are equally capable of carrying out their service in their respective fields. The ECP classification thus followed the model of classification of contractors. ECP classification will thus erode the professional standing of P. Eng.
The Engineering Consulting Practice has faced tremendous challenges since the introduction of Turnkey Design by the Government in 1980s. The work is given to a Turnkey operator who then carries out an invitation to bid to the ECPs. This move has changed the character of ECP from one of a professional practice to that of economic value for service. This trend is dangerous as safety, code of practices and good practices may be compromised in the pursuit of economic value by the Turnkey operator. Turnkey operator has a short period of obligation of 5 to 8 years and hence the economic value in the value engineering evaluation may not be to the benefit of the client in the whole life cycle cost.
It is fortunate that we do not have value medication introduced in the medical profession. Generic medicine has been used but has been found to be not as effective as the original formulation. The medical profession also does not have an “Accredited Checker” system.
BEM should carefully examine the implementation of the Accredited Checker system through the Building Uniform Bylaws, as traditionally peer review of a design, is carried out if required by the Client/Authority.
The Consulting Engineering Special Interest Group (CESIG) of IEM was inaugurated in 2010 arising out of concern for the continuing professional development (CPD) and welfare of majority of P. Eng. who are in the ECP service generally. Workshop, seminars and evening lectures are conducted to help IEM members and others who are interested to advance themselves in the practice of ECP.
The ICE President in his welcoming speech at the recent Asia Pacific Conference on Infrastructure Development in the Tropical Environment held in Kuala Lumpur has called on engineers to think of “Value for Carbon” as opposed to “Value for Money” which is more commonly an expectation placed by the client. The IEM President at the same conference also called on engineers to get the technologies and knowhow to promote sustainable development and ecoefficient business in our projects. These are our greatest challenges in the practice of ECP. In this respect, the CESIG has spearheaded the IEM position paper on Green Technology. n
trends in Professional engineering Practice
e ngineering as a profession has come a long way in this country. Considered as one of the toughest courses in the 1960s and 1970s, at least at the local universities, engineering courses used to draw top students who compete for the limited places. With the main activities of the post Merdeka era focussing on the building of infrastructure and development works for urban and rural areas, engineers were among the most sought after professionals after doctors and lawyers. The establishment of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) was the culmination of the passion and desire of the founding engineers to see the profession developed into a more organised fraternity capable of, among others, taking care of the evergrowing number of engineers as well as the growing stature of engineers in Malaysian society.
As Malaysia moves towards a more industrialised nation in the 1980s under the stewardship of Y.A.Bhg. Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad, many engineering based projects were planned and implemented. The North South Highway, Penang Bridge and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport are among the memorable mega projects. The increasing
demand for engineers, however, created major challenges for the professional engineering practices. While the end results generally paved the way for Malaysia to become a developed country as outlined in Vision 2020, the other end of the scale exposed the vulnerability of the practices associated with the engineering profession itself.
For instance, the slew of manmade disasters in the past few years has given rise to questions about the integrity of the professionals involved in engineering practices. JuruTErA bore witness to a lively discussion on this issue between Ir. Dr Ooi Teik Aun, Chairman of the Consulting Engineering Special Interest Group (CESIG); Dato’ Ir. Pang Leong Hoon, former DirectorGeneral of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), and Ir. Yim Hon Wa, Committee Member of CESIG.
Dato’ Ir. Pang began by explaining that, before the 1980s, almost all technical, infrastructure and development works in the country were carried out by the technical departments of the government as the private sector was not yet fully developed. At that time, irrigation schemes, canals and dams were designed and built by the DID, while
the Public Works Department Malaysia (JKr) designed and built roads, highways, as well as buildings for government offices and quarters.
According to Ir. Dr. Ooi, it was common practice in the past for the government to appoint consulting engineers for specialised jobs to design and provide drawings to the relevant government department. When a tender was called, contractors were invited to bid for the job. Those who were selected would have to strictly follow the tender documents and the instructions of the department officers or the consulting engineer.
He observed a change in this trend during the mid 1980s when the government started outsourcing most of these projects directly to the contractors under the pretext of “speeding things up”. In his view, this changed the foundation of how the construction industry operated as there was no longer a direct appointment of the engineer by the government and this created a situation where contractors could potentially abuse their position as employers to place pressure on engineers to design according to budget.
Ir. Dr Ooi believed that the change also gave rise to the award of major contracts to select contractors, which grew to become conglomerates with unduly strong bargaining power when it came to appointing engineers. This, he felt, led to limited opportunities for the smaller engineering firms as the award of engineering service contracts would often be reduced to a “bidding war” which, in his opinion, was degrading to the profession.
He pointed out that the first and foremost duty of an engineer is the fact that he cannot compromise on public safety, and that responsibility has never changed. However, when a collapse occurs and public safety is compromised, the engineer is automatically to blame although the circumstances may be that the direct cause was not within the control of the engineer.
Nodding in agreement, Dato’ Ir. Pang said, “In the late 1950s, my superior often reminded me to spend sufficient time on site supervision. The steel bars in place should be checked before concreting could commence. Several years back, the contractor of a hospital piling work
was found to have cheated in his work through sample testing. “
He continued, “Instead of driving in the specified length of piles, the contractor only drove in half the length, although he recorded it as the former. In such cases, the engineer could be blamed for not properly supervising the work. But how can the engineer be held responsible when the contractor had the intention to cheat?”
He added that the amount of risk that the engineer faces today does not commensurate with the pay that he gets. To get the industry back on the right track, Ir. Dr Ooi responded that the engineers should be allowed to do their job and be paid accordingly. He said, “In the 1960s, the starting basic salary of an engineer in the government services was rM554. Today, more than 50 years later, the corresponding starting pay is only rM2000. It is very obvious that the engineer’s pay does not commensurate with their work.”
He pointed out that although the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) has imposed a scale of fees, both the public and private sectors when engaging the services of professional engineers often ignored it. According to Ir. Yim, the common practice that allows an engineer to counter propose the original bid or design is also detrimental to the profession. He said, “This may lead the client to question the integrity of the original engineer in the belief that he overdesigned.”
Ir. Dr Ooi explained that there were cases where an alternative tender, which is usually cheaper, was submitted. The former cannot be implemented if the original engineer did not support it. However, there have been situations where the client will pressure the engineer to give his consent, failing which the client will discharge the engineer and hire one who is willing to support the alternative tender.
He said, “The problem arises when the original engineer chooses to sacrifice his professional integrity for the sake of the job and the money that comes with it.” Ir. Dr Ooi felt that engineers needed to stick together to focus on upholding their professional integrity and to avoid undercutting or the option of a cheaper but compromised alternative.
Ir. Dr Ooi Teik Aun
Dato' Ir. Pang Leong Hoon
Ir. Yim Hon Wa
Another issue that he feels strongly about is when engineers make public comments after a disaster occurs. He said, “When a layman presents a problem to an engineer, he feels obliged to provide his comment although he may not be qualified or have the necessary information to do so.” Dato’ Ir. Pang quipped, “In fact, in the past, I received calls from the press asking for my comment whenever a flooding occurred. As engineers, we should not give offthecuff response or comment unless we have adequate information. It could be that the press wanted us to support what they propose to write. So be careful!”
Ir. Dr Ooi said that he has come across instances of engineers volunteering solutions without conducting tests or have any indepth knowledge of the situation. He felt that this should be avoided as it would bring the profession into disrepute. He particularly disapproved of the idea of engineers doing this to create publicity for themselves, highlighting that such practice is strictly prohibited by the Code of Professional Conduct.
Ir. Yim said, “As engineers, we should maintain our professional integrity. We should not comment on the work of other engineers. Instead, we should concentrate on our own. Engineers need to be more handson and not allow subprofessionals to completely take over their work. The engineers of today are rather lax and might not foresee the serious and adverse implication that could lead to disasters; they usually pass on their responsibilities to the foreman or clerk of works.”
Ir. Dr Ooi pointed out a case in the 1980s where a consulting engineer had set up a firm in which he engaged a draftsman to run. Apparently, clients were led to believe that the draftsman was a qualified engineer, and he was able to procure jobs on this misconception. The “deception” was apparently uncovered when a house collapsed and the homeowner sued the consulting engineer.
He said, “This kind of improper practice occurs when the main priority of the engineer is to bring in more projects or jobs.”’ In his view, there are consultants that do not pay sufficient attention to engineering skills and young engineers who join such consultancies do not learn skills related to engineering but instead are taught to concentrate on growing the business.
He added that, “We should start educating our children from young to reject corruption and to have the self discipline and self worth to recognise the social responsibilities of being a professional. Since the Highland Towers disaster, incidents of landslides and building collapse continue to occur and this directly erodes the public trust in engineers as a whole.”
Dato’ Ir. Pang said, “We should also reexamine the reason why we do not have a habit of maintaining our buildings and structures properly. There is no such thing as a structure or building that requires no maintenance.” He recalled a catchy term originating from the Agriculture Department in the 1980s, which was “Tanam dan Tinggal”. Often funds are provided for development projects to meet
the nation’s needs. However, these are not always backed up with adequate funds for operation and maintenance (O&M). He said, “There should be sufficient funds for O&M. We need to get rid of the ‘Firstclass infrastructure, Thirdclass maintenance mentality’ malaise.”
As a regulatory body, the BEM is responsible for ensuring that only those who are registered as professional engineers be allowed to practise. However, the BEM also allows the registration of companies doing engineering works, something, which is generally not practised elsewhere in the world. Ir. Dr Ooi is against this practice as this allows a consulting engineer to form a company, open up its shareholding, list the company on a stock exchange and effectively pass on the risk to the public.
He believes that one way to reverse this trend is via the top down approach. He said, “In the past, if an engineer does not have a professional qualification (member of the relevant institution), he will not be considered for a promotion as the head of department or branch head. This made the engineers proud of their profession and professional integrity was maintained.”
Although the BEM has a Code of Professional Conduct, there is a need to examine its enforcement and ambit. Ir. Dr Ooi was reminded of a case several years ago where a layman posed as an engineer for more than 20 years before he was caught. However, the BEM was not able to take action against the culprit as it could only regulate members who are registered with it.
Ir. Dr Ooi said, “We must be willing to admit that the profession is not where it should be and we have to take measures to reverse this trend of falling standards as engineers remain major contributors and agents of economic improvement to society. Generally speaking, I feel that the engineering education in Malaysia could be improved and should focus on imparting real practical skills on students. For example, several university research projects that I have come across do not appear relevant to the industry at all.”
Ir. Yim pointed out that, “There are some positive changes underway. under the Washington Accord, the Engineering Council of Malaysia has made it compulsory for all universities offering engineering programmes to have a minimum of three practising professional engineers among their teaching staff.”
Noting that that was a good initiative, Ir. Dr Ooi also suggested that it should also be made compulsory for heads of departments of engineering programmes to have the P. Eng. qualification and be registered with the BEM. He said, “This is something that we should not compromise on if we want to improve standards.”
Ir. Yim added that, “If the engineers want the situation to change, they need to look for the best solution instead of crying for help from the government. We can start by creating a blog within the IEM portal for the engineers to send in their views.” As Shakespeare in Julius Caesar said, “ The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars but in ourselves ”. n
Challenging Professional
Dear Readers
The general understanding is, professionals are those who have good and secured jobs as compared to business people or those in public services. In those days, being a professional was probably the ultimate career goal. Professional courses such as architecture, engineering, law, accountancy and medicine were the most sought after places. Does this still hold true now?
A professional is defined in many ways. One of it is ‘a person engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood’. Another one is ‘an activity undertaken or performed for gain by people who are paid’. A person who engages in an activity with great competence is also known as a professional. Most people like to work with professionals because of the impression that they know a job will be done well, on time and at a reasonable price. In short, being a professional signifies a positive and healthy attitude towards work.
Indeed, the perception of professionals or professionalism has changed over the years. We even have professional players in football, golf, basketball and cricket to name a few. So what is the difference between a professional engineer and a professional golfer, for instance? Both are engaged in an activity as a means of livelihood. However, do we like to be compared in this way? Surely, most of us would prefer not, at least in terms of competency. While engineers or even other professionals struggle through a number of years of tertiary
by Engr. Abi Sofian bin Abdul Hamid
education, I have not come across a professional sport player holding a formal degree acknowledging their ‘classroom’ achievement. Nevertheless, most of them earn more money than us engineers!
The point here is, being professional has less to do with how much one gets paid for the job than how competent one discharges his or her responsibility. A professional mistake by an engineer could have far worst implications than a professional foul conceded by a professional footballer. The trend in professional practices therefore demands for better knowledge, better application of theoretical knowhow, better hunger for innovation, better integrity, better transparency, better attitude towards work, better manager, better leadership, better ethical practices, better governance and above all better professionalism than what we are seeing now. We need to raise the bar or benchmark for quality so that ‘par excellence’ is the daily motto of our professional practices rather than an exception. Are we ready to be real professionals?
Please share your thought. n
Warm Regards The Editor
Effective 1 March 2011, the following fees are applicable for any advertisements in the IEM web portal:
1) Image/Banner Advertisements
A fee of RM350 per month for IEM members and RM500 per month for non-members is applicable during the six months promotional period. This promotional rate will be reviewed at the end of the promotional period.
2) Publishing of Events
A fee of RM100 per month for IEM members and RM200 per month for non-members would be chargeable for a standard event announcement which would include the title, venue, date and time.
For more information, kindly refer to pub@iem.org.my
Please refer to the circulation dated 18 February 2011 from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). The scale of fees (Revised 1998) can be obtained from the BEM website at www.bem.org.my.
Thank you.
the Professional Image - A Personal Observation
by Dato’ Ir. Pang Leong Hoon
DurIng the colonial years and before 1959, the professional engineering activities in the country were held under the auspices of the “Joint Group” formed by the three UK engineering institutions namely, the ICE, the IMechE and the IEE. In line with national aspiration after Merdeka, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) was established in 1959 as the national organisation for Malayan engineers. On the establishment of the IEM, the “Joint Group” agreed to discontinue its activities and such professional activities were undertaken by the IEM.
With a small number of local engineers, the IEM was established with Allahyarham Tan Sri (Dr) Hj. Yusoff bin Hj. Ibrahim as the founding President. Our founding members had the right vision and foresight then not to set up various engineering Institutions along the line of the United Kingdom. Instead, one engineering institution was established to cover all the engineering disciplines. It was also very wise of the members then to have an understanding (unwritten rule) that the office of the IEM President is to be rotated among the disciplines and not monopolised by any one. The Deputy President should not be a candidate from the same discipline. This is to ensure that the smaller groups (disciplines) are not marginalised. The said understanding or practice among the Council Members in nominating a candidate for the Office of Deputy President was well adhered to until 2003.
the early Image
In the early years of the IEM, most of the members were from the government departments or agencies such as the PWD, DID, NEB, Telekom, etc . With the latter providing the necessary leadership and strong support, the Institution was able to move forward during the formative years. The launching of the first five-year development plan and the “Red Book” with great emphasis on infrastructural development was a great challenge to the local engineers. The engineers were called upon to develop and implement many projects.
The image of the engineers then was very high and the work done was well appreciated by the nation and the community. Malayan engineers were at the forefront to accept challenges with great enthusiasm. Up to the 1980s, most of the key Council Members were from government departments or agencies and the image of the IEM was also flying high. The program and activities of the Institution were well participated by the members with strong encouragement and support from the organisations.
the Changes
Over the years, the Institution has had to make changes to deal with situations such as the increase in membership numbers and the addition of new engineering disciplines. From a humble beginning with only 60 members in 1959, the Institution now has 22,974 members (Ref: Annual General Meeting Report 2010), a 383-fold increase over the years. Unlike the past, the engineer is no more a special or rare “species”. This change in the perception of the community was inevitable. The younger generation comes with a different set of expectations and career aspirations. Everyone is affected by the image we perceive others have of engineers and almost everyone has an opinion on what it should be apart from the self-evident observation that the image should be “good”. There is a wide diversity of opinion on what constitutes a “good” and an appropriate image. This is understandable for there is also a wide diversity of reasons why engineers are concerned about the way the profession is perceived. The significance of a good and appropriate professional image encompass its role in: i) Building personal esteem and status ii) The contribution it has towards achieving influence and recognition
The role models of the medical and legal professions could be readily quoted to emphasise the preferred image for engineers. Equally, there are proponents who argue that engineering is seen as an undervalued contributor to the competitive manufacturing industry and economic health of the nation.
Sustainability and concerns for the environment naturally would turn to engineering contributions with their capacity for creative solutions and for supporting the productive sectors of the country’s economy. Without engineering, we cannot provide for the growing population with its expectations of a healthy and productive life. Community benefits and personal benefits are mutual beneficiaries of activities that promote a “good” and appropriate image.
the Way aheaD
Most would agree that it is one of the roles of the Institution to undertake activities which would enhance the image of the profession. The choice of activities and their relative priority should be regularly reviewed to meet the changing needs. How much effort should be directed to wellresearched submissions to government and community studies, which often draw little interest from local press?
How much effort should be directed to the promotion of the profession in schools? How effective are the current programmes or activities?
As a learned society, the Institution is in the ideal position to share its informed views on a wide range of topics of common interests to the engineering profession and the community. There should be networking and a closer rapport with the authorities and community, so that the Institution commands their respect and be invited to give its view and recommendation on engineering matters especially on standards and regulations, and safety measures for good engineering practices.
In order for the Institution to play a more proactive role, the function of the various Technical Divisions and Special Interest Groups needs to be reviewed and be given a well defined responsibility to develop and maintain the recognised engineering expertise. This is to ensure that the Institution becomes a resource centre. Over time, and with the appropriate programmed development, the Institution could position itself to better serve and contribute its unbiased view (expertise) and opinion to the authorities and the general public.
With an informed view and timely public statements/ announcements as well as submissions to the authorities, it is only natural that the image of the Institution in particular, and the engineering profession in general, would be well appreciated and recognised by the general public.
Presently, there is a decreasing trend in the number of engineers graduating from our tertiary institutions. The root cause can be traced to our secondary schools. Too few students are choosing to study science and mathematics. There is a need to introduce activities to encourage the study of basic enablers to encourage the interest of students and in their pursuit of a career in either
engineering or science. It is inescapable that engineers and scientists must work together, particularly in promoting a greater public understanding of the relationship between engineering and science for the future.
ConClusIon
The profession holds the key to technology and, as a group, are the leaders who spearhead the modernisation of society. They create a new technology based culture in the process. To assure and maintain the leadership role, they depend on the degree of trust society accords to the profession.
In order to earn this trust, it is necessary for the professionals to demonstrate beyond doubt that they are honourable and trustworthy men or women who can be expected to go about their professional work while keeping uppermost the considerations and interests of the society they serve.
As individuals, we may sometimes feel that what we can do individually is so insignificant that it will hold little sway, but every little effort of ours will contribute towards the total image which, as a result of our collective action, will be sparkling or tainted. Therefore, as professionals, it is expected that each and every member to uphold certain accepted standard of behaviour without exception.
As has often been said, the journey to success is more difficult than staying successful. Our destiny is in our hands.
Last but not least, the Institution should also consider a succession plan. There should be a structured process to identify and promote capable members as leaders in the institution. The IEM Council should be given the task to draw up a succession plan and to encourage potential or capable members to take over key offices as the institution progresses and develops. n
Challenges for engineer in the 21st Century
If a doctor makes a mistake, one person dies.
If a lawyer makes a mistake, one person goes to jail.
If an engineer makes a mistake, it is a disaster and many people die.
heaDIng into the 21st Century, an engineer will face a multitude of challenges brought on by globalisation, advances in technology and changes in the structure of the economy. In order for the engineer to survive, he or she needs to identify the opportunities, threats and competitions that he or she will be confronting.
by Ir. Yim Hong Wa
Traditionally, engineers take great pride in the professional path upon which they embark on. Engineering has been pivotal in shaping the country’s industrial capability and improving the country’s economy. More significantly, engineering accomplishments over the past century have greatly improved the standard of living.
Since technology innovation has been so commonplace, it has been taken for granted. Often times, engineers are not duly recognised by the society for their contributions to our standard of living and the improvement of the country’s economy and hence wealth.
Presently, there is also a lack of appreciation by many young people on the value of an engineering education. This is despite the fact that half of the CEOs listed in the Fortune 500 magazine are engineers.
The challenges for engineers extend beyond their technical skills. Engineers also need to be entrepreneur savvy to be successful in the 21st Century. Perhaps, we should ponder over the following questions:
• What can an engineer do?
• What makes a good entrepreneur?
• How does an entrepreneur understand the business concept?
• How can an engineer adopt and adapt to be a successful techno-preneur?
What makes a gooD engIneer?
In general, a good engineer ought to have strong basic training in the fundamental laws of nature, is very observant of events around him or her and always asks the right questions. Can I design and build something that works like what I see in nature? How can I improve it? Can I innovate something new?
What Is entrePreneurshIP?
It is a way of thinking and approach novel and complex problems, and solving problems in a viable way. It is an art of finding profitable solutions to problems. A successful entrepreneur or businessperson is someone who is able to identify a problem and come up with a solution before someone else does.
What makes a gooD entrePreneur?
A good entrepreneur understands the business concept. He will think through the pros and cons of the business challenges and goals he wants to reach by taking calculated risks.
The law of business is the law of supply and demand, the more unique the product and the more demand you have, the more profit you can make. The higher the margin you make out of your product, the more competitors it will attract. Long-term survival depends on development through the innovation and design of new products for the market. A war is won because of the general and his strategy, a business is successful because of its leader and his strategy.
The best innovations are often a matter of pure coincidence, or so it seems. Penicillin is a good example of the greatest accidental discovery of all time. It was first discovered by Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming in 1928 when he was doing research on the flu germ staphylococcus. It was not until 11 years later that Ernst Boris Chain and Howard Walter Florey isolated the pure form of penicillin and began clinical trials. All three men received a Nobel Prize each for their work in 1945.
In order to spite a customer who complained that his fries was too thick, chef George Crum sliced a potato waferthin at the Moon Lake Lodge Resort in Saratoga Spring. The customer loved the new crispy creation and potato chips became a house specialty. Today, that industry is worth over US$6 billion a year in the United States.
Along with the compass, gunpowder and kite, ancient China also gave the world its first umbrella. A collapsible umbrella was invented roughly 1,700 years ago. Appropriately, the Chinese character for the word “umbrella” is a pictograph closely resembling the object.
In the 21st Century, engineers need to learn from other professionals such as doctors and lawyers to have good selfesteem. A doctor treats a patient in person and will never comment on another doctor’s findings or prescriptions for the patient. If he believes that the patient is suffering from a sickness beyond his area of expertise, he will refer the case to another doctor whom he thinks is a specialist in the area.
Similarly, a lawyer attends to his client by providing suggestions according to his interpretation of the law in a lawsuit to which the judge will make the final judgment. Both the doctor and lawyer provide a “suggested solution” to their clients and this solution can be costly and expensive most of the time. On the other hand, an engineer provides “free” or cheap engineering solutions in most trying circumstances. That may be the reason why an engineer has not been properly treated as a professional.
The scale of fees in the Engineer Act 1967 is going to be removed during the amendment of the Engineer Act as the Trade and Services in the AFTA will be 100% implemented in 2012, so engineers need to adopt the “economy of fees” where fee calculation is based on man day or man hour.
Engineers ought to bear in mind that being a solution provider is expensive; it is simple and easy if you know it, so do not review engineering solutions for free as it is chargeable just like in the medical and law profession. A real estate agent gets 2% of the selling price of a property, whereas a civil and structural engineer get less than 2% of the civil and structural work of the property.
In conclusion, engineers need to re-organise themselves to face the challenges and problems that they face in the 21st Century. They will need to draw up the directions and road map to ensure that the engineering profession is at par with other professions. n
Gemas-Johor Bahru Double tracking Project to Launch in 2011
Once negotiations for the final portion of the North-South double-track railway project is completed, the RM7 billion Gemas-Johor Bahru double tracking project is expected to kick off sometime this year. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha stated that the government had appointed two consultants for the 197km project and was currently negotiating with a railway consortium from China to undertake the project. However, he did not identify the Chinese consortium despite talk that the Malaysian Government is negotiating with China's state consortium China Railway Engineering Corporation and China Railway Telecommunication Centre (CRET) for the project. An MMC Corp Bhd-Gamuda Bhd joint venture was given the stretch from Ipoh to Padang Besar for RM12.5 billion, which was completed in 2009, while Indian Railway Construction (IRCON) was awarded the RM3.5 billion Seremban-Gemas job, which is currently under construction. The Gemas-JB double track project is estimated to cost more than RM7 billion as it involves the construction of railway tracks as well as a transportation hub in Johor Bahru with possible links to the Mass Rapid Transit in Singapore.
(Sourced from BERNAMA)
PerODua ‘eco-Challenge’ Competition on for the third Year
Only 13 participants from selected institutions of higher learning, consisting of public and private higher education bodies, were selected for the third instalment of the PERODUA ‘Eco-Challenge’ competition. The main objective of the competition is to provide a training ground for undergraduates to challenge their engineering knowledge and to promote innovativeness among them. The participants are given five months to produce a car that can go the furthest with a litre of petrol. Their design will be put to a race at the Malacca International Motorsports Circuit on June 25. Perodua managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said the ‘Eco-Challenge’ is different from the previous ones as the contestants were only given the engine and transmission system. He said the participants were given an extra month to prepare before the race day. This year, each team will be given RM17,500 in seed money. He added that Perodua has allocated about RM1.2 million for the competition. A total of RM77,000 has been allocated for prizes and the longest distance winners will take home RM20,000.
(Sourced from The Star)
utar and Infineon to Collaborate on r&D
UNIVERSITI Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and development (R&D). Under the MoU, staff members would conduct mutual visits for the purpose of research, training and publications as well as to organise and participate in seminars, conferences and workshops. Prof. Dr Lee Sze Wei, UTAR Vice-President (R&D and Commercialisation), said the collaboration would allow the university’s undergraduate and post-graduate students to conduct study visits and industrial training at Infineon’s facility in Kulim, Kedah. Likewise, staff of Infineon would undertake training and research activities as well as academic programmes at UTAR. Dr Grassmann Andreas, Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd Senior Director and Head of Technology, said the company looked forward to taking in students of UTAR as its employees as it is embarking on massive expansions at its Kulim facility. Infineon is the second biggest employer in the local sector with 7,000 people employed at its Kulim and Malacca facilities.
(Sourced from The Star)
Sime Darby's e&u Division and Mustang Forms Joint Venture Company
Sime Darby Bhd's Energy and Utilities Division and Mustang, a Wood Group Company, have formed Mustang Sime Darby, a joint-venture company that will provide project management, design, and procurement support services for the oil and gas (O&G) industry. Mustang is a leading global O&G engineering and project management company, providing project management, conceptual and detailed engineering, and construction management services. Datuk Jauhari Hamidi, Sime Darby Energy and Utilities Division Executive Vice President (NonChina Operations), said the joint venture will enhance Sime Darby's portfolio of services. Meanwhile, A.J. Cortez, Mustang Executive Vice President, said Mustang's project management and engineering experience, combined with Sime Darby's full service capabilities, skilled workforce and strong reputation in the region, will allow it to enhance its offerings in the O&G market in Southeast Asia. Wood Group is an international energy services company with a presence in 50 countries worldwide, generating approximately US$5 billion sales and employing 29,000 people for its three businesses, namely, engineering and production facilities, well support and gas turbine services.
(Sourced from BERNAMA)
IeM Vice President Ir. Choo Kok Beng receives the aSeaN Outstanding engineering achievement award 2010
IeM Vice President and AER Head Commissioner Ir. Choo Kok Beng was recently awarded the ASEAN OUTSTANDING ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2010 at the 28th Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO28) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The award was given in recognition of Ir. Choo’s role as the prime mover of the mobility of Engineering Services since 1998 when he founded the ASEAN Engineers Register (AER). He has, in the past, served the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations as its Secretary-General and Head Commissioner of the AER. In 2010, he was reappointed the AER Head Commissioner to revitalise the mobility of engineers and engineering technologists within ASEAN.
Through his visionary work, Ir. Choo has helped IEM enhance and strengthen its relationship with other engineering organisations within the ASEAN Engineers framework. The goodwill, understanding, cooperation and exchange of experiences and concepts within the engineering fraternity of the ASEAN economies have soared to new heights. Ir. Choo has provided his full commitment in making the ASEAN Engineering Register a platform to create awareness on the contributions of engineers in nation-building on the international stage.
A steadfast proponent for the enhancement and development of regional engineering education and training, Ir. Choo has actively pushed forward bilateral cooperation between IEM and other professional bodies in the ASEAN Region to expand the quality of the training courses, the exchange of new technologies and the enhancement of capacity building of the ASEAN engineers.
Ir. Choo is also a firm promoter of enhancing entrepreneurial skills amongst engineers. Through the IEM Business Club, an initiative under the Standing Committee on Corporate
Affairs of which he is currently the Chairman, IEM members will be able to explore business potentials within the country and in neighbouring economies. In his capacity as the AER Head Commissioner, Ir. Choo has paved the way for engineers to explore, expand and build up business networking opportunities within the ASEAN region through trade visits and business dialogues with potential foreign business partners at overseas conferences, meetings and symposiums.
Ir. Choo is the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Corporate and International Affairs for the 2004/2006 and 2010/2012 sessions. He has been actively involved in the institution since 1984 and has held several important posts including Honorary Secretary (1997 1999) and Honorary Treasurer (1996-1997). He is slated to become the next Deputy President of IEM in the forthcoming session after winning the Council Elections for the Deputy President post for 20112012.
Ir. Choo is a Fellow of the Technological Association of Malaysia (TAM), Engineers Australia, Hon. Fellow of AFEO, Founding Fellow and SecretaryGeneral of the Asean Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET), a registered Professional Engineer in Malaysia, APEC, the International Engineers Register and a Chartered Engineer in Australia.
In recognition of his outstanding services, Ir. Choo was awarded the Outstanding Service Award from the Minister of Works of Malaysia for his contribution towards the engineering profession to the Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM) in 2001. He received the 1st Class Friendship Medal from the Royal Cambodian Government in 2002, and in January this year, together with the IEM President Dato’ Ir. Prof. Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Ir. Choo was awarded the Honorary Membership of the Myanmar Engineering Society in a ceremony held in Yangon, Myanmar. n
engine Development: Engine Performance Testing
the automotive industry in Malaysia started in the 1960s when the government granted license to assemble vehicles to several companies. Prior to that, most vehicles were imported into Malaysia in CBU form (Completely Built Up). As time pass, the local automotive industry gradually grew from being a car assembler to product development ranging from vehicle design up to engine development.
Engine development is considered a new area in Malaysia as the automotive industry is relatively young compared to other more established global automotive players. The word ‘powertrain’ refers to an engine and a transmission link-up or configuration according to the automotive dictionary. The powertrain department of an automotive company is responsible for designing and developing the engine and transmission.
Engine expenditure incurs almost 40% of the total cost when a new vehicle is developed. This essentially means that if a manufacturer could control the cost of producing engines by developing its own, it could more than likely control the entire selling price of its cars. Based on this simple mathematic rationale, more automakers have started establishing their own in-house engine development program despite realising that the design, development, testing and manufacturing process entail a significant initial investment.
Engine development is divided into several stages, including prototype, production-intent parts and preproduction, before it goes into mass production. At every development stage, a certain number of engines have to be built to comply with each test which has been agreed upon in advance. This is called a ‘Stage Gate’ where a formal meeting is set up to discuss and agree on the way forward or vice-versa.
by Ir. Hamzah bin Adlan
A special test, which is called the Engine Performance Test, must be conducted to verify the development specification. The performance curve criterion is one of the most vital components derived from performance and functional specifications when deciding whether to proceed to the next development stage or not. Normally, a dynamometer is used to measure the engine performance in order to produce the curve. A dynamometer is an equipment that measures engine power, torque, engine speed, temperature and pressure related values. The collected data will then be analysed by the engineers and presented to project team members.
the Importance of the performance curve
a) The performance curve is one of the elements which have the biggest deciding factor in meeting agreed engine specification. Engine Specification is a technical document where all the targets and objectives of the engine development project are spelt out. It is a control document where access is closely guarded. Everyone who is involved in the project must strictly follow the document and any request for changes must go through a dedicated technical and commercial committee for approval.
b) The element in the performance curve is important to satisfy the project stakeholder who is usually the project leader. Normally, the project leader will keep track of every engine performance result, especially during the early development stage to make sure it meets or exceeds the target. Any lost of engine power, even as little as 2% or 3%, has a big impact on the total project duration as well as cost implication.
c) Engine designers are also keen on the engine performance curve aspect because it will show whether the system or sub-system, even at the component level, is working on a satisfactory level or not. It is normal, at each engine development stage, for engine performance curve results to be sent to every designer to make sure they are aware of what is going on during testing.
d) Meeting the engine performance curve requirement will satisfy the expectation of Production Quality Control (PQC) before the engine goes into mass production. People from PQC will check the performance of the engine even at the development stage to ensure its consistency even after the manufacturing date has passed.
how Is the performance curve test Done?
a) Normally, the test is planned in advanced before the actual testing, which is included in the master project schedule. The Test Request (TRF) is raised by the Engine Development Leader, then it cascades down to the test engineer where she/ he will be appointed to a pre-designated engine test cell where a specific number of manpower will be allocated, and test duration scheduling and budget provisioning especially when these involve consumable items. In some cases, the Engine Built Request (EBR) is also needed when a special engine with unique features or newly revised components have to be added.
b) When the engine is completed, it is then passed to the integration team which will connect the engine to the dynamometer test rig. This is normally done outside the test room. By doing this, time and money could be saved especially when dealing with a large number of engines. The complete engine on the test rig will be coupled to the engine dynamometer using a universal joint linked to a propeller shaft. To make sure the engine, test rig, propeller shaft and dynamometer are in-line, an accurate alignment work is conducted by using a laser-guided alignment machine.
c) Before the actual test is run, a pre-test and sensor calibration must be done to ensure data integrity. Calibration of sensors can be executed using a master calibrator and an experienced engineer’s help is always required to ensure that the pre-tested equipment is well and thoroughly checked.
d) The performance curve test is usually done by an automatic cycle which an engineer shall likely set beforehand. The raw data will be analysed and presented to the respective members in graph form. Sometime, there would be a need for re-tests due to technically unsatisfactory results as conducting the test on either a rainy/sunny day could spoil the results due to the sensitivity of the equipment.
e) Once confirmation from the project leader or chief engineer is obtained regarding the results, an official test report will be prepared and presented to the respective parties. Every test report is kept in the development library for each development stage for future reference.
Performance curve sample of a 300 BHP Mitsubishi 3000cc twin-turbo engine. (Source: Wikipedia)
what are the safety precautIons when conDuctIng the performance curve test?
a) Isolation of the engine test room from the operation room – the room must be built with thick, double layered bricks to reduce noise and vibration issues. Furthermore, the gap between the operation room and the engine test bed is separated by a double layered, tempered and laminated glass for safety reasons. Further measures could be made by the installation of a laser detector to avoid any human operator from entering the room while the engine is running. The engine test bed design must be placed as a ‘special island’ surrounded by absorption materials such as epoxy to reduce transmitted vibrations.
b) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – proper PPE such as goggles, gloves, ear plugs, respirators, etc., ought to be used while conducting the tests in a workshop environment handling special materials such as chemical compounds or dealing with composite fibre. Adequate training and implementation, followed by enforcement must be in place once it is officially gazetted.
c) Fire Prevention System – Fire extinguishers must be in place at all times. They must be checked periodically and proper training must be provided whenever newcomers join the organisation. Periodical fire drills must be conducted to ensure that everybody is aware what action has to be taken when any emergency occurs.
d) Proper storage of chemicals or hazardous materials must be enforced. They must be properly labelled and kept inside ventilated areas. Only people with the right authorisation are allowed to handle such materials.
e) Tools must be put in place with proper tags and in the correct arrangement. Measurement tools must be calibrated with the right control of standard calibration practices and corresponding certificates. Special tools must be locked safely where authorised usage must be made exclusive for better tracking and to create an organised inventory system.
f) Proper training is essential as part of the on-the-job training especially when dealing with engine test cells. This is regarded as a hazardous environment due to the source of fires and various chemicals that operators have to deal with cautiously. By conducting this activity correctly and periodically, it would more than likely ensure that everybody is reasonably competent when conducting their varied tasks.
conclusIon
Engine development is a new area for engineers in Malaysia. Such a project consumes a lot of capital and has a long lead time to fruition. It also requires a whole new set of skills. There are evidences that currently implemented safety measures have improved the industry significantly, but continuous improvement must be followed through to ensure that the industry can expand without compromising on Environment, Health and Safety elements. n
In this Sudoku variant, only 1 number is given as clue, thus the name 1Sudoku. The rest of the clues are given in the numbered cages (the dotted frame encompassing 2 or more squares). You are to search for the right combinations to fit the total for the cages and end up with a Sudoku Grid, the 9 by 9 composite of squares where there is no repeat of the number 1 to 9 in every Row, Column or Block.
Fill in the remaining 80 squares with single digits 1-9 such that there is no repeat of the digit in every Row, Column and Block. The number at the top left hand corner of the dotted cage indicates the total for the digits that the cage encompasses.
for tips on solving, visit www.1sudoku.com.my Twin Tree Publishing Answer is in the following pages of this edition.
troubleshooting of hydraulic external Gear Pumps
an external gear pump is a tough and very long lasting moving component of a mechanical system. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor hydraulic applications. Due to its simple design and construction, this type of hydraulic pump is produced at a very competitive price compared to other types of pump in their family. Then it is the most popular hydraulic pump to be used when the system pressure is limited up to about 200 bar and when the noise generated by this pump is acceptable and not the major concerned in the case of indoor application. The various industrial applications and several unpredicted working conditions however, may lead to the pump malfunction or failure. Life of an external gear pump may be reduced drastically if the working condition is not maintained as required by the pump manufacturer. Poor circuit design and inadequate filtration are among the common failures of any hydraulic pump, and should be avoided. This article explores and highlights some causes of pump malfunction and failure. This information is relevant as a guide in the troubleshooting and identification of the likely causes of repeated failures of an external gear pump and any pump of a similar working principle. In general, a typical installation and components of an external gear pump with lobe (bearing set) and without lobe are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.
external CheCk and Visual ObserVatiOn
The two factors related to system performance are pressure and flow rate produced by the pump. Reduced flow rate will result in slower actuator velocity. Meanwhile, lack of pressure will exhibit an inability to move or lift heavy loads. Therefore the most effective method of testing the pump operation in situ is the use of a flow meter and pressure gauge to measure and monitor the pump operation. A separate loading valve will indicate the actual pump capability rather than the system pressure which may be affected by a faulty component such as a pressure relief valve or worn out piston and rod seals.
hydrauliC Fluid
By taking the (OBE) concept, one should at all times conduct Visual observation of the hydraulic fluid which is useful to determine faults such as:
1) Aeration – if air is present, hydraulic fluid will appear bubbling or frothy in the tank. Check for loose hoses and fittings.
2) Water content – hydraulic fluid tends to have a ‘milky’ appearance or in the form of emulsion. System needs to be drained or flushed especially through the tank.
3) Contamination – Take a sample of hydraulic fluid from the tank during operation and pour it through a filter paper to determine the presence of contaminants in the hydraulic fluids.
4) Oil degradation – mineral hydraulic fluids are biodegradeable. After a certain period of service, it will lose some of its lubrication properties. The normal symptoms are change in colour, odour and viscosity. Periodical replacement of hydraulic fluid is required to secure an appropriate level of lubrication to the pump.
by Ir. Assoc. Prof. Yahaya bin Ramli
Figure 2: Typical installation and components of an external gear pump without lobe
Figure 1: Typical installation and components of an external gear pump with lobe
internal insPeCtiOn
Inspection of internal parts of an external gear pump is suggested as follows:
1) Ensure work space and external pump casing are clean before dismantling the entire of the pump.
2) Inspect the pump components prior to internal cleaning to look for evidence and cause of failure.
3) Use appropriate identification marks on each component to enable correct reassemble sequence.
4) Remove all packings and seals. Prepare a new seal kit.
5) Avoid dropping, hammering or mishandling of components since they may damage and unable to be reassembled or reused.
6) Always test the pump performance at a pump test rig upon reassembley, before it is installed to machineries.
PumP CaVitatiOn
The majority of industrial hydraulic mineral oils contain up to 10% dissolved air by volume. Under very low suction or local pressure, cavitation may occur in which air is released in form of bubbles and flow together with hydraulic fluid. At high pressure region, the bubbles may collapse or explode due to compression effect. If this phenomenon occurs at or very close to the solid surface, such gear teeth and pump body, the energy released by the explosion will cause pitting damage to the internal surfaces of the pump components. Repeated sharp knocking sound (or vibration) during pump operation is due to the pump cavitation.
Figure 3 shows a typical pitting failure due to cavitation on the internal surface of a pump casing. Possible causes of pump cavitation and its remedy may be explained as follows:
a) Diameter of the suction (inlet) hoses/pipes or fittings are too small.
b) Flow restriction (pressure loss) in inlet line is too high –remove hose (pipe) and inspect for any blockage in the hose/pipe and suction strainer.
c) Suction hose is collapsing – examine hose for tight bends and rectify the problem by using correct hose length or reroute. Check hose for suitable quality and still in good working condition, such as no sign of cracks of fraying and bulging.
d) Location of pump or tank – longer pipe/hose may cause high pressure loss which is very critical for suction line
since it may create vacuum and cavitation. If the hose/ pipe can be shortened, then the pressure loss may be compensated by rising up the tank above the pump and upgrade the hose/pipe to a larger diameter.
e) Incorrect oil viscosity – too viscous (difficult to flow) hydraulic fluid may introduce high pressure loss due to fluid internal friction or restriction to flow.
aeratiOn
Aeration is due to the present of too much entrained air. In extreme cases, aeration may produce similar characteristics as cavitation. If the present of entrained air is too much in the system, then the oil in the tank will become frothy and cloudy. Possible causes of pump aeration and its remedy may be explained as follows:
1) Restriction in inlet circuit – high suction head will cause heavy contact between shaft seal and shaft. This action causes premature failure of seal and allowing air ingress.
2) Hardening of shaft seal – hardened seal is a result of high oil temperature or prolonged exposure to heat or direct sunlight duty storage.
3) External side loading – excess unbalanced radial side loading will cause the shaft to be offset and out of contact with the seal. Leakage passage is introduced as the annular clearance around the drive shaft, bearing and bushing are not consistent.
4) Leakage at suction (inlet) - entrained air is introduced into the pump suction due to the leak suction line especially at joints, unsecured shaft seals and damaged on port faces such as deep scratches in the proximity of seals.
5) Leaking and damaged suction hose – Inspect for any sign of leak and damage of hoses such as fraying, cracking and bulging. Replace if necessary.
6) Incorrect volume of hydraulic fluid in tank – always ensure the correct oil level in the tank to ensure the ends of suction and return lines are totally immersed in the fluid. In this case, there is no possible of partly exposed end of pipes.
7) Tank design and maintenance – end of suction line is located as far as possible from the end of return line to avoid turbulence and by-passed of high temperature fluid. Contaminated fluid must be drained periodically.
external lOadinG
Unbalanced external radial loading of the pump drive shaft occurs when the external gear or belt and pulley types of pump driving is not properly installed. The unbalanced loading will cause excess bearing and seal wear. This condition may reduce the pump volumetric efficiency and shorten the pump life due to premature failure such as severe internal wear and fracture of the pump drive shaft. Examine the body cut-in track where the gear runs. Scour marks or any shining spot on the internal surface of the pump body will indicate the
Figure 3: A typical pitting on the pump casing
location and the direction of unbalance force. The drive gear teeth will contact the body away from its normal track. The normal condition of the gear pump assembly is shown in Figure 4. Possible causes of pump unbalanced radial loading and its remedy may be explained as follows:
1) Excess tension of belt drives may pull the shaft to one side – inspect for correct belt tension as recommended by the manufacturers. Ensure belt is correct length. Check for belt and pulley alignment. The unbalanced loading condition is shown in Figure 5.
2) Eccentricity of drive unit – ensure all pulley, shaft and coupling are centered and balanced to avoid distortion, wobbling and vibration due to mass imbalance. Any bushing or damping element in the coupling unit must be in good working condition.
3) Lack of backlash in gear drive or coupling – check and reset gear centre distance and backlash. Check for alignment and balancing. Gear bore diameter must always closely fit to the pump shaft diameter.
4) Pump mounting – ensure all mounting bolts are secured tightly, and all flange spigot or union type of mountings are in good tolerance with mating holes.
COntaminatiOn
If the hydraulic fluid becomes contaminated by abrasive particles, internal wear will take place. Once the sealing faces become eroded, internal leakage will result. Pump performance will drop as the result of poor volumetric efficiency and pump may be subjected to higher operating temperature due to too much circulation of internal leakage. Scoring around the body cut in track, bearing lobes and faces will indicate the location of contaminants abrasive action under pressure. Contamination in hydraulic system may be controlled and explained as follows:
1) During toping up activity, make sure filler caps are kept clean and top up fluid is filtered.
2) Ensure hoses and pipes are deburred and flushed before they are installed into the circuit.
3) Inspect filter condition – replace filter periodically as recommended by the manufacturers.
4) Carry out proper tank flushing process during system commissioning to remove loose weld scale, wax and coating materials, sealant and residual of sealing tape and other debris.
Scoring marks on the surface of internal bore of bearing lobe due to the fluid contamination is shown in Figure 6.
COnClusiOn
An external gear pump is a tough and very long lasting. In order to obtain its optimum performance and ensure reliable working life, however, the full understanding of the pump construction, operation and maintenance are essential. The pump malfunction and failure could be derived from the operator's negligence during installation and operation, poor working condition and improper maintenance procedures.
Contamination of hydraulic fluid also adversely affected the pump performance. In the case of repeatable pump failure, the troubleshooting must be conducted fully. The pump must be dismantled and inspection of every pump components must be carried out thoroughly to establish the possible cause of problem. n
reFerenCes:
[1] Noah D. Manring, ‘Hydraulic Control Systems’, John Wiley, Canada, 2005.
[2] Majumdar S.R, ‘Oil Hydraulic Systems: Principles and Maintenance ’, McGraw Hill, Singapore, 2002.
[3] Anton H. Hern (Terjemahan: Wan Norsani and Yahaya Ramli), ‘Buku Panduan Kuasa Bendalir, Jilid 1: Reka Bentuk Sistem, Penyenggaraan dan Penyelesaian Masalah’, Penerbit UTM, Skudai, 1999.
[4] B.P Oil Limited (1989), “Hydraulic Fluid and System’, British Petroleum, U.K.
[6] Werner Gotz, ‘Hydraulics: Theory and Applications’, Robert Bosch GmbH, Germany, 1984.
Figure 4: Normal loading condition of an external gear pump
Figure 5: Typical unbalance loading condition of an external gear pump
Figure 6: Scoring marks on the bearing lobe
innovation tools for Lean Practices (Part 2)
Note: This is
by Ir. Oh Seong Por
5. StandardiSed Work
Standardised work is a method used by an operator to organise his or her tasks in a safe and efficient manner. The main essence of standardised work is the organisation and specification of uniform work steps to be performed in a manufacturing process. These steps are documented in a standardised worksheet that is displayed in a prominent place at the workstation making it easily available for workers to refer and become familiar with the working procedures. The benefits of standardised work:
i) reduces waste by identifying and eliminating unnecessary motion and effort
ii) outlines safe and efficient work methods or steps
iii) maintains quality work and prevent damage to equipment
iv) serves as the foundation or baseline for improvement v) provides workers a means to define their jobs
A standardised worksheet provides a visual control that ensures consistency. It contains the basic elements of work operation such as:
Work steps – elemental descriptions of the work needed to complete the tasks in each process. They are the basic building blocks of standardised work. There are three basic types of work elements, namely:
a) work which represents actions relating to assembling, machining, processing, etc., which are generally value added activities
b) walk which represents movement from one place to another
c) pick which describes motions necessary to reach for an object, gain control of it and withdraw or move object from its surroundings
Safety steps – all safety checks, precaution and emergency handling of equipments and reminder to wear the right personal protective equipment or PPE, such as gloves, respirator, goggle, ear protector, safety helmet, apron, etc.
Visual representation – layout of works and processes that take place at the workstation are defined on the standardised worksheet
Timing – time spent at the workstation comprising of walking time, manual work time and automatic work time (machine time). The summation of these categories of times is the task time, which is the time to complete processing one unit of work piece at the workstation. To ensure the continuous flow of work piece along the value stream and the capability to steadily fulfil customer demand, the task time, once set, must remain consistent with little variation among different workers. Therefore, the term standard task time was created, which is the expected time for an average worker to perform a task at a satisfactory level. The standard task time is determined by the following equation:
Standard task time = (Time Observed) x (Performance Rating) x (Allowance Factor)
Takt time – the total available operating time divided by the number of units required by the customer. It represents the customer’s consumption rate of the product. If the standard task time is longer than takt time, then delivery of the desired product quantity or amount to customer will not be fulfilled. However, if the standard task time is shorter than takt time, stocks will pile up. Therefore, in the ideal case of achieving leanness, the standard task time must be equal to takt time. There are a few basic requirements that need to be fulfilled when assessing the readiness for standardised work procedures. They are:
i) workplace must be neat, clean and appropriately organised with a specific location for everything. These conditions enable repeatability and predictability which are vital for standardised work elements to begin.
ii) all equipments must be in good condition to safeguard smooth operation and flow. Equipment uptime must be optimised and breakdown must be minimised.
iii) process condition must be stable or optimised to ensure stable product quality. Every time a quality problem occurs or there is a variation in precision, an investigation should be done with appropriate countermeasures put in place.
iv) worker movements must be in the best sequence and provide the least amount of waste, overburden and unevenness. These movements shall become the baseline for standardised work procedures in which all workers are trained to follow.
According to Thomerson (2001), the responsibility for establishing standardised work procedures is best handled by shopfloor members such as workers (operators) and supervisors who are, of course, firstly trained in operation analysis, time and motion study and related tools. This is based on the belief that the shopfloor members doing the actual task have the best knowledge of how the work should be performed. It can result in standards that are more accurate, uptodate and more acceptable to workers to follow. Indirectly, it empowers workers to continuously design the best working method that can contribute to higher productivity.
6. kanban
Kanban is a material management technique developed in Toyota with the main objective of enforcing the concept of just in time or JIT. It is a kind of visual communication signal that uses a set of cards that travel between upstream and downstream processes while communicating what parts are needed at downstream processes. It is used to move materials in accordance to the usage of parts as well as to control production, work in progress (wip) and inventory flow. There are two types of kanban commonly used, namely, withdrawal kanban (also known as a conveyor kanban) and production kanban.
Withdrawal kanban
It is a move signal in which a user authorises the transfer of parts or materials from the storage area (also known as market in the kanban system literature) to the downstream (user) process. Each kanban is printed with vital information such as part number, part name, container quantity, delivery route, part usage point and storage location.
If one kanban is assigned for each standard container, then the kanban represents the quantity of one container. Once withdrawal kanban fetches the parts from the storage area and moves them to the downstream process, it remains with them until users start to use the parts. User detaches the withdrawal kanban and drops it into a collection box.
A material handler or line feeder who moves around storage area and downstream process will pick up the deposited kanban. This kanban represents a parts requisition order which the material handler must retrieve from the storage area. The material handler then places the kanban in a specified empty container and waits for the next delivery cycle to fetch another batch of parts required by the downstream process. This cycle continues until the production line fulfils the customer order. The benefits of withdrawal kanban are:
i) minimises the stock of parts at the downstream or user line, thereby reducing inventory.
ii) creates floor space and allowing line of sight management.
Production kanban
Production kanban is a make signal that releases an order to the upstream process to build parts equal to the lot size as specified on the card. It has information that indicates what the part is, where it is made, where it is stored, container capacity and any other information that may be of importance.
One production kanban represents the need to produce one container’s worth of parts. At the storage or market area, each container has a production kanban attached to it. When a withdrawal kanban arrives at the storage area, the material handler removes the production kanban from the filled container and places the production kanban in a collection box. The withdrawal kanban is then attached to the container and the parts are delivered to the requesting downstream (user) process.
The upstream process or supplier will pick up the deposited production kanban and starts to build parts according to the specified quantity in the kanban. In a way, production kanban is responsible for keeping the storage or market full and ever ready to supply parts whenever requested. It indicates when a predetermined amount of parts or materials have been removed from store and initiates replenishment. The flow of kanban is best illustrated in Figure 1.
The flow of kanban (withdrawal and production) generates a visual signal that permits the entire production system to respond to the needs of customer orders. Only the necessary parts are produced according to the specified amount and at the right time. It is an innovative tool that manifests the pull production, which is one of the principles of lean thinking. Effective application of the kanban system can lead to the effective management of resources particularly in minimising inventory and averting overproduction.
7. ConCLuSion
Every innovation tool has its specific strength for the attainment of the lean production principle either to reduce waste or increase speed or both. Therefore, selecting the appropriate one and systematically implementing it throughout the business organisation can greatly enhance competitiveness. This requires strong and consistent leadership. n
referenCeS:
[1] Allen, J., Robinson, C. and Stewart, D. (2001). Lean Manufacturing: A Plant Floor Guide, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Dearborn, Michigan.
[2] Davis, J.W. (1999). Fast Track to Waste Free Manufacturing, Productivity Press, New York.
[3] Nicholas, J.M. (1998). Competitive Manufacturing Management, McGraw Hill, Singapore.
[4] Osada, T. (2000). The 5S – Five Keys to A total Quality Environment, Asian Productivity Organization.
[5] Schonberger, R. J. (2008). Best Practices in Lean / Six Sigma Process Management – A Deeper Look, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey
[6] Shingo, S. (1985). A Revolution in Manufacturing – The SMED System, Productivity Press, New York.
[7] Simon, D. and Zokaei, K. (2005). Application of Lean Paradigm in Red Meat Processing, British Food Journal, Vol. 107, No 4.
[8] Singh, Nanua (1996). Computer Integrated Design and Manufacturing, John Wiley & Sons.
[9] Thomerson, G. (2001). Lean Manufacturing, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Michigan.
[10] Wemmerlow, U. and Johnson, D.J. (1997). Cellular Manufacturing at 46 User Plant : Implementation Experiences and Performance Improvements, International Journal of Production and Research, Vol. 35, No.1.
[11] Womack, J.P. and Jones, D.T. (1996). Lean Thinking – Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Organization, Simon and Schuster, London.
Figure 1: The flow sequence in a Kanban production system
the 2nd CIe and IeM International Symposium on electrical, electronic and energy Saving at Fubon International Convention Centre, taipei, taiwan
the above seminar which was held on 17 November 2010 was a follow-up to the first seminar which was held in Penang in 2009. The 2nd CIE and IEM International Symposium was successfully organised and conducted with about 120 participants by the following organising committees:
• The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)
• The Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE)
• The Chinese Taipei APEC Engineer Monitoring Committee (CTAEMC)
• The National Federation of Professional Electrical Engineer Guilds of R.O.C.
The symposium was officiated by His Excellency, Mr. Frank L. S. Fan (Minister without Portfolio and Chairperson of the Public Construction Commission, Executive Yuan, Taiwan).
The opening ceremony programs included speeches from Dr Lu Shyue Ching, the President of CIE, and a representative from IEM, as well as the presentation of tokens of appreciation to all the paper presenters by Mr. Otto Jiang, Chairman of the National Federation of Professional Electrical Engineers Guilds R.O.C.
There were 10 technical papers subdivided into two parallel sessions with equally shared presentations from the CIE and IEM. The papers presented were as follows:
The topics discussed covered a wide spectrum of subjects, from micro-components to entire systems, including the Energy Efficiency and Conservation development perspective and the future trends of things to come, R&D and its bridging towards the needs of the electrical and electronic industry.
There was active participation from the start until the closing of the conference with discussions between the participants and the paper presenters on the details of their papers, especially on the social and environmental impacts of such development and technical advances.
A technical visit was arranged the following day to the Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), Taipei, which was established in 1980. This is one of a cluster comprising other science parks in Jhunan, Tongluo, Longtan, Yilan and the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park. A presentation was given on its overall development, construction and administration, where facilities in R&D and advanced technologies are developed and promoted to the industries.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) and the National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) are situated around the HSP, which provides abundant human resources in greatly helping to resolve technical bottlenecks faced by some of the high technology companies. This was followed by a visit to TECOM, one of the companies located within the HSP, which specialised in the manufacturing of the ‘eHome System’ based on the ‘Smart Home’ concept.
by Ir. Mah Soo and Ir. Lee Kok Chong
1 Advances of Gate Oxide based on SiC for High Efficient Power Device Applications by Ir. Associate Professor Dr Cheong Kuan Yew (IEM) The Development of Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation in Malaysia by Ir. Mah Soo (IEM)
2 Development of Home Service Robotic Systems by Dr Kai-Tai Song (CIE)
Photovoltaic and Energy Saving by Mr. Howard Shih (CIE)
3 Dithering Jitter Analysis of Interpolator Based CDR Circuit by Mr. Soh Lip-Kai (IEM) Malaysian Energy Efficiency and Conservation Guidelines and Recent Advances in Storage Technology by Ir. Lee Kok Chong (IEM) electronic electrical & energy Saving
4 How to BRIDGE between University Research and Industry Needs – An Example on National Networked Communication Program by Dr Huang Ching Yao (CIE)
Green Data Center by Mr. Ben K. C. Chu (CIE)
5 Trends in RF Semiconductor Technologies by Dr Teoh Chin Soon (IEM)
Introduction to the Automatic Dispatch and Control System in Taiwan by Mr. M. J. Chang (CIE)
Future plans to extend the next international conference to include counterparts from other APEC countries were mooted for this year.
The IEM delegation was accorded excellent hospitality during the short stay and would like to take this opportunity to record its sincere appreciation and say a big ‘thank you’ to its counterparts from the CIE and its organising committee, as well as the management and staff of HSP and TECOM for their effort and arrangement to organise such a successful seminar and technical visits, as well as for making the IEM delegation’s stay in Taipei a memorable one.
The IEM delegation would also like to express its appreciation and thanks to the IEM President, the Electronics Engineering Technical Division in Penang, and the Electrical Engineering Technical Division in Kuala Lumpur, the IEM Secretariat and staff for their encouragement, assistance, contribution of papers and coordination on the logistics to make the trip a successful one. n
Picture 1: During the opening ceremony
Picture 2: Participants/group photo at TECOM
talk on “clean and green technologies: What is the Fuss All About?”
by Ir. Lau Yuk Ma,
During a recent talk organised by the IEM Women Engineers on 13 October 2010, speaker Engr. Kee Wai Fun, Senior Industry Analyst of Technical Insights Business Unit at Frost and Sullivan, provided an informative session by discussing the fuss regarding the recent clean and green movement. Frost and Sullivan is a global growth consulting company involved in various industries including energy and power systems as well as environmental and building technologies. One of the areas in which the Technical Insights division closely monitors is Clean and Green Tech. According to Frost and Sullivan, green and clean technology has been identified as an important mega trend. Mega trends are defined as global, sustained and macroeconomic forces of development that ultimately impacts businesses, economies, societies, cultures and the way mankind will live in the future.
Engr. Kee’s presentation gave the audience an insight into green and clean technologies. She also highlighted the economics and potential outlook for green technologies, and the green trends that will define the economies, societies and cultures of the future.
Engr. Kee shared the findings of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) entitled “Climate Change 2007” in her presentation:
Climate Change 2007 is the fourth in a series of reports intended to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information concerning climate change, its potential effects, and options for adaption and mitigation. The report is the largest and most detailed summary of climate change situation ever undertaken, involving thousands of authors from dozens of countries. The following statements appeared in its summary:
“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”
“Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th Century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.”
Engr. Kee also projected that the key mitigation technologies and practices that will be commercialised before 2030 are:
• Energy Supply: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for gas, biomass and coal-fired electricity generating facilities; advanced nuclear power; advanced renewable
energy including tidal and wave energy, concentrated solar and solar photovoltaics (PV)
• Transport: Second or third generation biofuels; higher efficiency aircraft; advanced electric and hybrid vehicles with more powerful and reliable batteries
• Buildings: Integrated design of building technologies, such as intelligent meters that provide feedback and control; solar photovoltaic integrated buildings
• Industry: Advanced energy efficiency; CCS for cement, ammonia, and iron manufacture; inert electrodes for aluminum manufacture
• Agriculture: Improvement in crop yields, driven by improvement in biotechnology and genetic engineering
• Forestry: Tree species improvement to increase biomass productivity and carbon biosequestration
• Waste: Biocovers and biofilters to optimise CH4 oxidation
The presentation also touched on the common industry perception of clean and green technologies. Of these, solar photovoltaics, carbon capture and storage, and green buildings were highlighted as key areas of interest. She then proceeded to give the audience a sneak peek into recent developments and technology highlights in these areas.
Solar PhotovoltaicS – energy generation
Amongst all the potential renewable energy sources, solar power is deemed to have the greatest potential. The enormous power and potential of the sun’s energy is approximately 1,800 times bigger than the current demand for primary energy. Thus, in the future, a strong growth in solar power is expected as it has the potential to meet more than 50% of the global primary energy consumption.
June
Figure1: Participations listening intensely
SuB-coMMittee on WoMen engineerS
Solar power can be divided into two main segments; concentrated solar power (CSP) and PV. Currently, most solar power is generated using PV technology. Within North America alone, PV has an installed capacity of 1,626MW. In Europe, the use of PV is widespread, with an overall installed capacity of 12,926MW. In Asia Pacific, the use of solar is relatively high when compared to North America, with an installed capacity of 3,317MW.
Engr. Kee explained that up to 81% of the PV solar market currently utilises crystalline silicon as a material for solar cells. However, a shortage of polysilicon has limited the growth of crystalline silicon technologies within the last few years. This has provided a great opportunity for the PV thin film industry (known as the second generation PV technology) to grow and establish thin film as a major PV technology. She further noted that thin film technologies are expected to develop quickly within the next 10 years.
Several major players that have been identified within the PV industry are companies such as First Solar Inc, Sun Tech Power, Ja Solar Holdings Col. Ltd, Q-cells SE, Sharp Electronics Corp and Sun Power Corp.
carBon caPture anD Storage (ccS) –environMental reMeDiation
Engr. Kee also discussed the technology developments as well as highlighted the key innovations within the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS). In CCS, carbon dioxide gas is harvested from the offgases as a result of fossil fuel combustion. The cleaned and scrubbed flue gas will then be captured via various proposed methods. The captured carbon is then transported through a series of high pressure pipelines, trucks and ships to a suitable storage site. The high pressure carbon dioxide gas will finally be stored in various natural geological storage options such as underground saline formations, oil and gas reservoirs, as well as deep exhausted coal seams.
There are currently several developments within the CCS technology field including advances in pre- and post combustion technologies, oxyfuel technologies and tests for carbon dioxide storage. However, CCS faces the challenge of high costs, lack of proven long term storage and reduction in the efficiency of power plants resulting in low amounts of power produced.
green BuilDingS
Apart from that, Engr. Kee also highlighted green buildings as one of the key clean and green technologies. Some of the key drivers that will aid the growth of green buildings are an increased focus to reduce energy consumption and operating costs, and the reduction of carbon emissions. Engr. Kee also noted that the challenges that might be faced when implementing green building technologies is the lack of incentives for buildings to go green,
since market demand has not yet been fully established and there is a need for increased research and development (R&D) efforts in Asian countries.
Current industry trends that she highlighted included the consolidation of the green buildings industry, standardisation of design and associated processes, complexity and cost reduction in technology use, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and management, green building certifications, zero energy buildings, and new carbon regulations. Future trends that are predicted to increase the number of green buildings include the use of ecofriendly materials, favourable legislations, efficient automation of commercial buildings, use of only lowVOC paints and coatings, integrated renewable energy systems, and efficient insulation of enclosed spaces.
concluSion
It is important to note that countries across the globe are investing substantial resources to develop and initiate green technology. China has taken a strong “green” approach, with the introduction of a green credit and green insurance system, as well as plans for green taxation and green trade to help clean up the economy. Japan plans to designate as many as 10 environmental modelcities to help reduce greenhouse gases. The United Kingdom has also launched a Low Carbon Transition Plan to provide a framework strategy on how to tackle climate change.
The talk concluded with a short question and answer session. The high turnout has shown that Malaysians, especially our engineers, are truly concerned and are interested to find out how they can help to preserve Earth and sustain a better living by applying green technologies to their everyday lives. The talk ended with its participants much more knowledgeable about emerging trends within the green technology area. n
Figure 2: A token of appreciation to Engr. Kee Wai Fun
technical talk on “Full Displacement Pile and Cutter Soil Mixing Methods”
by Ir. Oh Chin Wah
the talk, held on 26 October 2010 at the Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee Auditorium, Wisma IEM, was presented by Engr. Franz-Wener Gerressen, Director of Method Development Department of BAUER. His talk covered the definition, advantages, applications and limitations of the “Full Displacement Pile (FDP)” and “Cutter Soil Mixing (CSM)” methods.
(i) CSM is a mixing tool which is very similar to the wellknown trench cutter head. It is a combination of the cutter technology with the conventional soil mixing system, but with the cutter rotation around the horizontal axis unlike the conventional soil mixing system with rotation around the vertical axis.
The cutter is driven into the ground at a continuous rate and the soil matrix is broken up by the cutting wheels. Simultaneously, the bentonite-cement slurry is pumped through the nozzles installed between the wheels and mixed with the loosened soil intensively. The penetration speeds of the cutter and the fluid injection are coordinated to form a homogeneous and plastic soil mass.
Two modes of operation system were presented, i.e. the single phase system and the two phase system. In
the single phase system, cement slurry is injected during the penetration and retraction process. For the two phase system, which is recommended at deeper depths and difficult and dry soil, bentonite slurry is injected during penetration while cement slurry is only injected during retraction. Various applications of CSM were elaborated, including cut off wall, basement retaining wall implanted with H beam, barrett pile foundation, access shaft and for slope stabilisation. The details of the equipment and machinery setup for operation and equipment components were also discussed.
(ii) FDP is a bored and cast in-situ concrete pile whereby the installation is done by advancing a displacement boring tool into the ground with a rotary drilling rig.
This technique is suitable for a wide spectrum of soil conditions ranging from sandy gravel, sand silt and clay, to organic soils, as long as the soil is displaceable with displacement tools. Through the displacement process, the volume of the surrounding soil is being displaced and compacted. This effect results in an improvement in shaft friction and base resistance (in relation to the nominal diameter). The advantages of this technique include less spoils created, low vibration drilling, high daily production and more economical design which can be achieved with the enhanced soil friction and toe bearing through the displacement steps.
The talk concluded with an interactive and vibrant Q&A session. n
GeoteChniCal enGineerinG teChniCal DiviSion
technical Visit to Kenaf Polymer Composite Pilot Plant, Mardi
the Agricultural and Food Engineering Technical Division (AFETD) of IEM organised a technical visit to MARDI’s Kenaf Polymer Composite Pilot Plant in Serdang, Selangor on 15 December 2010. The purpose of the visit was to have an overview of the research and development activities at the Kenaf plant, and to facilitate the sharing of experience and transfer of technology between the two institutions. A total of 20 participants joined the technical visit.
A technical briefing was given by Kenaf project leader En. Mat Daham Mohd. Daud. He described the background of the Kenaf plant and the research that has been conducted at MARDI.
Kenaf is an environmentally friendly crop which can be grown throughout the year in the tropics. The plant could be harvested within 4 to 5 months. Kenaf fibre is an outstanding re-enforcing filler in thermo-plastic composites. Kenaf materials from whole stalk, bast or core fibre could be used in combination with plastic resins to produce various shapes and high quality Kenaf polymer composite (KPC) profiles. The combined properties of Kenaf and plastic materials allow one to design products tailored to end-user requirements within the framework of cost, recyclability and environmental aspects. KPC is made from sustainable raw material which could be recycled and renewed. The benefits of KPC products are:
• Highly resistant against external environmental impacts
• Moisture and weather resistant
• Dimensional stability and longevity with a natural feel to it
At the Kenaf Polymer Composite Pilot Plant, the delegates had the opportunity to observe the process flow in which KPC is produced. The processing works are challenging, both technically and environmentally. n
by Engr. Mohd. Fazly bin Mail
agriCultural and Food engineering
teChniCal diVision
Stem harvesting
KPC profile
Fibre drying
Extruder profile
Pulveriser
KPC pellet
High speed mixer
Extruder pellet
Pelletiser
talk on “the Development of a radar rainfall Processing tool for Malaysia”
by Ir. Dr Ooi Teik Aun
the talk on “The Development of a Radar Rainfall Processing Tool (RAIM) for Malaysia” was delivered by Dr James Lau, Principal Engineer at Black and Veatch United Kingdom on 23 September 2010 at the Prof. Chin Fung Kee Auditorium at Wisma IEM, Petaling Jaya, at 5.30 p.m. (see Figure 1). The talk was attended by more than 40 participants (see Figure 2).
Dr Lau is an expert in spatial rainfall technology, having successfully developed radar/rainfall tools for the UK Met Office and the Malaysian Government. He also has expertise in climate change analysis for wastewater networks and has developed methodologies to account for climate change sensitivity testing for Anglian Water. He has
experience in computational modelling of marine waters, urban drainage systems, wastewater treatment plants and receiving water systems. He is also an expert in using Geographical Information Systems. His research work includes flood forecasting, climate change, the modelling of integrated Urban Wastewater Systems, the application of optimisation theory, financial modelling and the use of receiving water quality objectives.
Dr Lau is here on an Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (DID) assignment under Black and Veatch, in partnership with Dr Nik and Associates Sdn Bhd (DNASB), on the Atmospheric Model-Based Rainfall and Flood Forecasting (AMRFF) system. The system involves the development and use of a regional climate model for rainfall prediction and climate control. The system also uses radar/spatial rainfall estimates to provide rainfall estimates over large areas and to update rainfall predictions.
Black and Veatch is providing the system to process radar rainfall data into rainfall estimates. This system, known as RAIM (Radar Rainfall and Integrator for Malaysia), will provide spatial rainfall estimates. The process of transforming radar readings to rainfall rates is generally known as Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE). The conversion process is complex as it requires a combination of geographic manipulation, empirical relationships and image correction techniques to provide reliable rainfall estimates. DNASB has been testing the use of the data in river modelling.
Figures 3 and 4 show the radar reflectivity energy scan and radar data converted to gridded rainfall estimates respectively. According to Dr Lau, “This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the ability of this state-of-theart technology for clients. Working in partnership with DNASB has also been mutually beneficial as different expertise is brought to the project.”
“The client has so far been impressed with our progress. This includes processing rainfall archives for five years and deriving empirical relationships between the radar reflectivity and rain rates. The abstraction process alone took a whole month of evenings to complete. All this work is interesting but it is the knowledge that the system will potentially save lives really focus the mind,” he concluded.
It is hoped that the system can be online from this year. After six months of testing the reliability of the system, the
Figure 1: Dr Lau explaining the subject matter
Figure 2: Some of the participants
Consulting engineering
sPeCial intereot grouP
AMRFF system will provide real-time flood forecasting and flood warnings for three main rivers in Peninsular Malaysia.
During his lecture, Dr Lau also discussed the potential use of the radar rainfall data for other uses. The data can potentially be used for slope stability hazard mapping, bridge scour and water resource management. The talk ended at 7.30 p.m. with many interesting questions from the floor. Dr Ooi, Chairman of the CESIG presented a certificate and token of appreciation to Dr Lau for his excellent presentation. n
Decisions Determine Destiny
The deepest secret is that life is not a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself, but creating yourself anew. Seek, therefore, not a find out who you are; seek to determine who you want to be
Neale Donald Walsch
Figure 5: A big thank you to Dr Lau from IEM
Figure 3: Radar Reflectivity Energy Scan
Figure 4: Radar data converted to gridded rainfall estimates
talk on Project learning for sustainable innovativeness and Competitive advantage
by Ir. Lee
the talk entitled “Project Learning for Sustainable Innovativeness and Competitive Advantage” was organised by the Project Management Technical Division (PMTD) of IEM on 20 November 2010 at Wisma IEM, Petaling Jaya. The talk was delivered by Sr. Dr Zulkiflee Abdul Samad, who is a Senior Lecturer in Project Management at the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya.
Sr. Dr Zulkiflee is an academician, consultant and professional, with about 15 years of experience in project management in both the construction industry and academia. He is also currently the Head of Department of Quantity Surveying. The session was chaired by Ir. Lee Boon Chong. A total of 63 participants attended the talk. The talk covered the following four main areas.
Knowledge and Knowledge ManageMent CyCle in ProJeCts
Sr. Dr Zulkiflee first described the meaning of explicit knowledge, tacit knowledge and knowledge management. Knowledge management cycle in project is defined in four sequential steps, starting from data collection, processing data into information, transforming actionable information into knowledge and embedding knowledge into individual and organisational processes that add value to projects.
ProJeCt and organisation learning
The speaker then explained that, although projects were extremely suitable for learning due to their time limitation,
resource constraints, great complexity, diversity and risk propensity, mistakes might be repeated in new projects and some efforts might be redundant. Very often, the end of the project means the end of the learning process. The purpose of project learning is centred on project risks, project competencies, sustainable innovativeness and competitive advantage.
Categories of knowledge that can be derived from projects consist of technical knowledge, procedural knowledge and organisational knowledge. By systematically documenting the most effective problemsolving mechanisms and the most serious mistakes that were made in the course of a project, organisations can then reduce project risk, develop project competencies and build up sustainable innovativeness and competitive advantage.
ProJeCt learning - Cultural iMPaCt, Methods, iMPediMents and Key suCCess faCtors
Project learning is described as a set of actions used by the project team to create and share knowledge within and between projects. It consists of operational learning, organisational learning and managerial learning. The speaker described the link between project learning and organisation learning. Cultural impact was then explained in terms of knowledge comparison between an individual and a group, universal and circumstantial, low context and high context, and theoretical and pragmatic.
Boon Chong
ProJeCt ManageMent teChniCal division
Sr. Dr Zulkiflee sharing his knowledge and experience
Members listening attentively
Three methods of project learning were outlined, namely, humancentred, processbased and contentbased. Examples of impediments to project learning are cultural
diversity, project nature and communications. Project key success factors were discussed, including institutionalising the lessons learned process, having continuous project review, gaining top management support, encouraging employee participation and using ICT to create knowledge space.
fostering ProJeCt and organisational learning
Sr. Dr Zulkiflee gave an outlook on what an organisation could and should do in order to create an effective learning environment and its potential impact on organisational learning from projects. He wrapped up the presentation by proposing three methods for fostering project and organisational learning, i.e. integrating project learning into project management methodology, establishing knowledge enablers, and moving towards the ideal of a learning organisation. The talk ended with a very active Q&A session. n
IEM's appreciation to Sr. Dr Zulkiflee
On Long-distance Bus travel
by Ir. Chin Mee Poon
the tragedy that happened just 11 days before the year 2010 ended, when a tour bus which made its way down from Cameron Highlands lost control, rammed into the central divider, got deflected towards the mountainside and eventually landed in a roadside drain, and killed 26 Thai tourists and the driver in the process, shocked and saddened the whole nation.
It was not the first time such serious accidents involving long-distance buses had taken place, and it is unlikely to be the last. As a matter of fact, such accidents happen so often in our country that many people have developed a fear of travelling by long-distance buses. They would rather opt for train travel which is by far much safer.
Most of the accidents involving long-distance buses, I reckon, are the result of human error, especially on the part of the bus drivers whose aptitude and attitude more often than not leave much room for improvement. I have personally witnessed a long-distance bus weaving in and out of heavy traffic along the Kajang-Sungai Besi section of the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway at more than 110kph when the speed limit was clearly indicated as only 90kph.
My experience travelling by bus from one city to another throughout Turkey over a period of one month has convinced me that bus drivers need not be daredevil speed fiends.
It was mid-October last year when my wife and I had just completed a 3-week tour of Iran with two friends. We decided to hop over to neighbouring Turkey to continue on our tour after our friends had gone home. I would have preferred to go by train to cover the vast territory of Turkey, but the country’s railroad network was not that extensive and going by bus turned out to be a much more convenient alternative.
I soon found out that Turkey’s highways and major roads were excellent. What was even more impressive was the way the intercity transportation systems, namely, bus services, were operated. Even between small towns, there were at least two or three operators providing bus services. Major cities were linked by more than half a dozen bus companies.
And the buses were almost invariably large, new, clean and very comfortable Mercedes Benz models with ample legroom. There were usually two attendants in the bus, one of which would serve coffee, tea or soft drinks, and biscuits or cake to the passengers during the journey. It was almost like flying.
The best part was, the drivers were so well trained that they were absolutely law-abiding. In all the buses we travelled in, the driver never went beyond 95kph. He would slow down substantially when negotiating a curve or going over a rough patch. On the few occasions when we travelled at night, the driver would stop at road intersections in town even though there was no traffic coming from the other directions.
We felt so safe and relaxed travelling by bus in Turkey. I am sure something can be done to revamp the whole transportation system in our country so that local bus drivers become more law-abiding and safety conscious. If Turkey can do it, Malaysia certainly can! n
Guidelines for reports on activities
The Editorial Board (EB) had and 19 February 2011 deliberated, among others, the backlog of reports on activities. Tour kind feedback on the above matter was taken into account. The recommendations from Editorial Board (EB) were subsequently tabled and passed in the monthly meeting of the Standing Committee on Information and Publications. The guiding principles decided are as follow: -
(i) Each report shall be limited to one printed page at the maximum, all-in.
(ii) If more than 2 pages, the author should summarised this as feature articles instead of reports.
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(iv) Reports should be value-adding to the readership, and should omit frivolous details.
(v) Reports should preferably be submitted within one month from the date of the activity, and the EB will strive to publish them within the next two months
(vi) For reports prior to this guideline, since there was a tacit assumption of ‘sure publications’, the EB will try to schedule all of them for publication, but considering the magnitude of the backlog, the currency of the reports and their contents, the EB retains the right to decline the publication of any such report.
(vii) For the purpose of tracking the activities of each Branch and Technical Division, the full list of activities have always been published in the Annual Report of IEM, hence it is redundant to list them in the Bulletin.
Based on the guiding principles above, the EB promulgates the details as follows:
1) each report shall be limited to one printed page at the maximum: First and foremost, all reports should be concise ad precise in view of the limited publication space. Without figures, one printed page contains about 800 words, and the word count must be reduced appropriately with each additional figure or photo. As the sizes of such insertions affect their word-countequivalent, it will be left to the judgement of the authors on the number of words to cut. The Bulletin Editor retains the right to edit or further reduce the number of words.
2) all reports are subjected to selection for publication by the eB: To better inform themselves on the suitability of the reports, the EB is free to seek further advice from parties deemed fit to do so, while avoiding conflict of interest such as asking the same Technical Division to vet their own reports.
3) reports on activities should be value-adding to the readership: For example, reports on talks should be akin to an extended abstract from which readers could get the gist of the talk and the subsequent Q&A. Reports on visits, forums and others shall serve a similar purpose, e.g. highlighting critical observations, issues, resolutions that will be interest to the readers. Other than the basic information such as title, venue, name and affiliation of the speaker, details which are of little interest to most readers (such as the time of arrival at a destination, presentation of a token of souvenir etc.) should be excluded.
4) a report should preferably be submitted within a month from the activity: Considering that some Technical Divisions have internal vetting process prior to submission, the EB will not be unreasonably strict with this requirement.
5) Although the EB will strive to publish the reports in a timely manner, the EB reserves the right to schedule from a later date, e.g. to provide room to clear the backlog, or to better fit the theme of the month. Until the backlog is cleared, each issues of the Bulletin will contain a mix of ‘ancient’ and relatively current reports.
6) As the reports that predate this guideline may not be in the proposed format, it is the discretion of the Bulletin Editor to allow their publication close to their original form, or to further edit them to suit the new format if it could be done without excessive demands on editorial time.
7) To avoid further burdens to the Secretariat staff who is currently spread paper-thin, the authors will not be alerted of the fate of their reports. Such feedback will be provided only after the situation improves.
Operationally, the Bulletin Editor will be the main person performing the above tasks while the editor at the publisher will improve the writing. The EB serves an advisory role, and where deemed necessary, to modify the proposals by the Bulletin Editor.
We believe that the measures above will not only clear the backlog, but also push the Bulletin to greater heights as all new reports will have to vie for publication space. However, we do not want this to quench the rate of submission of reports. Do rest assured that good reports will continue to see the light of the day. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
IeM Jurutera editorial Board, 14 July 2009 revised 19 February 2011
Development of eC7 Malaysia National annex for the Design of embankment Stability on Soft Ground
The “Paper Series on Structural Codes : Development of EC7 Malaysia National Annex for the Design of Embankment Stability on Soft Ground” authored by Ir. Tan Yean Chin was published in 2 parts in the September 2010 and October 2010 issues of JURUTERA. JURUTERA received the following views performing to the author's presentation of the results from a prototype test embankment to persuade the use of small Partial Factors in the Malaysia National Annex to EC7, a design guidance document being developed by The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia.
- Editor
Comments from Ir. Yee thien Seng
The Author is arguing that provisions in the British National Annex (UK-NA) to EC7 are not completely suited for application in Malaysia owing to a number of specific factors; most notably amongst them being geology and sub-soil conditions. He suggested that the UK-NA was formulated for use in medium to stiff London Clay and, therefore, may not be of relevance to the soft coastal alluvium in this country. In insinuating that the British do not construct embankments on very soft ground, obviously the Author is clearly ignorant of documented experiences in Britain of such constructions from as early as 1953 (Golder and Palmer, 1955). These were constructed for sea defences.
Very soft soils also prevail significantly in Europe. The Author is not correct in his Section 4.2 (e) to imply that soft soils do not exist in Europe. In fact, it was in Scandinavian Europe that the birth of the world’s systematic soft clay engineering practices took place with the construction of the Vasby trials in 1945 (Chang, 1981).
It seems strange to cite differences in geology as a defining factor to discredit the possible adoption of engineering design philosophies laid out in the UK-NA. Engineers, particularly ground engineers, have had always to employ mechanistic procedures in their analysis work and this can only be realistically made in the presence of quantifiable data which have to be obtained by meaningfully testing the ground or samples of it. Geology only accords a qualitative treatment of the ground conditions and provides little basis for quantitative engineering undertakings.
In support of his case, the Author has used his back-analysis to an experimental section constructed for the program of Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays (MHA, 1989). The section concerned an embankment construction deliberately built up in a very well controlled manner until failure was induced at the fill thickness of 5.4 m. Without modifying any data documented in MHA (1989), the Author’s back-analysis produced the failure thickness of just 3.4 m. for the same construction; an unusually large underestimate given the full availability of the documented high quality data. It is
unlikely that there would be better quality data available in any other real-life construction.
The Author is attempting to pass off his stability evaluation procedure as the ‘Malaysian Method’ for dealing with such issues. (He has not enumerated on his analysis method.) In the first place there does not exist a procedure for embankment stability analysis that can be branded as such. Further, it is clear that he has chosen to ignore the existence of past literature on similar backanalysis work on the very same experimental section.
Of note is the effort of Chee (1999), an evaluation on the same experimental section using the data in MHA (1989) with the outcome showing that an industry practice would produce an only marginally conservative analysis. Chee (1999) also reviewed another 2 sections in the same trial embankments program (so had exactly the same embankment material characteristics and construction techniques) that experienced structural failures; the outcomes of which suggest that the same analysis practice would have resulted in unconservative results unless the undrained shear strength values in the same ground are reduced by quite a significant amount. This would point to a lack of full reliability in the stability analysis procedures available to industry; a fact borne out by the huge spread in the pre-symposium participants’ predictions (MHA, 1989). Yee (2004) postulated that the incomplete conventional model used to represent mobilisable shear strength distribution in the ground was the prime cause for the less than satisfactory stability analyses.
It is not clear why the Author’s back-analysis should produce such an enormous under-estimate for the failure thickness given the existence of earlier published literature on the same case to the contrary. It is noted that his Section 4.2 (b) tries to justify the under-prediction by suggesting that there was ‘gain in strength of the subsoil with time’. This is completely contradictory to his assertion in Section 4.1 which clearly declared that ‘there was an insignificant gain in strength in the low permeability fine grained subsoil’.
In any case, his effort constitutes nothing more than a single case study. And, just as for any scientific development, it is unprecedented to employ just a single piece of evaluation (even if truthfully correct) to shape the engineering industry practice for an issue as important as embankment stability.
Had the technique, which the Author claims to be a country-wide practice, yielded the large reserve against actual failure he is now saying the construction industry should be relatively free from embankment failures by now; irrespective of how unrepresentative the ground data would have been. But this is certainly not the case. A check with the insurance industry reveals collapses during embankment constructions still occurred with frequent regularity in these last 2 years, including several in key transportation projects in Peninsula Malaysia alone. And, interestingly enough, a number of these had their analyses and designs undertaken by individuals or groups indulging in energetic efforts to shape geotechnical engineering practice in the country.
So the Author’s clamour for Partial Factors all round to be reduced from those incorporated in the UK-NA lacks credibility. Particularly when earlier efforts from others point to the contrary coupled with the lack of full reliability in stability analysis techniques available. The latter may actually warrant greater Partial Factors instead. The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, a learned society with an implied obligation to look after public interests, has the duty of care not to commit members of the institution and profession to reckless acts nor to abet in the same.
Authors’ reply
There is no argument that there is soft ground in Europe. What the author stressed on is, for the development of a new code such as the Malaysian Annex (MY-NA) for EC7 to be adopted in Malaysia, there should be proper considerations of existing practices in the industry, especially the latest methodology and development (e.g. for the last 10 to 15 years and not that of 30 to 50 years ago as there should be improvement with time) on the selection of parameters (e.g. soil strength, permeability and stiffness), analysis and design, construction control and factor of safety (FOS) which have been widely used in our country for the last 10 to 15 years. Reference should also be made to the accepted analysis and methodology adopted for the latest major infrastructure development in our country (e.g. for the last 10 to 15 years) that have been successfully constructed and operated, which covers sizeable reclamation, highway, expressway, railway embankment, etc.
Any recommendation to follow UK Annex (UK-NA) of EC7 in Malaysia without these detailed investigations or studies would not do justice to the industry specifically and the nation as a whole. This is because if a higher than normally accepted FOS is adopted (e.g. follow exactly UK-NA values), it would lead to additional cost (e.g. more ground treatment needed) which will hinder development and the higher cost being transferred to the public (you and me as taxpayers). On the other hand, dangerously low FOS would lead to a higher risk of failure that could affect public safety.
Answer for 1Sudoku published on page 18 of this issue.
The paper presented factual information of the Muar Trial Embankment and the interpretation and analysis by the author is self-explanatory. It is important to note that as professional engineers, it is our responsibility to obtain reliable soil parameters and other information needed for a proper analysis, design and construction control. As for obtaining reliable and good quality soil parameters, it can be achieved by putting an effort into planning, selection of contractors, full time proper supervision, checking and correct interpretation. The author is against using a higher FOS because of the “myth” of not being able to obtain reliable and good quality parameters or the engineer is unable to carry out the work properly due to a lack of capacity or capability
refereNCeS:
[1] Chang, Y.C.E. (1981). “Long term consolidation beneath the test fills at Vasby, Sweden.” Swedish Geotechnical Institute Report No. 13.
[2] Chee, S.K. (1999). “Stability of Embankments on Soft Clay.” Proceedings for the Short Course on Soil Investigation and Design for Slope organised by Universiti Teknology Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 313-353.
[3] Golder, H.Q. and Palmer, D.J. (1955). “Investigation of a bank failure at Scrapsgate, Ilse of Sheppey, Kent.” Geotechnique, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 55-73.
[4] MHA, (1989). Proceedings of the International Symposium on Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays, Kuala Lumpur, Vol. 1 and 2.
[5] Yee, T.S. (2004). “Shear strength and structural stability of constructions in soft ground.” Proceedings of the Malaysian Geotechnical Conference, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 475-495.
I M porta N t Not IC eS
IeM taLKS
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Thank you.
By the Executive Committee of the IEM Council
To All Members, Date: 10 January 2011
CaNDIDateS aPPrOVeD tO SIt FOr Year 2011 PrOFeSSIONaL INterVIeW
The following candidates have been approved to sit for the Professional Interview for 2011.
In accordance with Bylaws 3.9, the undermentioned names are published as having applied for membership of the Institution, subject to passing the year 2011 Professional Interview.
If any Corporate Member of the Institution has any reason as to why any of the candidates is not a fit and proper person for election, he should communicate in writing to the Honorary Secretary. Such communication should be lodged within a month from the date of this publication.
ir. prof. Dr Lee Teang shui Honorary Secretary, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia
NeW aPPLICaNtS
Name Qualifications
aerONautICaL eNGINeerING
ABU HANIFAH BIN HAJI ABDULLAH BSc (SAINT LOUIS) (AEROSPACE, 1989)
CHeMICaL eNGINeerING
AMIR BIN ABD RAHMAN BE HONS (UTM) (CHEMICAL, 1994)
CIVIL eNGINeerING
ANg yIAw kIM PART 1 AND 2 (IEM/BEM) (CIVIL, 2003)
AZMAN BIN ISMAIL BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2001)
CHEONg wOON kOON BE HONS (BIRMINgHAM) (CIVIL, 1998)
CHINg CHIT kEAT BE HONS (LEEDS) (CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL, 2003)
HAIZAT BIN kAMIN BE HONS (USM) (CIVIL, 1996)
HII kINg yUNg DR BE HONS (CANTERBURy) (CIVIL, 1989)
LINg NENg yIN, STEVEN BE (AUCkLAND) (CIVIL, 2003)
MD JAFFRy BIN MASAT BE HONS (RMIT) (CIVIL, 1996)
MOHD NASIR BIN SAMSUDIN BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 03)
MOHD ROSLI BIN SHAFIE ADV DIP (UiTM) (CIVIL, 86)
MOHD SHUZAINy BIN ISMAIL BE HONS (PORTSMOUTH) (CIVIL, 1997)
MUHAMMED SAPAwI BIN ISMAIL BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2002)
NASROLLAH BIN MOHAMAD BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2000)
NIk MOHAMMAD yUSOFF BIN NIk OMAR BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2003)
ROSNANI BT HJ MAHMOOD BE HONS (RMIT) (CIVIL, 1991)
SALIHA BINTI CHE DAUD BSc HONS (MONTANA STATE) (CIVIL, 1985)
TAN wEI kEAT BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2002)
TAOFIg BIN SAMAT BE HONS (UkM) (CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL, 1999)
TENgkU SURIATI BT TENgkU yUSOFF BE HONS (UiTM) (CIVIL, 1997)
eLeCtrICaL eNGINeerING
gOBI kANNAN A/L SUPRAMANIAM BSc wESTERN MICHIgAN) (ELECTRICAL, 1999)
NeW aPPLICaNtS
Name Qualifications
MOHD ZAINAL ABIDIN BIN AB kADIR BE HONS (UPM) (ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS, 2001) ZAFRI BIN SAMSUDIN BE HONS (STAFFORDSHIRE POLyTECH) (ELECTRICAL, 1990)
MeCHaNICaL eNGINeerING
gOAy wEI SIN BE HONS (UM) (MECHANICAL, 1997)
MOHAMED AZMIRA BIN MOHAMED BE HONS (UkM) (MECHANICAL, 2001)
SyED ABDULLAH BIN SyED AHMAD BE HONS (UTM) (MECHANICAL, 1996) wAN ZAIDILFITRI BIN wAN MAT ZAIN BE HONS (LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES) (MECHANICAL, 1998)
traNSFer aPPLICaNtS
Mem No. Name Qualifications
aGrICuLturaL eNGINeerING
36650 MOHAMAD HAIRIE BIN MASROON BE HONS (BIOLOgICAL & AgRICULTURAL, 2007)
CHeMICaL eNGINeerING
39160 ZURAIDA wONg BINTI ZULkIFLI BE HONS (ADELAIDE) (CHEMICAL, 2000)
CIVIL eNGINeerING
21425 ADZIM BIN HUSAIN BE (kANAZAwA, JAPAN) (CIVIL, 2000)
25644 FONg CHONg yIT BE HONS (UTP) (CIVIL, 2004)
25779 gILBERT gOH MUk CHOON BE HONS (ADELAIDE) (CIVIL, 2002)
33831 kAMARUDDIN BIN HASSAN BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2001)
23194 kHO JOO SIONg BE HONS (USM) (CIVIL, 2001)
20799 LEE LI kEAT BE HONS (UPM) (CIVIL, 2004)
27533 LENg MINg wEI BE HONS (UNITEN) (CIVIL, 2006)
CaLL FOr PaPerS
traNSFer aPPLICaNtS
Mem No. Name Qualifications
21921 LIM gHIM PENg BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2004)
45313 MD yUFI FAJARI BIN MOHD yUSOFF BE HONS (UiTM) (CIVIL, 2004)
30635 MEHERON A/L SELOwARAJOO BE HONS (UM) (CIVIL, 2002)
MOHD HANIF BIN MOHD HATTA BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2006)
MOHD ZAILANI BIN MOHD NOR BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2001)
THONg FOO HOw BE HONS (UTM) (CIVIL, 2003) 37054 wANg LIANg CHUAN BE HONS (UTHM) (CIVIL, 2005)
eLeCtrICaL eNGINeerING 14111 k kATHIRAVAN A/L kRISHNAN BSc HONS (SURREy) (ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL, 1986) 31725 HANAFIAH BIN SHAMSUDIN BE HONS (NORTHUMBRIA, NEwCASTLE) (ELECT & E'TRONIC, 1997) 17157 LUI MAN LEONg BE HONS (UTM) (ELECTRICAL, 2006)
eLeCtrONIC eNGINeerING 23044 LIEw CHIA PAO PART 1 & 2 (ECUk) (ELECTRONICS, 2001)
MeCHaNICaL eNGINeerING 14855 AMMERAN BIN MAD BSc (wASHINgTON STATE) (MECHANICAL, 1987) 36260 FAZLEE BIN AyOB BE HONS (UTM) (MECHANICAL, 2001) 38039 gOH kHENg wEE BE HONS (gLASgOw) (MECHANICAL, 2001) 13509 Ng BOON wAI BE HONS (UkM) (MECHANICAL & MATERIALS, 1993) 13267 SUFIAN BIN HUSIN BE HONS (UTM) (MECHANICALAERONOUTICS, 1994)
24895 THIRUMURUgAN A/L MANIkAM BE HONS (UNITEN) (MECHANICAL, 2001)
Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
Dear Members,
You are invited to submit an article to the Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management (JCEPM) which offers wide ranging and comprehensive coverage of all facets of construction engineering and project management. The Journal was being expecting their first publication on May 2011. The Journal will only be published quarterly and targets to be SCI-E indexed by the end of 2012. For more information, do e-mail to jcepm@kicem.or.kr or contact Mr. Samuel T. Ariaratnam, Moonseo Park, Co-Chief Editors of the Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management.
Thank you.
CONtrIbutION tO WISMa IeM buILDING FuND
RM1,596,088.20
The Institution would like to thank all contributors for donating towards the Wisma IEM Building Fund. Members and readers who wish to donate can do so by downloading the form from the IEM website at http://www.MyIEM.org my or contact the IEM Secretariat at +603-7968 4001/4025 for more information. The list of the contributors as at 30 January 2010 are shown as in table below.
Vice
Teo Chee Kong, ADK
Lo Chong Chiun
Ir. Tan Koh Yon @ Tang Kok Yon
Hon. Secretary Ir. Chiam Yaw Chung
Hon. Treasurer Ir. Benny Song Perng Yeu
Immediate Past Chariman Dato' Ir. John Chee, JP
Members Ir. Lee Tet Fon, ASDK
Chong Ming Chung
James Yong Hon Min Ir. Paul Yap Kok Wai
Ir. Chin Shu Ying, ASDK
Ir. Hj. Yahiya Ag Kahar, ADK Ir. Hj. Nazri bin Hj. Abdul Razak
IeM DIarY OF eVeNtS
Kindly note that the scheduled events below are subject to change. Please visit the IEM website at www.MyIEM.org.my for more information on the upcoming events.
Sub-Committee on Women Engineers
4 apriL 2011
Talk on ‘flova C va C uum S EWE rag E SySTE m’
Time: 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Venue: TUS Lecture Room, 2nd Floor, Wisma IEM
Speaker: Mr. Rick Wickham
23 apriL 2011
o n E Day W ork SH o P on
‘EXP lo SI v E I n C om E g E n E raTI on’
Time: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Venue: Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee Auditorium, Wisma IEM
Fees: Graduate and Student Member- RM200 IEM Member - RM300 Non IEM Member - RM370 (Invitation to register)
young Engineers Section, IEm
9 apriL 2011
Talk on ‘Eng I n EE r aS a Con S ulTI ng Eng I n EE r’
Time: 9.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
Venue: Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee Auditorium, 3rd Floor, Wisma IEM
Speaker: Ir. Dr Gue See Sew
ie M Major eV en T s
2 april 2011
ie M o penin G b a LLoT DaY
Venue: GETD Board Room, Bangunan Ingenieur, Petaling Jaya, Selangor (IEM office will be closed for this day)
16 april 2011
ie M a nnua L G enera L M ee T in G
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CONFereNCeS & SeMINarS
For registration and more information, kindly contact the organiser occordingly.
5-7 april 2011
Ma L aY sia ibs i n T ernaT iona L e xhibi T ion
2011 (m IIE 2011): I b S I n TE graTI on for G reen T echno Lo GY
The 2nd International Building Control Conference Venue: G Hotel, Gurney Drive, Penang Website: http://perak.uitm.edu.my/ibcc2011 (Call fo registration)
18-19 july 2011
E DDy Curr E n T lE v E l III (aD van CE)
Venue: Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi Website: www.nuclearmalaysia.gov.com (Call for paper. Deadline 30 June 2011)
19-20 july 2011
3r D asia sYM posiu M on "Qua L i TY e L ec T ronic D esi G n" as Q e D 2011
Venue: Crown Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur Website: www.asqed.com (Call for paper. Deadline 23 April 2011)
ie M annua L D inner
Venue: IOI Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya
Time: 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Fee: RM300.00 per person
Email: sec@iem.org.my/jac@iem.org.my (Invitation to register)
12-14 july 2011
bro W nf IE l D a SI a 2011
International Conference on Remediation and Management of Contaminated Land: Focus on Asia (Call for paper)
Venue: Sunway Resort Hotel (Call for submission of abstract)
10-12 october 2011
IE m-IET m alaySI a e ner GY c on F erence 2011 (Call for paper)
Email: jac@iem.org.my
27-30 november 2011
29T h co n F erence o F asean F e D eraT ion o F en G ineerin G or G anisaT ions on S u STa I nabl E urban IS aTI on: Eng I n EE r I ng CH all E ng ES an D o PP or T un ITIES (C af Eo 29)
Venue: The Rizqun International Hotel, Brunei Darussalam
Tel/Fax: +673 238 4021
Email: cafeo29.brunei@gmail.com
Website: www.puja-brunei.org (Call for registration)
8-10 june 2011 p ra G ue 2011
Concrete Engineering for Excellence and Efficiency
Venue: Clarion Congress Hotel Prague, Czech Republic
Email: info@fib2011prague.eu/sruma@fib2011prague.eu Website: www.fib2011prague.eu (Call for paper)
Effective from 1 august 2010, defaulting members in arrears of subscription will be considered as suspended members with all benefits removed. Consequently, these members will not be allowed to attend free talks and will be charged the non-member’s fee at the entrance. They will also not be entitled to register for visits/courses/seminars/conferences and any paid event of the IEM at members’ registration fee.
To avoid this, all IEm members are advised to settle their annual subscription on time and the dateline for payment each year is on 31 January.
Thank you.
By the Executive Committee of the IEM Council
SaLe OF SHaIkY'S VIeW CartOON bOOk
The cartoons appearing in Shaiky’s View are now available in a professionally designed, 28 x 22 cm hard cover coffee table copy titled “The Engineer”. This limited edition contains more than 180 cartoons dealing with engineering and construction.
“The Engineer” can be purchased through IEM for RM125, of which RM20 will be donated by the author to IEM funds. Please add delivery and handling costs of RM20** for Peninsular Malaysia and RM30** for Sabah and Sarawak.
Please make your cheque payable to “The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia” and mail it together with the following return slip to IEM Headquarters. For further enquiries, please write to sec@iem.org.my
(** Note: Cost is subject to the destination)
reNeWaL MeMberSHIP reMINDer 2011
CaLL FOr NOMINatIONS
WorlD fEDEraTIon of EngInEErIng organISaTIonS (WfEo) 2011 aWarDS, gEnEva , SWITZErlanD, In SEPTEmbEr 2011 InConJuCTIon WITH WorlD EngInEErS’ ConvEnTIon (WEC) 2011
The WFEO would like to call for nominations for the following awards. Below are the details:
(a) 2011 medal of Engineering Excellence for Distinguished achievement Service of Humanity
The first presentation of the WFEO Medal (the Engineering Achievement Award) was made in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in September 1989 during the 12th General Assembly of WFEO. The Medal was to be presented biennially hereafter, helping direct world attention to the practice, theory and public contributions of engineering. There is no honorarium on stipend associated with the award.
- award criteria: The recipient will be chosen based on his or her noteworthy contributions to the practice, theory or public status of engineering. Nominees should possess appreciable experience in the profession, international standing as well as significant educational accomplishments.
(b) 2011 medal of Excellence in Engineering Education
The first presentation of the WFEO Medal was made in Madrid, Spain, in November 1999, during the 18th General Assembly of WFEO. The Medal was to be presented biennially hereafter, helping direct world attention to the importance of continuing improvement in the quality, delivery and relevance of engineering education and training. There is no honorarium on stipend associated with the award.
- award criteria: The Award recipient shall be an engineer as defined by the relative standards of the nominating WFEO member organisation.
Nominations for the awards of WFEO Associate, The Consolidated Contractors Group;
(c) 2011 Hassib J. Sabbagh award for Engineering Construction Excellence for Innovative Wind Power or Solar Power
The purpose of this Award is to direct world attention to the role of engineering in sustainable development. The Consolidated Contractors, under the leadership of the late Hassib J. Sabbagh, gave the WFEO responsibility for organising the Hassib J. Sabbagh Award for Engineering Construction Excellence. This Award was instituted in 2002 by the initiative and endowment of late Hassib J. Sabbagh who devoted many year of concern and effort in the area of engineering and construction. The award consists of a medal, a certificate and a cash prize of $10,000 USD and presented in conjunction with the biennial General Assembly of the WFEO. The first presentation was given during the WFEO General Assembly in Tunis, Tunisia in October 2003.
- award criteria: The Award recognised the noteworthy contributions in the field of INNOVATIVE WIND POWER or SOLAR POWER by an engineer(s) as defined by the relative standards of the nominating WFEO member organisation.
All Awards would be presented in Geneva, Switzerland, during the WFEO General Assembly and the WEC 2011 meetings from September 5-10, 2011, where the award recipient would give a brief presentation on a topic related to the basis of the nomination.
Nominations for each award should be submitted to the Secretariat of FMOI/WFEO not later than 30 april 2011 to the executivedirector@wfeo.net. For more information and to download forms, visit the WFEO website at www.wfeo.org
Thank you.
employee responsibility
by Ir. Shum Keng Yan
the implementation of Occupational Safety and Health programmes cannot be successful without the participation and cooperation of those working in the enterprise, e.g. employees, contractors, temporary workers, agency employees, etc. This month, we will look at Part VI: General Duties of Employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514).
Subsection 24 (1) lays out the duties of every Employee as follows:
(a) Take reasonable care for the safety and health of himself or others who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work.
(b) Cooperate with the Employer or any other person to discharge his duty and workplace requirements.
(c) Wear Personal Protective Equipment.
(d) Comply with instructions or measures on Occupational Safety and Health.
In addition, Section 25 stipulates that the Employee should not intentionally, recklessly or negligently interferes with or misuse things provided or done in the interests of safety, health and welfare.
Last month, I explained Section 26 and Section 27 whereby the action is actually to be carried out by the Employer [including Trade Union under Subsection 27 (2)].
If you are interested to share with us the challenges of being an employee, drop us an email at pub@iem.org.my n
Management should not be quick to blame employees (and sometimes Safety Officers) whenever an accident occurs. We should be looking at the underlying causes of the accident through a proper accident investigation. Just imagine this; we receive hundreds of applications for a job, shortlist around 10 and interview five to hire the one that is to blame.
