M. Tech. Business Administration / Failure to use appropriate procurement and management policies and guidelines for the routine maintenance of buildings cost the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) more than necessary, and the practice has resulted in lack of efficiency. The cost of maintenance is an integral part of the business process, and needs to be assessed, monitored and evaluated based on empirical evidence and due process. The study aimed to analyse factors that affect the cost of building maintenance at SANBI, and find out ways and means in which the cost of maintenance could be reduced without compromising the quality of workmanship. It is against this background that the purpose of this study was to identify factors that affect the cost of maintenance of buildings at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Pretoria and investigate how the factors influence maintenance cost.

A reabilitação de edifícios tem sido tema recorrente junto aos setores interessados no desenvolvimento urbano das grandes metrópoles, tanto no Brasil como em países da Europa e América do Norte. Particularmente, no Brasil, o setor da construção civil vem aumentando seu interesse pela área de reabilitação, seja pelo aumento do volume de recursos aplicados pelos governos federal, estadual e municipal, como pela potencialidade econômica que se vislumbra em função do expressivo parque edificado vazio nas áreas centrais urbanas do país. Apesar deste contexto, as particularidades relativas à produção de obras de reabilitação de edifícios não têm sido objeto de estudo sistêmico. Há expressivo desconhecimento sobre a dinâmica de produção deste tipo de empreendimento, o que tem resultado, sobretudo, em obras cujos custos usualmente extrapolam as estimativas iniciais. Com o objetivo de contribuir para avançar no conhecimento da área de reabilitação, neste trabalho são analisados os custos envolvidos em cinco empreendimentos de reabilitação de edifícios para uso habitacional, identificando-se os principais fatores de produção que os condicionam. A partir da síntese dos resultados obtidos da análise, são propostos alguns parâmetros que podem servir de base para elaboração de futuros orçamentos de obras de reabilitação. Como consequência desta atividade, pode-se concluir que um dos aspectos fundamentais para determinação dos custos totais de produção em obras de reabilitação é o grau de intervenção, relacionado à complexidade das atividades previstas, associado às condições prévias do edifício e, por isto, uma cuidadosa vistoria prévia ao desenvolvimento do projeto é fundamental para o sucesso do empreendimento. Espera-se que, as conclusões aqui apresentadas sirvam de base para o desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico do setor de reabilitação de edifícios, contribuindo também, para a melhoria dos centros urbanos das grandes cidades brasileiras. / Building rehabilitation is a recurrent issue among the sectors interested in the great metropolis urban development in Brazil as well as in European and North American countries. Particularly in Brazil, the construction sector interest in the rehabilitation field has been rising due to both the increase in resource invested by the federal, state and municipal governments and the economic potentiality foreseen in the significant empty constructed stock in the country central urban areas. In spite of this context, the particularities regarding works production in building rehabilitation construction has not been studied from a systemic point of view. Very little is known about production dynamics in this kind of undertaking, which results mainly in construction works whose costs exceed the initial estimates. In an attempt to contribute to knowledge progress in the rehabilitation field, the cost involved in five apartment building rehabilitation projects were analyzed and the main production determining factors were identified. From the synthesis of the results reached through this analysis, some parameters usable as basis to draw up future budgets of rehabilitation works are proposed. From this activity, it may be concluded that one of the fundamental aspects to determine the total production cost related to rehabilitation works is the intervention level, related to the foreseen activities complexity, linked to the previous building condition. For this reason, for the undertaking success, it is crucial that a careful inspection be made before developing the project. It is hopeful that the conclusions presented in this work contribute to the economical and technological development of the building rehabilitation sector, as well as to the Brazilian metropolis urban centres improvement.

A reabilitação de edifícios tem sido tema recorrente junto aos setores interessados no desenvolvimento urbano das grandes metrópoles, tanto no Brasil como em países da Europa e América do Norte. Particularmente, no Brasil, o setor da construção civil vem aumentando seu interesse pela área de reabilitação, seja pelo aumento do volume de recursos aplicados pelos governos federal, estadual e municipal, como pela potencialidade econômica que se vislumbra em função do expressivo parque edificado vazio nas áreas centrais urbanas do país. Apesar deste contexto, as particularidades relativas à produção de obras de reabilitação de edifícios não têm sido objeto de estudo sistêmico. Há expressivo desconhecimento sobre a dinâmica de produção deste tipo de empreendimento, o que tem resultado, sobretudo, em obras cujos custos usualmente extrapolam as estimativas iniciais. Com o objetivo de contribuir para avançar no conhecimento da área de reabilitação, neste trabalho são analisados os custos envolvidos em cinco empreendimentos de reabilitação de edifícios para uso habitacional, identificando-se os principais fatores de produção que os condicionam. A partir da síntese dos resultados obtidos da análise, são propostos alguns parâmetros que podem servir de base para elaboração de futuros orçamentos de obras de reabilitação. Como consequência desta atividade, pode-se concluir que um dos aspectos fundamentais para determinação dos custos totais de produção em obras de reabilitação é o grau de intervenção, relacionado à complexidade das atividades previstas, associado às condições prévias do edifício e, por isto, uma cuidadosa vistoria prévia ao desenvolvimento do projeto é fundamental para o sucesso do empreendimento. Espera-se que, as conclusões aqui apresentadas sirvam de base para o desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico do setor de reabilitação de edifícios, contribuindo também, para a melhoria dos centros urbanos das grandes cidades brasileiras. / Building rehabilitation is a recurrent issue among the sectors interested in the great metropolis urban development in Brazil as well as in European and North American countries. Particularly in Brazil, the construction sector interest in the rehabilitation field has been rising due to both the increase in resource invested by the federal, state and municipal governments and the economic potentiality foreseen in the significant empty constructed stock in the country central urban areas. In spite of this context, the particularities regarding works production in building rehabilitation construction has not been studied from a systemic point of view. Very little is known about production dynamics in this kind of undertaking, which results mainly in construction works whose costs exceed the initial estimates. In an attempt to contribute to knowledge progress in the rehabilitation field, the cost involved in five apartment building rehabilitation projects were analyzed and the main production determining factors were identified. From the synthesis of the results reached through this analysis, some parameters usable as basis to draw up future budgets of rehabilitation works are proposed. From this activity, it may be concluded that one of the fundamental aspects to determine the total production cost related to rehabilitation works is the intervention level, related to the foreseen activities complexity, linked to the previous building condition. For this reason, for the undertaking success, it is crucial that a careful inspection be made before developing the project. It is hopeful that the conclusions presented in this work contribute to the economical and technological development of the building rehabilitation sector, as well as to the Brazilian metropolis urban centres improvement.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a study in the use of precast modular construction as an alternative to current methods of school construction in South Africa. Precast Modular Construction is a concept which utilises the principles of prefabrication and precast concrete. Concrete components, be they beams, columns, slabs or full volumetric modules, are manufactured either off-site in factories or in on-site facilities. These components are then assembled on-site to form the structural envelope of a building. This approach contains many inherent advantages: Time is saved due to on-site and off-site work happening concurrently and hence earlier building occupancy results which directly translates to cost reparation; quality is improved due to most of the work being carried out in a controlled factory environment; and health and safety is heightened. However, when viewed from a South African perspective, the fact that less work is done on-site indirectly implicates job loss, a serious issue in the country. Furthermore, implementing a prefabricated approach in the construction of South African schools requires a complete restructuring of the Department of Public Works’ current procurement approach. Prefabrication requires maximum integration between all parties to a project so that design and constructability issues can be addressed at an early stage. The design-build contract strategy is found to be the most integrated approach and allows for optimal collaboration between all project members. However, to only change the procurement route would not suffice as a complete solution. A broader approach is required which addresses issues prevalent in South Africa. These issues include job creation and the establishment of a sustainable and knowledgeable industry. Concepts such as standardisation and strategic partnering, in response, satisfy the need of the manufacturer - for economies of scale, and the employee - for creation of secure working environments. Verification is obtained from all of the aforementioned to propose that the optimal solution to successfully implement Precast Modular Construction for schools in South Africa would be to implement a design-build procurement approach, whereby a single design-build contractor is awarded by the Department of Public Works a contract, via competitive tendering, for the construction of a predetermined number of schools, preferably exceeding 3, over a given contract period using a standardised design and utilising customisable standardised prefabricated precast construction systems, i.e. Precast Modular Construction. This proposal will theoretically result, amongst other things, in the following: - Precast manufacturers will have a confirmed number of orders for products, and can hence be assured of a constant flow of income. This translates directly to an increase in both employment and job security at the manufacturing plant. - The economies of scale principle is satisfied and prefabricated components can therefore be manufactured or ‘mass customised’ in the most feasible way possible. - The design-build contractor will be guaranteed employment for a given period, once again providing job security for its employees, of which the number can also potentially increase. - The design-build contractor carries with it experience and lessons learned from each successfully completed project on to the next, and so becomes more proficient, resulting in better, higher quality schools delivered in shorter periods and with increased efficiency. It is recognised that the proposal is untested in practise but in a socio-economic situation such as South Africa, where large numbers of schools are required quickly, the above proposal makes sense. To additionally develop this hypothesis, further research is required in the fields of design-build procurement and strategic partnering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is 'n studie in die gebruik van modulêre voorafvervaardigte beton konstruksie as 'n alternatief vir die huidige metodes van skool konstruksie in Suid-Afrika. Modulêre voorafvervaardigte beton konstruksie bevat baie inherente voordele. Tyd word bespaar as gevolg van werk wat gelyktydig op en van die terrein af gebeur. Dus word die gebou vroeër betrek wat direk lei tot kostebesparings. Kwaliteit verbeter as gevolg van meeste van die werk wat in 'n beheerde fabriek omgewing uitgevoer word en as sulks lei tot beter gesondheid en veiligheid van werkers. Egter, vanuit 'n Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief impliseer die feit dat daar minder werk op die terrein gedoen word indirek werksverlies, 'n ernstige probleem in die land. Die implementering van 'n voorafvervaardigde benadering tot die bou van skole in Suid-Afrika vereis verder 'n volledige herstrukturering van die huidige verskaffing model. Voorafvervaardiging vereis maksimum integrasie tussen alle partye sodat projek ontwerp en boubaarheid op 'n vroeë stadium aangespreek kan word. Die ontwerp-bou kontrak strategie is die mees geïntegreerde benadering en laat toe vir optimale samewerking tussen alle projek lede. Om egter net die verskaffing roete te verander, sou nie voldoen as 'n enkele oplossing nie. 'n Breër benadering word vereis wat kwessies algemeen in Suid-Afrika aanspreek. Hierdie kwessies sluit in werkskepping en die vestiging van 'n volhoubare en kundige industrie. Konsepte soos standaardisering en strategiese vennootskap, as oplossings, voldoen aan die behoeftes van die vervaardiger - vir 'n ekonomieë van skaal, en die werknemer - vir die skepping van 'n versekerde werksomgewing. Die voorafgaande bevestig dat die optimale oplossing vir suksesvolle implementering van Beton Modulêre Konstruksie vir skole in Suid-Afrika sou wees om 'n ontwerp-bou verskaffingsprosedure te volg. Hierdeur kan 'n kontrak aan 'n enkele ontwerp-bou kontrakteur deur die Departement van Openbare Werke toegeken word, deur middel van ‘n mededingende tender proses. Daar word voorgestel dat die projek, vir die konstruksie van 'n voorafbepaalde aantal skole behoort te wees, verkieslik meer as 3, oor 'n bepaalde kontrak tydperk met behulp van 'n gestandaardiseerde ontwerp. Voorts word daar voorgestel om gebruik te maak van aanpasbare gestandaardiseerde voorafvervaardigde beton konstruksie stelsels, dws Beton Modulêre Konstruksie. Hierdie voorstel sal teoreties, onder andere, die volgende gevolge hê: - Beton vervaardigers sal 'n bevestigde aantal bestellings vir produkte hê, en kan dus verseker wees van 'n konstante vloei van inkomste. Dit lei direk tot 'n toename in indiensneming en werksekerheid by die fabriek. - Die ekonomieë van skaal beginsel is bevredig en voorafvervaardigde komponente kan dus vervaardig word in die mees haalbare manier moontlik. - Die ontwerp-bou kontrakteur is gewaarborg van indiensneming vir 'n gegewe tydperk, as sulks ook die verskaffing van werksekerheid vir sy werknemers, waarvan die aantal moontlik ook kan vermeerder. - Die ontwerp-bou kontrakteur neem ondervinding en lesse wat geleer is uit elke suksesvolle voltooide projek saam na die volgende een, en raak dus meer bedrewe, wat lei tot beter, hoër gehalte skole gelewer in korter tydperke en met toenemende doeltreffendheid. Die voorstel is egter ongetoets in die praktyk, maar in 'n sosio-ekonomiese situasie soos die van Suid-Afrika, waar 'n groot aantal skole vinnig benodig word, maak die bogenoemde voorstel sin. Om hierdie hipotese te ontwikkel, is verdere navorsing nodig in die gebied van ontwerp-bou verskaffing en strategiese vennootskappe.

The main motivation for the business is making profits. For the creation of profit is the need to have a business plan. In order to have a successful business plan, we have to prepare it correctly, and then drive. The entire work is focused on the production, placing on the market and the management of the business plan. At the beginning of the introduction into the environment, and then everything is shown in a particular case. The aim is to show how to do this when you create a business plan, what pitfalls can occur and, above all, from the complex situation do the advantage.