Value engineering in Oman construction IndustryName

Value engineering in Oman construction IndustryName

Value Engineering as a tool towards sustainability in Oman construction industry

Keywords: Value engineering, Oman construction industry, sustainability

1. Introduction

The construction industry in Oman has seen tremendous growth thanks to the presence of oil that works to finance the developments. Oman is part of the G.C.C. countries, thus have incorporated the concept of value management in their systems (Al-Saleh & Taleb, 2010). However, there has been a proposal to include the aspects of value engineering in their activities to steer sustainability. Issues of value revolves around a function concerning cost, thus increasing the function while limiting cost will be the most prudent idea where sustainability is in question. Oman incorporating value engineering will ensure that the costs of constructions remain low while the output increases significantly. This is mostly required in the planning stages of the development where all parameters required in an intervention are considered before implementing the design in question.

Value engineering in Oman construction form would not only be a cost-cutting initiative but an assurance that an engineering intervention is completed in a timely schedule. Besides, it ensures that there is a prudent use of Oman resources for construction, thus informing an appropriate resource distribution for a particular intervention. The G.C.C. countries Oman included indulges in excessive use of fossil fuels, with a limited emphasis on sustainable construction modes (Al-Saleh & Taleb, 2010). In this regard, the Oman engineering sector is never conscious of efficient water use, energy use, construction materials and health and safety conditions that may pose the Omani construction to be less sustainable for future generations.

Value engineering has been present in The G.C.C. countries but with a different terminology as value management. The need for sustainability in the developments in G.C.C. has prompted most scholars to consider value management as key in undertaking systems. As an aspect of value management, value engineering aims at maximizing benefits while minimizing costs to spearhead resource savings. However, care is taken so that when the cost is cut, the function or quality of a particular intervention is not affected (Cooper, 2017). Value engineering, therefore, involves saving on construction and maintenance durations as well as a reduction in possible cost increases due to changes in design. Therefore, this paper focuses on value engineering, exploring the Oman construction industry to determine how sustainability can be enhanced if value engineering becomes a key parameter in the Oman construction industry.

2. Methodology

The primary source of information for this study was a literature review conducted from various articles, books and websites highlighting the nature of Oman construction industry and the sustainability requirements. , the items selected ranged from the year 2010 to 2019 to help gain a contemporary view of Oman construction industry for the last ten years. The Google scholar was our central database for conducting this search, and it provides users with numerous sources to affect our study. In the conduction of search, some of the keywords that directed our research included “value engineering for sustainability,”  “Oman construction industry,”  “ Value engineering parameters,”  amongst other numerous searches related to value engineering.  Articles addressing sustainability issues for Oman construction industry were also selected on the premise that value, management which is closer to value engineering has been incorporated in the G.C.C. countries to enhance productivity.

The English language was the medium for this study; thus all the articles selected were authored in English, and they were to contain the keywords that we have mentioned in the above paragraph.  The keywords gave us a variety of sources relating to the same; thus, we were obliged to limit the references to a small number for easy analysis.  In this regard, we did filter the sources and selected 25 for this research. We carried out a comprehensive study on the causes for this study, making sure that they were comparable and relevant to the objectives for our research. The articles majorly focused on the subjects of concern in isolation that is; Some focused on Oman construction industry, others on value management as others focused on sustainability. However, others concentrate on the Oman systems were able to provide a relationship between the subjects in question explicitly. In the provision of meaningful content from the sources, the literature was organized in five different steps. These include; formulation of the research question, location of the study parameters, selection and evaluation of the study, analysis and synthesis and finally provision of a report from the study.  This final report will provide relevant information for utilization in showing how value engineering can contribute to sustainability (Cruz-Villazon et al., 2019).

From the literature review conducted, a number of research questions were identified as key for this particular study.  This paper will, therefore, work to provide answers to these questions provided.

1. What makes value engineering important for Oman construction industry?
2. How can value engineering bring about sustainability for Oman engineering frameworks?
3. What is the relationship that exists between sustainability and value engineering?
4. What factors impede the incorporation of value engineering in the Oman construction sector?
5. What factors of Oman construction industry will initiate faster integration of value engineering?

3. Results

Importance of value engineering in Oman construction industry

The Mordor intelligence website gives an overview of the Oman construction industry, exploring the available opportunities that will warrant value engineering.  It states that Oman construction industry is on a growing trajectory thanks to the plans of diversification of the economy to spearhead economic growth. The government is, therefore, increasing its expenditure in the promotion of developments and stimulation of private investment opportunities.

Additionally, there is also a need by Oman to limit its dependency on gas and oil through the initiation of cuts on G.D.P. dependent hydrocarbons and substitution with a diversified economic base. In this regard, a significant amount of money totalling to $ 106 billion in the manufacturing and construction industry (Albalushi e al, 2013). This explains why value engineering is vital for the country to realize its potential of limiting their oil dependency.

In this regard, value engineering will ensure that the Oman construction systems initiate a prudent use of its resources. That is, they will have to increase their total output while utilizing appropriate resources.  The article further articulates that Oman construction cuts across all the different facets of life essential for the populace and include commercial sector, industrial systems, infrastructural systems, residential construction and energy utility systems. This shows that value engineering will be working to ensure that such important utilities are completed within the shortest time possible with the most appropriate resources necessary.

A diversification process is a form of enhancing sustainability, as at some point, there is a possibility that the oil wells will dry up. The engineering systems will, therefore, work to provide a viable alternative from which the economy will rely upon. The structures will ensure that the Oman government can collect enough resources to finance the country’s needs.  In this regard, value engineering ensures that the structural components put in place are in line with the appropriate design criterion so that uses of such structures are not compromised by value reductions (Karunasena et al., 2016). South bay construction highlights the various ways in which value engineering would be useful in Oman, and it bases on the following components of construction. One is a reduction in costs (South bay construction, 2020).  This aspect ensures that the finances allocated for the developments are within limits commensurate with development values recognized worldwide.  This will ensure that there are alternative systems or materials that are cost or environmentally viable for the development at hand.  The project management journal on the G.C.C. countries expounds that most developments consume large sums of money higher than the required, thus showing the need for cost saving.

Secondly, value engineering would be useful in value addition; that is, it ensures that higher quality products are utilized in the construction of the Oman structures.  This ensures that the Oman structures will last without frequent maintenance costs that might put pressure on the country’s resources. Third, value engineering ensures that life cycle analysis is conducted; this ensures that there are options for the creation of a balance between the initial construction costs and long term maintenance requirements. This ensures that the Oman engineering sector is aware of the lifespan of structures, thus initiating the requisite budget for sustainable future performance of the developments undertaken.  Finally, value engineering ensures that maintainability of the structures is given consideration during structural developments.  In this regard, the engineering options or alternatives will provide for systems that make maintenance cost as low as possible. This ensures that the lifespan of Buildings in Oman are evaluated so that future costs to be incurred either are accounted for or are kept to the lowest level possible.  Value engineering ensures that projects are implemented consciously of the fact that future need for resources is as limited as possible.   It also provides that exorbitant costs usually effected on construction projects, mainly in the G.C.C. countries are limited for sustainable economic development in a case where oil is depleted.

How value engineering can bring about sustainability in Oman

Sustainability revolves around the maintenance of environmental balance so that there is no depletion of resources amidst their use for various developmental techniques.  Value engineering, on the other hand, revolves around the systematic methods employed in engineering to improve the value of products, materials or services provided in a construction project through a critical examination of the functions.  Stressing on value is, therefore, a recipe to sustainability as most building projects tend to be harmful to the environment, which is the primary realm that requires sustainability.  In a global scale, Oman included, the building industry is responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases. Besides, engineering is the number one contributor to the exploitation of the world’s resources. Islam & Khadem (2013), in their analysis of the Oman construction industry, states that a significant junk of the country’s resources is directed towards construction as a way of diversifying the economy.  Saleh & Alalalouch (2015) also in their sustainability work for Oman construction industry, affirmed that the construction industry in Oman has been uncontrolled. This results in a contribution to the production of greenhouse gases such that when appropriate care is not taken, effects are likely to occur in future.

Janani  & Raj (2018) in their study of value engineering, states that there are multiple benefits that sustainability can bring about to a construction industry which can be translated to Oman. Firsts, it stresses the responsibility and efficiency in the use of resources for particular engineering interventions. In this regard, the resources allocated to the construction of Oman systems will be mindful of the appropriate means to optimize the use of resource to avoid wastages.  Secondly, value engineering is a driver towards consideration of responsible and environmentally informed design concepts aiming at saving energy costs, water and consumption of resources (Spetnagel, 2010).  In this regard, the designs of structures are initiated in such a way that natural light can light a room rather than dependency on electrical energy sources.

Zumelzu & Doevendans (2016) also focuses on modularity as a component of value design that can bring about sustainability.  Modularity focuses on how replaceable parts of a given construction element are to initiate easy removal or addition (Zumelzu & Doevendans, 2016).  This usually is pervasive in apartment design where different components are to interact among each other to initiate efficient resource utilization.  For example, apartments adjacent to or closer to each other are designed to use a similar plumbing network to reduce the cost of installation.

Finally, value engineering is useful in the development of preferred systems as a premise to the development of sustainable building outcomes.  Wao et al. (2016) focusing on vale engineering for sustainable construction explains that value engineering encourages the use of tools in creating realistic and purposeful changes to limit the possibility of accidental changes happening in a project. This ensures that Oman engineering frameworks engage a prior panning technique is initiated for sustainable facilities so that the various stages of design from conceptual to construction stages are in line with the requirements of sustainability.  In Oman construction industry, it would be prudent if value engineering job plans is the guiding agenda towards the achievement of sustainable business systems.

It is, therefore, imperative that value engineering incorporation in building systems focuses significantly on sustainability measures.  Green building constructions have become an integral part of the contemporary construction as it not only ensures environmental safety but also encourages the use of appropriate technology in the systems of design to spearhead sustainable developments( Anastas,2013)). Green engineering and sustainability.  Oman construction industry incorporating such systems will work to initiate sustainability Evans et al. (2017) in their calls towards sustainable engineering practices, considers value engineering concepts and precepts as key in the formulation of appropriate systems towards achieving a sustainable development system for any engineering intervention. The booming construction industry in Oman means that there will be a need for efficient engineering designs to spearhead a faster growth through utilization of the valuable resources.  In addition, Value engineering ensures that Oman construction industry activities do not result in widespread environmental pollution, thus a guarantee to an improved health quality for its population. The first aspect of sustainability is the ability to improve health systems, which I believe, will influence Oman positively.

Relationship between value engineering and sustainability

Sustainability requirements may be because of various systems, but value-engineering concepts are generally a reflection of a sustainable method (Grober & Cunningham, 2012). In the European Journal of engineering education, Haase (2014) highlights some of the viable approaches that an engineer ought to consider for any intervention.  Value engineering proves to an essential aspect as it majors on prudent utilization of resources for any aspect of constructional works.  Rachwan et al. (2016) consider functional analysis as a vital component in value in value engineering. This, therefore, involves an increase in the value of the project through analysis of the functions that it intends to achieve. In this regard, there have been proposals on the effective alternatives to be explored for engineering interventions such that the value increased while possible compromises in the design are limited.

Sustainability measures, on the other hand, focus on the programs, initiatives ad actions that are geared towards improving the preservation of a given resource. The main resource in Oman is oil, and its continuous exploitation is providing resources necessary for financing major constructional facilities.   Sustainability revolves around four major pillars including social, environmental, economic and human pillars.  In the context of Oman, sustainability measures sort at ensuring that the four pillars of sustainability are accorded due consideration during the planning stages of any constructional facilities.  Value engineering, therefore, has a relationship to sustainability based on the four pillars stated.

On human sustainability, the objective is to maintain human capital in a particular society and includes investments in health systems, access to services, skills and nutrition. It stresses the need to keep individual wellbeing while sustaining the economic growth. In this context, Value engineering ensures that humans have the requisite skills and capacity in engineering frameworks to support the sustainability functions of structures.  On social sustainability, the objective is the incorporation of ethics in the exploration o societal systems.  The achievement of this is through the provision of information for equality towards societal issues.  Value engineering in this regard ensures that the resources for a given society are used prudently for the betterment of their systems.

On economic sustainability, there is the aspect of efficiency in the use of assets so that the profitability of a country improves. Value engineering supports this aspect significantly, in that it focuses on the effective use of resources for utilization of limited resources in achieving the desired outcomes (Abidin & Powmya, 2014).  Additionally, it will ensure that economic interventions are completed within the stipulated time to save on costs.  Finally, we have environmental sustainability. The use of fossil fuels in powering engineering systems in Oman is pervasive, therefore informing the need to address greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.

Additionally, construction and engineering utilize the vast majority of earth’s resources, thus increasing the possibilities of environmental degradation. Environmental capital, therefore, aims at the protection of the natural capital, including air, water, minerals and land. In this regard, value engineering focuses on the utilization of alternative construction methods and materials that are environmentally viable. It stresses the use of green energy systems such as the use of solar power and design parameters that bring about the effective use of water and energy sources.

Factors that impede the incorporation of value engineering in the Oman construction sector

Safinia et al. (2017) focus on the factors that hinder the utilization of value engineering precepts in the Oman construction industry. This will provide us with relevant information on how value-engineering concepts can be implemented in the engineering sector.  Oman produces significant lower oil volume than the neighbouring G.C.C. countries; thus, the implementation of value engineering would be the most viable alternative to spearhead sustainable development. The journal lists some of the factors that tend to make incorporation of sustainable technologies a difficult task in the Oman construction industry with materials given the due priority.  First, we have high costs related to the materials. Costs are also related to the expenditures taken to ensure that the installations are congruent with the design aspects. Procurement for sustainable materials comes with upfront costs and acts as a major impediment through discouraging the developers from considering the same.  Most sustainable materials have a higher cost in comparison to the traditional materials, and most Oman stakeholders tend to assume that it cuts across all sustainable related materials. The second factor is the lack of demand culture for sustainable materials.  Decision-makers in Oman are finding it challenging to implement green energy interventions since the clients show no interest in using environmentally friendly materials. Additionally,  they tend to incline to the older design practices making it difficult for effective design practices to be put in place.

The third aspect is the shortage in the publicization of sustainable materials and strategies.  In cases where the promotion of sustainable alternatives increases in the Oman industry, clients will have sufficient information on the choices for the selection of viable alternatives (Powmya & Abidin, 2014). The media and advertisements do not focus on these promotions, thus tend to impede people knowledge on the availability of such systems. The fourth cause is the limitations in the enforcements in green regulation. The Oman government is doing little to ensure that laws relating to green policies implementations are implemented in construction realms.  Sin et al. argues that the insufficiency in implementation is due to the fear by the government that it might scare investors who may not be ready to put up with the regulations (Sin et al.,. 2013). However, the Omani construction industry requires such regulations so that sustainability is given priority when it is a question of any development.

The fifth factor is the lack of knowledge regarding sustainable materials among Omani populations. Sin et al. further affirms that awareness is the most significant impediment to a successful implementation of sustainable avenues such as value engineering.  This has the possibility of giving the populations a poor concept of the sustainable alternatives required in construction industries.  Insufficiency in understanding has therefore proven to be among the factors limiting the deployment of value engineering n the Omani construction industry.  Other factors deemed bane to the implementation of sustainable measures include limitations on recycling plans available in the country, shortage in the initiatives and interests of the Omani government to encourage the use of such materials, unavailability of sustainable materials and inadequate expertise in designer and builders to employ the new technologies. Therefore, implementation of adequate systems will require consciousness of such policies so that useful systems are implemented in the country to provide a sufficient ground for utilization of value engineering concepts.

Factors in Oman construction industry that will initiate faster integration of value engineering

Oman is currently diversifying its economy as a means of limiting their economic dependency on oil. This will require opening the construction industry to other global players, which I believe, has a likelihood of imparting the value design principles to the Omani construction sector.  The first factor enhancing Omani’s incorporation of value engineering tenets is the presence of international players in their constructional industry. In the recent past, Oman has entered an economic collaboration with China, and they are building the Sino Oman industrial park at the cost of $ 10.7 billion. This activity aims to convert their seaport, which is often underutilized to a hub for global trade. In this regard, Oman will open to the rest of the world, thus making it easy for value engineering precepts to be incorporated in their internal systems.

Secondly, the construction sector remains the largest employer in Oman, forming a critical component of the Omani economy.  Data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information 2016 stated that the sector provides an opportunity for 25 per cent of Omani workers and 39 % of the expatriates Buckley et al., 2016).  This sector, therefore, works to imbue the nationals with the requisite skills and experience to help in meeting their obligations (Abidin & Powmya, 2014).

Additionally, there has been a significant change in perception for the people aware of the benefits of sustainable alternatives. An interview conducted by the journal of management on value management studies found that some managers hold the view that the sustainable concepts should be incorporated in the curriculum. This system will ensure that people in the construction industry have the requisite value engineering precepts to inform their choice for techniques and materials (Abidin & Powmya, 2014). Other also argue that sustainable techniques are viable alternatives that can be employed in making people adhere to alternative approaches to meeting objectives and performing tasks with money value as a basis for their activities.

Albalushi et al., (2014) in her study of an engineering construction firm affirms why value engineering will be essential in the engineering sector. In their analysis, they realized that there was a general need for projects to be completed within 20 months after initiation.  The study realized that when a project is completed within a short period, there were higher returns from the engineering intervention. This experience ad increase in knowledge would work to provide a platform where most Omani populace undertakes activities that are sensitive to value increase. Ousman et al. Journal on ‘ value engineering in building information modelling for cost optimization of renovation works’ also explores the Omani construction firms. He records significant cost reduction patterns through such utilization result in a broader application and gain acceptability in the entire Oman construction framework.

4. Conclusion

The literature review provides us with the requisite information to answer the research questions formulated for this study. The analysis section, therefore, provides us with a comprehensive review of the questions providing ideal information for the question at hand.   From the review, we highlight the reasons why Oman requires Value engineering exploring factors that promote the successful application and those that impede the same. Additionally, the literature review provided the various ways in which incorporation of value engineering will most likely incorporate the sustainability issue in the construction industry.  From the text, we saw that Oman is currently recording significant growth in the construction industry, particularly due to the need by the government to diversify the economy and reduce their dependence on oil.  In this regard, they need to have appropriate engineering systems that would provide sustainable alternatives for the economy’s development.

Moreover, some of the aspects of value engineering important for Oman’s construction industry ranges from cost reduction, waste reduction and incorporation of appropriate expertise to the people so that they have the skills to propel the use of sustainable patterns in the similar construction setup. Finally, value engineering is the most significant factor when sustainability is a concern in Yemen. This follows since it provides the requisite guidelines that companies can adhere to when there is a question of prudent utilization of resources. It also provides a baseline guiding how the resources required for engineering interventions can be exploited for the different developmental purposes.

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