Introduction of IBS As Malaysia construction industry progressively established its building industrialization whereby IBS technology has help

to achieve the aspiration of the nation thus there is an urgent need to mass produced quality and affordable housing for all Malaysians. According to Nationa Housing Department (1997), new and inventive approaches and technology in the design and construction of houses are needed to enable the nations to achieve this target. In the Malaysian context of the governments policy, the housing development stresses out IBS usage. IBS can save labour, cost and time of construction and produce good quality and durability Prefabrication is a key technology that can be used to increase building demand capacity. However, the pre-cast concrete components and prefabricated reinforcement are still not commonly used in private sector. As mentioned by Badir and Kadir (2002), the study of building systems and its technology should be subscribed by all player involved in construction industry. They are many varieties of IBS technology offered in Malaysia such as formwork, precast load bearing wall panel, precast frame, precast floor and hollow core slab, sandwich, block panel, and steel frame. The main advantages of these system are quality, speed of construction and cost saving. The main disadvantages of the IBS are high capital investment and require experts at the construction site. Today, the use of IBS as a method of construction in Malaysia is growing moderately. Many private companies in Malaysia have teamed up with foreign expert to offer pre-cast solution to the construction project (IBS Survey, 2003). The current IBS systems used in Malaysia housing projects are large panel systems, metal form systems and modular system.

Definition of Industrialized Building System Industrial Revolution is a process of social and economic change for human society to transform from pre-industrial to a new industrial country. Industrialization in construction industry is part of a process for changes and improvement management. One can view IBS as a systems, process, approach or industrial philosophy. Some researchers were commonly assumed Ism to be similar characteristics and definition with OFFsite Construction (OSC). Modern Method of Construction (MMC), OFF-site Manufacturing (OSM), Off-site- Production (OSP), Industrialized Building, pre-assembly, prefabrication and modularization. In principal, regardless of the terms, the idea is to move some effort away from the construction site to more controlled environment of the manufacturing floor. IBS is a construction system that is built using pre-fabricated components. The manufacturing of the components are systematically done using machine, formworks and other forms of mechanical equipment. The components are manufactured offsite and once completed will be delivered to construction sites for assembly and erection. IBS is also defined as an integrated manufacturing and construction process with well planned organization for efficient management, preparation and control over resources used, activities and results supported by the used of highly developed components. The Industrialized Building System might also defined as a mass production of building components either in factory or at site according to the specification with standard shape and dimensions. The components are transported to the construction site with certain standard to form a building. CIDB (2003) defined IBS as a construction technique in which components are manufactured in a controlled environment (on or off site), transported, positioned and assembled into a structure with minimal additional site works. The components of a building are conceived, planned, fabricated, transported and erected on site. The system includes a balanced combination between the software and hardware components. The software elements include system design, which is a complex process of studying the requirement of the end user, market analysis, development of standardized components, establishment of manufacturing and assembly layout and process, allocation of resources and materials and definition of a building conceptual framework.

Characteristic of IBS To date, there are various characteristic of IBS identified by researchers. Among the accepted one which consist of closed and open system, modular coordination, standardization and tolerance, mass production, specialization, good organization, integration, production facilities, transportation, and equipment. IBS can be characterized as prefabrication of as much as possible building elements and components offsite, within central facilities through specialized equipment and organization. Then the components will be assemble to site, and involved extensive mechanized handling with minimum task. A part form that, IBS involved integrated design, production and rection work on site which needs to be planned and coordinate accordingly. Considering the above characteristics, CIDB (2003b) have summarized IBS characteristics as; i. Industrial production of components through prefabrication or highly mechanized on site processed. ii. iii. Reduced labour usage both at prefabrication stage and onsite work. Modern design and manufacturing method through Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Added Manufacturing (CAM) iv. Applying Systematic Quality control throughout the process of IBS project implementation. v. Open building system which allows hybrid application and adaptable to standardization, tolerance and modular coordination.