Bangkok -(ASIA TODAY)- at the CONSTECH 2015 Industry Forum, recently held by the Thai Contractors Association under H.M. the King’s patronage in collaboration with Impact Exhibition Organizer, leading private sector participants emphasized the importance of the public sector assuming responsibility for the safety of construction machinery. Attendees included those with a keen interest in Thailand’s construction industry, with other highlights including keynote speeches covering Thailand’s strategic infrastructure development and trends in construction machinery and technology over the next 10 years, as well as the importance of safety and the enabling role technology will play in supporting labor challenges.
During a speech about Thailand’s strategic infrastructure development at the forum, Mr. Thanin Paem, Deputy Secretary General, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand noted that, “The grow ratio we forecast this year is 1.5-2.5 %, but I believe that we can go higher than 2% and even reach 3%. Investment in large construction projects has been limited for a long time, since the building of Suvarnabhumi airport.
However, infrastructure development will position Thailand as the center of transportation in ASEAN, given Thailand’s position as a gateway to the region. For this reason, such development needs to be a priority. For instance, if visitors from China, Laos, and Vietnam need to travel to Singapore, they have to pass through Thailand. However Vietnam is also developing their transportation infrastructure and is only one step behind us. Therefore we should collaborate with other ASEAN countries, and pool resources such as labor, rather than competing with each other.”
The CONSTECH 2015 Industry Forum also focused on trends in construction machinery and technology over the next 10 years, featuring the views of industry experts. Sharing their experiences, they gave their vision in relation to labor challenges, and the introduction of new machinery for use in construction work in the past, present and future. Leading the panel discussion was Mr. Sompoch Rattana-Areeyagon, Deputy Managing Director of STIT Co., Ltd., Mr. Sitthiporn Suwansut, President of the Thai Home Builders Association, Mr. Charkphan Leelaporn, Vice President, and Construction Service Department of Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Co., Ltd. and Mr. Nayot Pisantanakul, Assistant Managing Director of Syntec Construction Public Co., Ltd. The session was moderated by Mr. Chakporn Oonjit, PhD., Executive Director, Construction Institute of Thailand.
Mr. Charkphan Leelaporn, Vice President, Construction Service Department of Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Co., Ltd. said that, “Contribution by the construction sector to Thailand’s GDP was not high in the past. 30 years ago, most workers who built houses were farmers. After they finished their farming work, they started working on the construction site. There was no shortage of labor in the past, but the perceived value of construction was not high. Construction in the past used labor more than machines, and indeed it was cheaper to use people to dig one cubic meter than to use a machine. More recently, machines began to be introduced more widely to improve construction efficiency. At the present time, there are a multitude of labor-related challenges, even in the context of overall increases in construction and decreases in both Thai and foreign labor availability, the latter of which has decreased by more than half. The challenge is that as construction value increases and its contribution to GDP is higher, manpower efficiency needs to also increase. At present, there is no way to solve this problem other than to use tools or machines.”
“The use of different kinds of construction technology is also a differentiating factor. All technology will be developed by both user and producer, and machinery will be electronically controlled. For instance, cars are already controlled by electronic systems. Higher-spec technology requires operators who know how to use and maintain it. Such systems can be found at CONSTECH 2015, the international trade exhibition and conference that gathers all machinery producers and users, and offers the opportunity to meet with dealers.”
Mr.Nayot Pisantanakul, Assistant Managing Director, Syntec Construction Public Company Limited and an expert in the construction of high-rise buildings revealed that, “We all face labor challenges, as Mr.Jakkaphan Leelaporn said, with the number of workers decreasing from four million 30 years ago to two million today, while GDP has continued to grow consistently.
The cost of construction is also increasing due to numerous factors, such as changes to the minimum wage. In 2003, the minimum wage was 160 baht, but five years later the minimum wage increased by 15%, and by 65% within the following five years. I think it will continue to increase over the next 10 years also. The construction sector relies on three factors: time, cost, and quality. If you want to build faster, you cannot rely only on labor, you also need technology to help the job get done more quickly. More importantly, the work has to be perfect, attractive, and high quality.”
“Changes in technology between today and next year will not make that much difference, and even within the next 10 years. Personally, I believe that technology will replace human labor more and more, which is already starting to happen. For example, we are already behind Japan, who use pre-fabricated bathrooms, unlike in Thailand where we have to do tiling, plastering, and install sanitary ware piece by piece. Today, it comes as a box in one piece.
To be able to make enhancement in this area, tools and equipment is needed – such as those on show at CONSTECH. New technology will definitely lighten the load on cost, time, and quality. I believe in the next 10 years, machinery will play a very vital role and also technology, which needs to be priced reasonably, while keeping safety as the number one priority. This may lead to higher production costs, but an inexpensive product should also remain inexpensive in the long run. It is not right when you can buy it inexpensively, but three years later, it needs to be fixed or repaired.
Compensation for injuries, accidents, and deaths is not an option. I really think an organization should oversee the safe use of equipment. We should have a strong focus on safety over the lifetime of the machine, for example by examining it yearly for rust and damage. Any accident will surely impact quality and costs anyway.”
Mr. Sitthiporn Suwansut, President of the Thai Home Builders Association said that “There has been a labor shortage for a long time, but they were never as critical as in the past five years. After wide spread flooding, just a complete structure was not enough, and we didn’t use big machines in the home builders segment. The other important factor for home builders is the availability of crane trucks for lifting parts and tools. As our business expands all over the country, we will have more target customers. There will be more work to do on more sites, while we need to take control and complete the job faster; therefore we need a way to bring up the tools. We started developing ways to solve this challenge four to five years ago. We are telling businesses that from now, labor shortages will be an issue and we need to adapt. In the next one to two years, the home builders market will change. We need to act fast or go even further. This is the approach we have used to solve labor shortages in the past.”
“Admittedly, home builders are low on technology, but we are in the process of developing, so that everyone can see that our business is still growing and improving. However, compared to other businesses, our knowledge is low, as we don’t know where the production source or marketplace is. As president of the association, I will strongly encourage our members to come to CONSTECH 2015.”
Mr. Sompoch Rattana-Areeyagon, Deputy Managing Director of STIT Co., Ltd.
said that “As a machine seller, I recall that such products were called ‘laborsaving devices’, then ‘construction machines’. The problems raised by all three associations and Thailand’s problems are related to labor shortages, and the solution lies in tools and construction machinery technology. Therefore technology, tools and machines will come to the fore.
Thailand was always behind others in this area, and this is still the case. However we are moving farther than our neighboring countries. 10 years after all considerations are in order, Thailand will have a chance to excel. We are also strategically located, and alongside our ASEAN neighbors; Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, we are still the biggest in this kind of business.”
“Technology will always be available, but all new technologies must come with quality and safety as top priorities. Now I am thinking of bringing small tools to small districts and other provinces. For safety and quality, as a manufacturer and seller, I tried to act as a middleman to certify my clients’ safety along with quality. In this way, CONSTECH is also a middleman.”
Whether now or in 10 years, technology will be involved in all aspects of the industry to enhance performance and efficiency, however safety must always be the greatest concern. New technologies and materials used for the construction and mining industries are available to view at CONSTECH 2015, 27-29 March 2015, Hall 7-8, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand.
Contact Person: Mr. Pasin Chantaratim
Email: pasinc@impact.co.th
Telephone: +662-833-5208
Website: www.thailandconstech.com
- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com
SOURCE IMPACT Exhibition Organizer
