GETTING AHEAD OF YOUR COMPETITION

In the fast pace of today’s generation, a lot has changed. What was once a simple and well-minded lifestyle where everybody is concerned on their own survival became the complicated world where people are always concerned of what others are doing and making it a point to gain an advantage.

            Like any other business, cedar capital group, a company which sells and leases high-end capital construction equipment in Singapore has also felt the challenge. In response, we have also expanded our business not only in the country we are at but also in neighboring cities, Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea by hiring some agents in those areas. It is somehow our pride to say that we have, in a sense earned a competitive edge from others.

Same goes to construction companies which, for decades, compete for the top ranks as the demand for this work has been stricter. Here are some of the ways to step up from others:

1.    Expand your strengths to a higher level

Scrutinize and review the projects in which your company excels. Look for other types of jobs that would benefit from those same strengths. Home remodeling is soaring in most areas. In some regions, healthcare construction is up over 200 percent. Get on at least three new bid lists that are not in your comfort zone.

2.    Don’t stop finding new clients

Don’t be too picky. Home improvement stores partner with lots of independent contractors—get on their lists. Look at your crew—if they have special skills, leverage them by bidding for something new.

3.    A Little More Risk, A Little More Reward

Don’t just settle in your comfort zone. Opportunities are everywhere—you just have to go after them. Why not find a great deal on some real estate and fix it up? You can rent it. You can flip it. It all adds to your bottom line and company growth.

4.    Engage Employees in Revenue Generation and Cost Reduction

Set achievable revenue and cost-reduction targets. Be honest with your team about where you are and where you need to be. Ask for their help. Incent them by allowing them to share in the returns. Your people have good ideas. Make it a regular habit to bring everyone together to share them.

5.    Explore New Technologies

The world is now run by technology and if you don’t do the same, you will definitely be left behind. There are lots and lots of software that you can use for your own business that can well-organize and well-manage your data and files and model building more easily than by manually doing it. Much more, you might impress more potential customers when you are offering technology-based outputs. Find out how automation and organization can bring new intelligence to your proposals and bids. 

The Importance of Building Services Engineer

Have you ever wondered why there are so many people in a construction site? And how come there seems to be more people in control with so many functions when they only have to build a single building? Shouldn’t it only be the leader and the workers?

                Well, we might as well change our perception on that since Cedar Capital Group is about to introduce to you one of the most important occupation in a construction site: the Building Services Engineer.

Building services engineers are responsible for the design, installation, operation and monitoring of the mechanical, electrical and public health systems required for the safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly operation of modern buildings. The term for the same occupation may vary depending on the country. In United States of America, these individuals are called architectural engineers which have been adapted by different construction companies around the world. In Tokyo, Japan and Singapore, the role is called building services engineer, of course in their own languages respectively.

               

                The scope of this job is wide. Building services engineering comprises mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and plumbing or public health (MEP) engineering, all of which are further sub-divided into the following:

·         Communication lines, telephones and IT networks (ICT)

·         Energy supply - gas, electricity and renewable sources

·         Escalators and lifts

·         Fire detection and protection

·         Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

·         Lightning protection

·         Low voltage (LV) systems, distribution boards and switchgear

·         Natural lighting and artificial lighting, and building facades

·         Security and alarm systems

·         Ventilation and refrigeration

·         Water, drainage and plumbing

Building services engineers influence the architecture of a building and play a significant role on the sustainability and energy demand of a building. Within building services engineering, new roles are emerging. Building services engineers play a significant role in combating climate change. As such, a typical building services engineer has a wide-ranging career path:

·         Design: designing layouts and requirements for building services for residential or commercial developments.

·         Construction: supervising the construction of the building services, commissioning systems and ongoing maintenance and operation of services.

·         Environmental: developing new energy saving methods for construction, designing new and improved energy conservation systems for buildings.

·         Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): specializing in the design, development, construction and operation of HVAC systems.

·         Electrical technology: specializing in the design and development of electrical systems required for safe and energy sustaining operation of buildings and ensures that they are not using fraud materials for the safety of a project.

Nature and Construction

In our years in the infrastructure and construction years, even when we are only selling and leasing capital equipment, Cedar Capital Group has heard a lot on how buildings and construction can ruin the environment. Well, we cannot deny this fact especially since it’s not always safe on our line of our work. We create technological advancement in Seoul South Korea, develop skyscrapers in Tokyo, Japan and more or less have contributed on global warming. Nevertheless, we are still responsible for meeting the requirements of federal, state, and local environmental regulations.

Pre-Construction

               

Even before the start of the construction, during the bidding and the plans and preparations, you already have a construction responsibility. If you do not assign responsibility for environmental compliance before you start the project, your project may be put into jeopardy.

                We plan, review and get necessary permits to operate. A good construction sites shows a lot of placards and follows safety measures. Anyone can see that.

During Construction

No matter how thoroughly you prepare for a construction project, you may still encounter unexpected situations requiring environmental knowledge and understanding. Be prepared of unplanned event and make sure you have a contingency plan for that.

Environmental protections:

·         Water pollution: As a result of construction, the soil is displaced from its original location which can possibly cause environmental problems in the future. Runoff can occur during storms which can possibly transfer harmful pollutants through the soil to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters.

·         Endangered species: If endangered species have been found on the construction site, the site must be shut down for some time. The construction site must be shut down for as long as it takes for authorities to make a decision on the situation. Once the situation has been assessed, the contractor makes the appropriate accommodations to not disturb the species.

·         Vegetation: There may often be particular trees or other vegetation that must be protected on the job site. This may require fences or security tape to warn builders that they must not be harmed.

·         Wetlands: The contractor must make accommodations so that erosion and water flow are not affected by construction. Any liquid spills must be maintained due to contaminants that may enter the wetland.

·         Historical or cultural artifacts: Artifacts may include arrowheads, pottery shards, and bones. All work comes to a halt if any artifacts are found and will not resume until they can be properly examined and removed from the area.

Cedar Tokyo Capital Group

This Cedar Capital Group video is made in Tokyo Japan

Technology and Construction Goes Hand In Hand

In every aspect of life right now, technology has been incorporated. Since then, in each and every cranny of developing nations, it would be impossible not to see modernization and the use of computers. In America, the existence has been from late 19^th century as well as in Europe. In Asia, developing cities like Tokyo, Japan, Singapore and China has been in the trend. Same goes for the construction and infrastructure industry. Even manual labor has been evolving to the use of machineries and computer.

Even when the construction industry has been adamant to change, builders are now beginning to be dragged into the 21^st century by the need to collaborate more closely with their more IT-savvy colleagues, the architects and engineers responsible for the ideas behind their work. Even us, Cedar Capital Group, a company which expertise includes selling and leasing capital equipment has to take advantage of technology for the distribution of our products and the expansion of our business.

Laptops are gradually making an appearance alongside the hard hats of the building site. Is this just keeping with the evolving times or are there any other issues that drive the industry to modernization?

Reducing risk

One of the major factors for this change is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain profit margins on building projects. Mindful of high-profile project delivery delays, many commercial or public sector clients have introduced financial penalty clauses in case deadlines are missed. And on top of that, there are skill shortages combined with increased competition for land.

Yet often, profits are eaten away by practical issues - delays in receiving drawings, use of outdated data, inaccuracies caused by human error. In some cases of global projects, it is easier to use the latest in technology to bring help from abroad.

As a result, the whole of the architecture, engineering and construction industry is looking for ways to reduce risk and maintain its bottom line. On a day-to-day level it is also struggling with the need to communicate and review project drawings and share proliferating number of associated documents that are usually too large to send by e-mail.

Available on-demand

Communication with subcontractors is vastly improved, becoming more instantaneous, reliable and trackable. Integration with design software means builders can easily update and publish drawings and make them available to their subcontractors, resulting in a largely paperless process. The need to share with contractors who do not use Cad is addressed by the use of DWF files, which enable sharing and viewing of 2D and 3D files without their native programs. Systems and software are also installed to prevent scams to hack on the ongoing project.

Construction Industry Continues to Entice Foreign Investors

According to the Asia Construction Outlook 2014 survey, the prospect for both the size and the growth of Asian Construction market remains positive with 92% respondents in agreement. It is expected that the market will continue growing healthier for 50% for the remainder of the year.

The survey results in AECOM 2014 indicates that Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand stand out as countries which respondents expect to become increasingly attractive to foreign suppliers of construction service. However, comparing to the 2014 survey results with those from the 2013 survey indicate that respondent’s views have become more pessimistic regarding long-term market attractiveness in Singapore and India.

Driven by the high quality standards, Japan with its capital Tokyo in particular holds foreign interest in the past decades. The country, along with Singapore is ready to compete to international market growth maintaining the stable increase in growth and development.

Multinationals have been increasing their footprint in Asia for years as they have moved from selling into the region to also investing here. Asian companies are also being competitive threats outside the region as well, as they set their site on the global dominance.

It is never easy to set foot into a developing nation. Aside from the competition that may arise against local businesses, there are also competitors among fellow foreigners, causing a lot of issues unresolved but being one of the most disciplined countries in Asia, Japan has been growing well and fast. Tokyo has been a target of local trade and business establishments since a lot of foreign investors have seen potential in business and technology in the city.

On the other hand, in the sudden increase of companies with the same industry, project managers and the public have become keen and aware as to which company to trust. An established company such as Cedar Capital Group which is based in Singapore and sells and leases capital equipment with agents in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea has already secured its place in the industry. Above all, the government continues to implement arduous process and strict policies to maintain only legit and licensed companies to operate. This being given, contractors should rest assured be secured in their field.