Productivity Improvement in Malaysian Construction Industry through NORMs Method

Abstract

This paper evaluates productivity improvement in the Malaysian Oil & Gas Industry through NORMs Method. The hypotheses are that applying this method helps improve productivity, reduce reworks, and improve standard works practices in the industry. The industry of Oil and Gas has been a major contributor to the Malaysian GDP in the decades. The industry can be divided into Upstream and Downstream segments in which Upstream segments are related to the exploration and production of Oil & Gas fields at offshore locations. In contrast, the Downstream segment is referenced to processing and refining the raw Oil & Gas from offshore into finished customer products such as petrol, diesel, and cooking gas. The industries’ ability to sustain a high-risk operation yet delivering high productivity output remains a topic not explored in scholarly studies. The fundamental productivity method to consider and adopt is NORMs, which has consistently helped offshore construction deliver safe, on-time, and within-budget projects. The working hypotheses adopting NORMs methodology improve productivity, reduces reworks, and improves standard work practices will be formulated and tested. The research employed a quantitative method and conducted an online survey, and the data were statistically analysed to validate that NORMs successfully adapted could improve construction industry productivity in general. This research outcome will improve the core deliverables' standards, modernize the Malaysian construction business in general, and align the construction industry towards driving the nation-building productivity towards Malaysia's Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. 40 out of 60 responded to an exploratory survey that this thesis identified and confirmed that the NORMs methodology improves productivity, reduces reworks, and improves standard work practices across business models.