【Safety Walk with Thomas】Attracting Innovative&Tech-Savvy Talents for Construction Digitalisation |【安全誠行】考察建造業數碼化應用 科技人才成未來基石

As technology advances, the construction industry must also continually innovate and improve efficiency to meet challenges. Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of Construction Industry Council (CIC), earlier visited the factory producing curtain wall and aluminum door and window of the Chevalier Group in Dongguan. He conducted an on-site inspection of their application of technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modeling), how it enhances construction quality and safety, while also exchanged views on training and talent recruitment.

Address Challenges During Design Phase with BIM

Digitalisation is the key to construction industry transformation, as it enhances quality, safety, and sustainability of projects while reducing costs and time. Chevalier demonstrated how they used digital tools such as BIM, big data, and IoT to manage project progress and monitor quality. Their Dongguan factory works on design, building material processing, testing, and building sample. The delegation to had the opportunity to understand the complete manufacturing process and understand the advantages of digitalisations in construction.

Chevalier has been actively implementing BIM technology , assisting its Dongguan's design department to collaborate closely with the Hong Kong design team. During the project design phase, they make good use of BIM to identify and amend any conflicting designs from blueprints and 2D models. They also use 3D printing to identify areas that need attention in the design or construction process. Such previews can uncover and solve problems during the design phase, eventually aiding architects, engineers, contractors, and owners’ work to proceed more smoothly during construction, reducing time-consuming and costly modifications.

Production and logistics are key factors affecting construction schedule. Chevalier’s Dongguan factory has developed its own digital monitoring platform, which allows real-time control over weekly material used, production volumes, and logistics monitoring, ensuring that the process from production to delivery until completion, effectively controlling costs and project progress.

Technological support adopted since the beginning enables faster and more accurate product testing. After receiving aluminum materials that have processed, the factory uses 3D scanning to inspect whether the curvature and shape of the aluminum piece meets the specifications to strictly maintain product quality. The Group’s representative shared their experience from working on an Australian project. As Australia does not allow the use of aluminum materials produced by thermal power in their environmental protection standard the Chevalier team decided to use aluminum materials produced by hydropower. It has reduced their carbon footprint by 50 to 60%. Considering their long-term cooperation with Australia, the Group decided to fully adopt the same standards, aligning with foreign countries and demonstrating Hong Kong company’s ability to meet international requirements.

Seize Opportunities to Attract Young Talents

Young people holds the key to embracing digitalisations of the construction industry. Companies are devising ingenious strategies to attract relevant talents and train staff. Chevalier is eager to attract young technicians to support their use of digital technologies to aid production, such as monitoring platforms, augmented reality (AR)and virtual reality (VR) technologies, etc. Ms. Vivian LEUNG, Assistant General Manager of Chevalier (Aluminium Engineering) mentioned that money is not enough to attract young professionals, it is more important to help them build confidence and provide proper industry guidance.

Ms. LEUNG pointed out that one of the main directions for the company is to let young people and the general public understand that there are more than “construction worker” in the construction industry. various positions and job functions are also available , . They aim to showcase modern industry's application of new technologies to create creating a professional, innovative, and fulfilling work environment, such as using AR or VR technology to simulate buildings, leveraging technological advantages to solve engineering difficulties, . The company is also connected to various academic institutions in the country, including South China University of Technology and universities in Guangdong, as well as Sichuan and other regions to recruit engineering graduates.

CIC has always been committed to promoting the training and development of construction industry talents, advocating cooperation between academia and the industry, providing training courses and funding programs of different levels and categories, to attract more young people to join the construction industry. Ir. Thomas HO expressed that the construction industry is an industry full of creativity and challenges. Training and attracting talents are one of the main focus for the development of the construction industry. He hopes that more young people will recognise the prospects and opportunities offered by the construction industry.

隨著科技的發展，建造業也需要不斷創新和提升效率，以應對市場的變化和挑戰。建造業議會（議會）主席何安誠工程師早前參觀其士集團位於東莞的幕牆鋁門窗廠，實地考察他們在建築信息模擬（BIM）等科技的應用，提升建造質量和安全，同時亦交流培訓和吸納人才的意見。

善用BIM力求設計階段解決建築難點

數碼化應用是建造業轉型的關鍵，可以提高工程的質量、安全和環保，同時減少成本和時間。其士向議會參訪團展示他們如何利用BIM、大數據和物聯網等科技管理旗下的工程進度和監控品質。其士於東莞的廠房進行設計、建材加工及檢測和項目實物示範組件，參訪團當天亦了解到他們的製造流程及建造業數碼化的優勢。

其士集團積極推動BIM技術應用，其在東莞的設計部與香港設計團隊通力合作，在工程設計階段便善用BIM。團隊可以從藍圖和電腦模型中找出未盡完善的設計加以改良，更會立體打印實物模型以辯證設計或找出建築過程需要注意的地方，務求在設計階段發現和解決問題，幫助建築師、工程師、承包商和業主在施工階段進行得更順利，減少修改費時失事。

產量和運輸是影響工期的其中一環，東莞廠房就有一套自行研發的數碼監控平台，由每周開料量、生產量、實時物流監測等情況都能實時掌握，確保由生產至運送至工地的過程可以流暢完成，能有效控制成本和工程進度。從細節開始利用科技支援能對產品有更快捷準確的檢測，廠房接收從加工廠進行「拉彎」工序的鋁材後，會利用立體掃瞄檢驗弧度和形狀是否合乎規格，嚴格保持產品質量。其士代表亦有分享參與澳洲建築項目時，因當地環保規格與香港不同遇到的困難，例如不充許使用由火力發電生產的鋁料，令廠房決定選用由水力發電生產的鋁料，大大降低50至60%碳足跡。考慮到長期與澳洲合作，其士決定全面採用相同標準的供應商，與外國接軌，展示香港企業有足夠實力應付不同要求。

抓緊未來機遇 吸納創科年輕人才

迎接建造業數碼化，年青人的加入是不可或缺，企業各出奇謀吸引相關專才及培訓內部人員。其士採用不少數碼技術輔助生產，例如監控平台、AR和VR技術等，他們尤其渴求年輕的技術人員，其士（鋁工程）副總經理梁翠敏女士就提到要吸納年輕人入行，只談論金錢並不足夠，更重要是給予他們信心和適當的行業指導。

梁女士指出集團其中一個方向是要令年青人或行外人士了解到，現今業內有多種職位和不同職能，並不單是普遍聯想的「地盤工」身份。要吸引年年青人，建造業可以透過展示現今行業應用新科技的一面，例如運用擴增實境（AR）或虛擬實境（VR）技術模擬建築物，利用科技優勢解決工程的難點，為年青人營造專業、創新及能夠發揮所長的工作內容，擺脫建造業過往辛苦乏味的刻板印象。集團亦一直與國內不同學府接觸，除了華南理工大學和廣東省內大學外，也與四川等地有所聯繫，招攬工程科的畢業生。

建造業議會一直致力於推動建造業人才培訓和發展，倡導學界業界合作，提供不同層次和範疇的培訓課程和資助計劃，以吸引更多年輕人加入建造業。何安誠工程師表示，建造業是一個充滿創意和挑戰的行業。他希望更多年輕人能夠認識到建造業的前景和機遇，並投入到科技創新的領域中。建造業也需要不斷創新和提升效率，以應對市場的變化和挑戰，培育和吸納科技人才，是建造業未來發展的基石。

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