| With the impact of globalization having run deep into | | | | and quality of the product. |
| many industries, more efficient methods have been | | | | Houses of the future should be similar to products |
| introduced and implemented in order to survive the | | | | like cars or computers today. It is built mostly in a |
| challenging market ahead. Every product has | | | | factory with parts that is easy to replace or maintain. |
| improved dramatically and been produced in a higher | | | | The construction industry can be transform by |
| quality and at a lower cost but with the exception of | | | | following what other sectors are already doing; |
| houses and buildings. Whilst, other industries have | | | | standardize and accessorize. Developed countries |
| been thriving in terms of technology application, only | | | | such as Japan, Netherlands and USA to name a few, |
| small improvement has been made in making building | | | | have already started to develop concept that is |
| processes more efficient. | | | | called 'Open Source Building'. The concept of the open |
| Industrialised Building System (IBS) can be defined as | | | | source building is similar to what has happened in the |
| "Construction technique in which components are | | | | ICT industry whereby through standardization of |
| manufactured in a factory, on or off site, positioned | | | | jointing parts such as USB ports, consumers can buy |
| and assembled into a structure with minimal additional | | | | computer equipment such as mouse or scanner |
| site works." The IBS concept is essentially the | | | | anywhere in the world. The equipment can then be |
| injection of a techno-based mindset into the | | | | easily installed by the users as the connection from |
| construction industry 'hardware' aspects and | | | | the equipment to the computer has been |
| incorporation of the highly successful manufacturing | | | | internationally standardized. |
| concepts as the driving 'software'. In this respect, the | | | | IBS gives the ability for companies from just being a |
| construction industry has a great deal to learn from | | | | simple plain brick contractor that is driven by projects |
| the manufacturing sectors that have long been | | | | to a component builder manufacturer that is driven |
| emphasizing on quality and minimising defects. IBS will | | | | by consumers. Modular components or also known as |
| definitely among others reduce unskilled workers in | | | | volumetric components can be configured into wide |
| the country, less wastage, less volume of building | | | | variety of end products and the design can be based |
| materials, increased site cleanliness and better quality | | | | on customer's individual needs through unique |
| control. | | | | combinations of the modular components. Mass |
| In many parts of the world, IBS takes its forms in an | | | | customization will allow companies to penetrate new |
| initiative called open building concept. Open building is | | | | markets and capture customers whose demands |
| an approach to the design of buildings and said to be | | | | could not be met with standard products. Developers |
| representing a new wave in architecture. Open | | | | and contractors who embrace the IBS methodology |
| building is defined as an innovative approach to design | | | | can even upgrade their capability to export houses in |
| and construction that enhances the efficiency of the | | | | countries that are in need of fast permanent shelters. |
| building process, while increasing the variety, flexibility | | | | |