The course consists of the following 13 units.
Unit 1: Construction Management - An Introduction
The first unit of the Advanced Diploma in Construction management gives an overview of the construction management. Candidates are introduced to the concepts and principles of construction management. Also, the roles and responsibilities of a construction manager as well as the techniques and skills he/she must possess are discussed.
Unit 2: Organisation of Construction Projects
Organisation of construction projects, which is the backbone of a project, forms the topic of discussion in unit two. Candidates are exposed to the project life cycle which consists of the project initiation phase, the project planning phase and the project closing phase.
Unit 3: Cost Estimation
To avoid under or over budgeting, candidates must understand the importance of cost estimation and how to ensure its accuracy during construction projects. This unit focuses on revealing the various methods of arriving at an accurate estimation of projects, from the initiation phase to the completion phase.
Unit 4: Preliminary Site Investigation and assessment
The fourth unit expounds the concept of site investigation and assessment. Candidates are walked through various topological factors and other important criteria to consider when choosing a site.
Unit 5: Site Organisation in Construction Industry
Attention shifts to site organisation in the fifth unit of the Advanced Diploma in Construction management. The unit covers all the critical aspect of the day-to-day activities of a construction site including accommodation, material management, utilities, health and welfare of workers.
Unit 6: Construction Equipment Planning
Unit 6 delves into the aspect of construction equipment planning. Candidates investigate the decision-making process, which looks at the type of equipment to use, purchase of equipment, renting of equipment. The unit also exposes the concept of equipment financing to candidates.
Unit 7: Management of Construction Equipment
The seventh unit focuses on management of construction equipment, which provides candidates with an in-depth explanation of equipment maintenance and repair, equipment inventory and tracking, replacement analysis, stock planning, and the general organisation of on-site equipment.
Unit 8: Management of Construction Materials
The course advances to explain the concept of construction material management, which sheds light on the potential challenges of material purchase and material handling and storage. The importance of material supply and distribution as well as the roles construction managers play in material management are also looked into.
Unit 9: Storage Management
Unit 9 walks candidates through another important concept – Storage management. The unit scrutinises warehousing, preservation of stored material, and other concepts to ensure adequate storage management. This unit also introduces material damage resulting and the various ways to prevent it.
Unit 10: Purchasing and Vendor Management
The tenth unit provides an intensive explanation of the concept of purchasing and vendor management, which exposes candidates to the objectives, types and the procedures of purchasing. The unit also takes a look at vendor management in the aspect of vendor evaluation, compliance and delivery.
Unit 11: Quality control for construction works
Candidates’ attention is brought to focus on quality controlling during construction activities. The unit investigates the pros and cons ensuring quality and their implications. Candidates are also exposed to various areas of quality control including materials, subcontractors, personnel and procedures.
Unit 12: Human Resource Management in Construction Industry
Unit 12 focuses on a very critical aspect of construction management – Human Resource Management. The roles of a construction manager as the HRM are analysed. Also, candidates are introduced to essential skills and techniques of an excellent HRM such as time-management, organisation and communication.
Unit 13: Legal Aspects of Contracting
This high-level course in construction management is brought to an end with an exploration of the legal aspects of contracting. This unit exposes candidates the various facets of construction law such as the elements and types of construction contract, equipment rental and purchase agreements, management contract and project dispute.
