QUANTITY SURVEYOR’S / COST ENGINEER’S
Who are they?
What is their role in the Construction Industry?
How to become a Quantity surveyor?
This document intends to answer these questions. Use this article as your guide to understand the role of Quantity Surveyor in the Construction Industry. Hope it will be helpful for those who want to pursue their career in Quantity Surveying.
Welcome to Let’s Learn. We are spreading the knowledge that we learned, practiced, and experienced in the world of Quantity Surveying.
Introduction
Quantity Surveying is a branch of the profession in the Construction Industry. A quantity surveyor manages the costs related to the project and administers the contract. In some parts of the World, they are called Cost Engineer or Cost Managers. Their day-to-day activity varies largely based on the stakeholder they are associated with. Stakeholders of a project are Developer / Consultant / Contractor / Sub Contractor / Insurance / Legal.
Their intended duty is to prepare estimate in accordance with the client’s requirement, control the cost during the progress of various stages and ensure profitability to the stakeholder. Basically, they are involved in all stages of a project from Inception to Maintenance and Disposal.
Though they played a key role with the Developer Organization and Consultant Practices, their importance is imminent and growing with the Contractor, Subcontractor, or Suppliers entities due to the rise in Disputes between the Stakeholders. They have to know the construction techniques used in the specific project and all the aspects of the whole life of the facility to manage the cost-effectiveness and deliver a project as required by the Client.
They are the Economist in the Construction Industry and their key role include;
- Forecasting costs and value,
- Measurement and quantification at various stages,
- Advising on Procurement,
- Pricing and tendering,
- Manage Contract Procedure and administer the Contract throughout the phases,
- Approve Payments, etc.
Roles involved with different Stake Holders
Quantity Surveyors work for Clients/Developer & Consultants will be conducting the following duties and responsibilities but are not limited to;
- Feasibility study,
- Cost planning,
- Value management,
- Cost-benefitit analysis,
- Lifecycle costing,
- Value engineering,
- Budget allocation,
- Prepare bill of quantities,
- Change control procedure,
- Prepare contract documents,
- Tender analysis,
- Variation valuation.
Quantity Surveyors work for Main Contractors and Subcontractors will have to display the following duties and responsibilities but not limited to;
- Estimation
- Payment application to Client
- Maintaining performance in terms of budget
- Measurement
- Approving payments to Subcontractors / suppliers
- Manage Subcontractors / suppliers agreements
- Dispute avoidance
- Monitor and submission of Variations
- Claims management
Quantity Surveyors who work for Insurance and Legal will have to be expertise in;
- Claims management,
- Dispute resolution,
- Expert witness.
In order to perform these responsibilities, a QS should acquire hybrid skills of many professions involved in the construction field as listed below:
- Architect,
- Designer,
- Project Manager,
- Planner,
- Technical Engineer,
- Accountant,
- Procurement,
- Health & Safety,
- Logistics Engineer, etc.
Also a QS should be aware of the Business Intelligence and Economics of the Country.
Positions offered
The positions or designations offered for a Quantity Surveyor varies based on the stakeholder they are working for and their experience level.
- Junior Quantity Surveyor,
- Quantity Surveyor,
- Project Quantity Surveyor,
- Billing Engineer,
- Senior Quantity Surveyor,
- Estimator,
- Bid Manager,
- Procurement Engineer,
- Contract Administrator,
- Cost Analyst,
- Cost Engineer,
- Commercial Manager,
- Contracts Manager,
- Cost Manager,
- Claims Manager, etc.
How to become a Quantity Surveyor?
Many countries recognized Quantity Surveying as a profession and courses offered as full time, part time or distance learning in universities. Numerous certificate courses available to understand the role and gain knowledge. Following are few examples of the courses.
- Diploma in Quantity Surveying
- Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying
- Post Graduate Diploma in Quantity Surveying
- Master of Science in Quantity Surveying
- Bachelor of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying
- MBA in Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying
Where to Study?
Again, it largely depends on the geographical location, your preferable location of work and budget.
- United Kingdom is leading in the European Continent,
- Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines in East Asia,
- United Arab Emirates in Middle East,
- South Africa and many other African countries,
- Sri Lanka and India in the South East Asia,
- Canada and USA in the Americas,
- Australia,
- and many more…
International Recognition
There are Professional bodies in many countries set up to regularize and recognize the professionals in the Quantity Surveying field. RICS, AIQS & CIQS are the leading and well-known in most part of the World.
- ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS [RICS] – Chartered Quantity Surveyor.
- AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS [AIQS] – Certified Quantity Surveyor.
- CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS [CIQS] – Professional Quantity Surveyor.
Many countries in East Asia have specific associations or institutions like.
- NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS [NZIQS] -Registered Quantity Surveyor.
- HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS [HKICS] – Professional Quantity Surveyor.
IIQS, IQSSL & PICQS are some other Institutes known in Middle East and in the specific Country. They provide training and Continuous Professional Development Events to educate as a community.
- INDIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS [IIQS] – Professional Quantity Surveyor.
- INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS SRILANKA [IQSSL] – Professional Quantity Surveyor.
- PHILLIPINES INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED QUANTITY SURVEYORS – Certified Quantity Surveyor.
Similarly, there are many Institutes in Africa specific for the country operating to educate Quantity Surveying professionals of their nationals.
