Project management strategies for overcoming operational barriers in bored piling projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study develops a project management framework to mitigate operational barriers in Sri Lanka's bored piling industry. Employing a mixed-method approach, literature review, questionnaire survey of 45 practitioners, and four expert interviews; the research identified twenty-four operational barriers. Relative Importance Index analysis revealed three most critical: time restrictions due to residential proximity (RII=0.82), suboptimal drilling techniques (RII=0.78), and logistical challenges with oversized equipment (RII=0.76). Expert interviews contextualised these findings within Sri Lanka's volatile fuel prices, protracted governmental approvals, and problematic clay-based soils. A four-stage framework integrating Lean Management, Six Sigma, Critical Path Method, and Kaizen was developed, encompassing: (1) root-cause diagnosis using Fishbone diagrams; (2) strategic alignment of PM methodologies to specific barriers; (3) implementation through stakeholder collaboration and real-time monitoring; and (4) evaluation via Pareto analysis. Case study application demonstrated significant improvements: Lean reduced material waste by 22 percent; Six Sigma decreased design flaws by 25 percent; and CPM increased on-time project completion by 35 percent. This research offers a scalable model for enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and promoting sustainability in bored piling operations within Sri Lanka and comparable developing economies.