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| Criterion |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Failure Mode and Effects Analysis |  Operations Barrier Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. | For a process, product, or service with noticeable failure risks, the method assesses possible failure modes in advance. It directs attention to combinations of occurrence, effect, and detectability. | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 15-30 min | 2-6 h | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | FMEA Table, Risk Priority, Mitigation Actions | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog |
Tags1 shared | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | RiskQualityOperationsRoot cause | Root causeSafetyIncident |
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