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| Criterion | ![]() Operations 8D Problem Solving | ![]() Operations Fault Tree Analysis | ![]() Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping | ![]() Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | For a critical top event with several possible triggers, the method logically models failure paths. It makes visible which combinations of conditions can lead to damage. | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | High | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-6 Wochen | 2-6 h | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-10 | 3-8 | 3-12 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Fault Tree, Critical Paths, Cause Hypotheses, Control Actions | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | RiskRoot causeSafety | KnowledgeMappingRisk | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |



