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| Criterion |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Delivery Value Stream Mapping |  Engineering Kanban |  Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a complex deviation with several people involved, the method bundles problem, analysis, and decision onto one page. It creates a shared working space where causes, countermeasures, and follow-up fit together. | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | When work sits in too many parallel streams, throughput suffers and no one sees the bottlenecks. Kanban makes the flow of work visible and limits overload so a system becomes calmer and more predictable. | When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | Ongoing | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-5 | 4-10 | 2-12 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Kanban board, WIP policies, Flow metrics | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | FlowVisual managementDelivery | LeanObservationProcessOperations |