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| Criterion |  Operations Barrier Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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. | 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. | For a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 2-4 h | 15-30 min | 30-120 min | 2-8 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeSafetyIncident | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LeanObservationProcessOperations | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations |