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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Bottleneck Analysis | ![]() Operations Theory of Constraints | ![]() Delivery Value Stream Mapping | ![]() Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a flow that backs up at one point, the method looks for the capacity limit with the greatest leverage. It explains why extra effort elsewhere barely improves throughput. | For a system that does not get faster despite effort, the method directs attention to the bottleneck. It concentrates improvement on the point that actually limits throughput. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 2-4 h Analyse, laufend | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 3-12 | 4-10 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Bottleneck Map, Flow Metrics, Improvement Options, Follow-up Measures | Constraint Map, Improvement Plan, Flow Metrics | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tagsno overlap | FlowMeasurementConstraints | OperationsConstraintsFlowImprovement | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |



