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Criterion
Paper illustration for Bottleneck Analysis.
Operations
Bottleneck Analysis
Value Stream Mapping workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Delivery
Value Stream Mapping
A3 Problem-Solving workspace showing the question, observations, and next decision.
Operations
A3 Problem Solving
A 5 Whys working surface connects an observable problem with evidenced causes, marked uncertainty and concrete countermeasures with ownership.
Operations
5 Whys
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.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.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
MediumMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h1-3 h45-90 min15-30 min
Participantsdifferent
3-84-102-52-6
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Bottleneck Map, Flow Metrics, Improvement Options, Follow-up MeasuresCurrent-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck listA3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause AnalysisRoot cause notes, Countermeasures
Tagsno overlap
FlowMeasurementConstraints
LeanFlowWasteDelivery
LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations
Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving
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