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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  Delivery Value Stream Mapping |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. | 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 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 | High | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 15-30 min | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 4-10 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |