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| Criterion |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|
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 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 a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. |
Complexitydifferent | High | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 2-6 h | 45-90 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-5 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | Root causeQualityOperations |
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