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| Criterion |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Operations ALPEN Method |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | 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 | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-60 min | 1-6 Wochen | 10-20 min daily | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 4-10 | 1 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeQualityOperations | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |