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| Criterion |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Facilitation Alignment Mapping |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When there is uncertainty about the real course of a process, the method brings observation to the place where work happens. It combines perception, follow-up questions, and process knowledge so decisions rest on actual workflows instead of assumptions. | When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable. | 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 | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-120 min | 1-2 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 4-12 | 2-6 |
Formatsame | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Alignment Map, Open Issues, Decision Questions | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | LeanObservationProcessOperations | AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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