View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Operations Process Mapping |  Engineering Fault Isolation |  Operations After-Action Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | In technical failures, the visible symptom often gets mixed up with the actual cause. Fault Isolation narrows the fault space and progressively reduces which part of the system is truly affected. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-120 min | 1-3 h | 30-180 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-6 | 3-10 | 1-6 | 3-12 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | Fault Isolation Map, Test Log, Excluded Hypotheses, Narrowed Fault Area | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary |
Tagsno overlap | LeanObservationProcessOperations | ProcessOperationsImprovement | TroubleshootingDiagnosisEngineering | LearningOperationsImprovement |