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| Criterion |  Operations PDCA Cycle |  Operations Gemba Walk |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For an improvement that still has to prove itself in everyday work, the method runs it through small learning loops. It connects planning, checking, and standardization into a repeatable learning mode. | 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 a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | 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 | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 1 h bis mehrere Wochen | 30-120 min | 15-45 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-8 | 2-6 | 1-10 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | PDCA Log, Experiment Plan, Learning Outcome, Standard Change | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tagsno overlap | Continuous improvementLeanExperiments | LeanObservationProcessOperations | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |