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| Criterion |  Operations Root Cause Analysis |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  Operations Causal Factor Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a problem keeps recurring and the cause stays unclear, the method exposes the underlying mechanism. It separates symptom, guess, and robust explanation from one another. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | High | High |
Timedifferent | 1-4 h | 15-30 min | 1-6 Wochen | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-8 | 2-6 | 4-10 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tags1 shared | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |