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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis | ![]() Engineering Fault Isolation | ![]() Operations Barrier Analysis | ![]() Operations MORT Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | 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. | For a risk that can only be managed through multiple layers of protection, the method examines the effectiveness of each barrier. It shows where safeguards are missing, too weak, or fail under real conditions. | For a safety-relevant event or a system with high protection requirements, the method examines where controls failed. It exposes both technical and organizational gaps. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 h | 30-180 min | 2-4 h | Mehrere Tage bis Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 1-6 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Fault Isolation Map, Test Log, Excluded Hypotheses, Narrowed Fault Area | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog | MORT Worksheets, Findings per Branch, Corrective Actions, Systemic Recommendations |
Tagsno overlap | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | TroubleshootingDiagnosisEngineering | Root causeSafetyIncident | Root causeSafetySystemicIncident |



