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| Criterion |  Operations Visual Management |  Operations 5 Whys |  Operations Kepner-Tregoe |  Operations Barrier Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | With high tempo and many parallel topics, the method makes status, deviations, and priorities visible at a glance. It reduces search effort and prevents what matters from getting lost in daily work. | 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 a disturbance that's hard to pin down, the method cleanly separates problem, cause, and decision. It reduces mixing when symptoms allow several interpretations. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | Ongoing | 15-30 min | 2-8 h | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 1-20 | 2-6 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Visual Board, Status Indicators, Exception Cues | Root cause notes, Countermeasures | Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, Risk Plan | Barrier Inventory, Failure Analysis per Barrier, Action Backlog |
Tagsno overlap | SignalsOperationsVisual management | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving | Problem solvingRoot causeDecisionOperations | Root causeSafetyIncident |