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| Criterion | ![]() Operations Waste Analysis | ![]() Operations A3 Problem Solving | ![]() Delivery Value Stream Mapping | ![]() Operations Gemba Walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For a process that keeps people busy but creates little value, the method exposes waste. It directs attention to unnecessary movement, waiting times, rework, and overdelivery. | 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. | When delivery work dissolves into wait times, handoffs, and hidden effort, Value Stream Mapping makes the actual flow visible. The method exposes bottlenecks, idle time, and feedback loops so lead time and improvement levers become tangible. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 45-90 min | 1-3 h | 30-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-5 | 4-10 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Waste Map, Prioritized Waste, Improvement Backlog | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis | Current-state map, Future-state map, Bottleneck list | Observation Notes, Improvement Ideas |
Tags1 shared | WasteLeanProcess improvement | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations | LeanFlowWasteDelivery | LeanObservationProcessOperations |



