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| Criterion |  Operations Waste Analysis |  Operations After-Action Review |  Operations Process Mapping |  Operations A3 Problem Solving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | After missions or project phases with unclear outcomes, the method makes visible what actually happened and what can be learned from it. It separates course, effect, and causes so experience turns into solid improvement. | With a confusing workflow that has many handoffs, the method makes the actual process visible. It shows where work is passed on, delayed, or duplicated, so improvement targets the right spots. | 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 | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 20-45 min | 1-3 h | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-12 | 3-10 | 2-5 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Waste Map, Prioritized Waste, Improvement Backlog | Lessons learned, Action items, Event summary | Process Map, Handoff List, Improvement Backlog | A3 Report, Action Plan, Root Cause Analysis |
Tagsno overlap | WasteLeanProcess improvement | LearningOperationsImprovement | ProcessOperationsImprovement | LeanProblem solvingCoachingOperations |