View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion | ![]() Operations Waste Analysis | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis | ![]() Operations Root Cause Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | 1-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 2-8 | 3-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Waste Map, Prioritized Waste, Improvement Backlog | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Problem Statement, Cause Hypotheses, Confirmed Causes, Action Plan |
Tagsno overlap | WasteLeanProcess improvement | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | Root causeProblem solvingQualityIncident |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.






