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An A3 report is a standardized document whose methodology was
developed at Japan's
Toyota Motor Corporation. The A3 is considered to be an integral tool for Lean
thinking, an optimal way to produce goods and provide services by eliminating
waste and inefficiencies.
The A3 report gets its name from the size of paper it is normally
created on. A3 size paper is the metric equivalent of the 11" x 17" size paper
in the U.S.
The idea is to limit the report to one page, thus making the story you're telling
more concise and easier to read. The use of graphs and images along with concise
text is recommended.
A standard A3 report has multiple sections including:
- Title
- Background
- Current State or Problem
- Target State or Goals
- Root Cause
Analysis
- Counter
Measures
- Plan
- Follow-up
There is no one set template for an A3 report. Typically, it
is up to the individual creating the report to determine which sections to
include. As a rule, however, someone reading a completed A3 report should be
able to follow the story that the author is trying to tell. The report should
use a standardized reporting structure while encouraging deep thinking about
the root causes of a given problem, and why the problem is important for the
organization to solve.
When creating an A3 report, it is important to avoid doing
so in isolation. The author must go to the Gemba, a Japanese term meaning "the
place where the truth can be found", to analyze the actual work being performed.
The author must include others in problem analysis, developing counter measure
and goals.
It is important to get buy-in and sign-off from others in
the organization when solving a problem. The A3 process facilitates
communication and collaboration with people in different parts of the company
to help solve a current problem or propose new ideas in the business.
Here are some links to additional resources for A3 reports:
A Primer on A3 Reports: Better Thinking for Stronger
Organizations
(http://www.industryweek.com/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=587)
John Shook: Managing to Learn
http://www.lean.org/Bookstore/ProductDetails.cfm?SelectedProductID=246
Other Web Resources:
http://www.shmula.com/363/the-toyota-a3-report
http://www.coe.montana.edu/IE/faculty/sobek/A3/report.htm
Previous Posts about Lean in Engineering Management:
http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/7106/Lean-Manufacturing-Part-2
http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/7101/Lean-Manufacturing-Part-1
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Re: A3 Reports, Methodology and Process
