Course Type

Learning Topic

CIDS Phase

Knowledge Development

Leadership

Phase 6

Learn the basics about what this module covers.

Course Overview

Get the Available A3 Report Template

Overiew

Get started on this module by discussing what "problem solving" is and how A3 Thinking fits into the picture.

A3 Thinking and Problem Solving

Learn what the A3 Report is, and what it is used for.

What is an A3 Report?

Learn about the various sections of the A3 Report Template.

Sections of the A3 Report

Background of the A3 Report

A3 Thinking is more than just the A3 Report. It is a structured approach to thinking about a problem.

The Structure Behind A3 Thinking

Like most forms & tools, there is some administrative information about the use of the A3 Report.

A3 Report General Information

Learn what A3 Thinking is supposed to do for you.

Benefits of A3 Thinking

A3 Thinking's Role in Your Company

How does A3 Thinking fit into your company's continuous improvement culture?

The A3 Report was originally intended as a handwritten document, but new tech is changing that perception.

Handwritten vs. Computer/Digital

Knowing where you currently are is critical to problem solving, and a big part of A3 Thinking.

Background Section and Current Conditions

Setting goals is one of the most important things you'll have to do when planning your A3 project. Too lofty for the available resources, and you'll likely fail. Too low, and you won't accomplish enough.

Setting Goals for A3 Projects

Good problem solving entails a large amount of time spent truly understanding the problem. That means making sure you have a spot-on assessment of what the rood cause is.

Root Cause Analysis and A3 Thinking

As you might expect, the most externally noticeable part of problem solving is the actual countermeasures you put in place to change the process.

Creating Countermeasures

A3 Thinking relies on the PDCA cycle as its engine. It should be no surprise, then, that confirming the effects of your countermeasures is part of the A3 process.

Effect Confirmation and Approval

Changes don't matter if they don't stick. Learn about following up on your A3 projects.

Following Up on A3 Projects

A3 Thinking is a competitive advantage not because it is a secret, but because it is hard to copy. That's because there are many characteristics of A3 Thinking that don't come naturally, and take a lot of effort.

Characteristics of A3 Thinking

Learn how to start putting A3 Thinking to use in your organization.

Getting Started with A3 Thinking

Knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing what TO do.

Pitfalls of Using A3 Reports

Some final thoughts before you embark on your journey with A3 Thinking.

Final Thoughts on A3 Thinking

<h2 id="3b828c2b-ff28-4665-926a-dd9590ed7560" data-toc-id="3b828c2b-ff28-4665-926a-dd9590ed7560" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">WHAT IS A3 THINKING?</h2><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">A3 Thinking is a team-based problem-solving process, generally geared towards a challenging problem that has eluded the team running the process.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">In effect, A3 Thinking and the associated A3 Report are pulled out when lesser tools fail.<img src="https://ezycourse.b-cdn.net/5664/cmj1x79mk2eo7bj9nd6dl7853.jpg" containerstyle="position: relative; width: 350px; height: auto; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px auto;" alt="image"><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">A3 Thinking combines many hallmarks of good Lean management with a range of tools. It uses the PDCA cycle as its foundation, but with a far more analytical approach than typically used with Plan Do Check Act. The analysis of these problems relies on many of the problem-solving tools associated with Lean (5 Whys, cause-and-effect diagram, Pareto charts, run charts), and the solutions often use improvement tools from the Lean toolkit (kanban, Standard Work, 5S). <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">The A3 Report is the primary method for documenting and communicating progress in this problem-solving effort. It is so named because it was originally created on an A3-sized sheet of paper. In the US, it is generally done on 11 x 17 paper, which is close to A3. <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">Although our module is a “fundamentals” level module, it is still a sophisticated tool. You should have a solid foundation in continuous improvement tools before attempting it. And keep in mind that the typical use of the A3 report is for problem-solving. With experience, you will be able to expand on how you use it by creating proposals or status A3 reports.<h2 id="c69f7656-7655-4753-b53a-2ce867d5806f" data-toc-id="c69f7656-7655-4753-b53a-2ce867d5806f" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?</h2><h3 id="995d6db1-ff69-442a-bec8-adb2b28783b0" data-toc-id="995d6db1-ff69-442a-bec8-adb2b28783b0" style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">Frontline Team Members (Select)</h3><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">This training is not for all of your team members. It should be offered to team members who are...<ul><li><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">Participating in A3 Project Teams</li><li><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">Working for an enthusiastic A3-oriented leader</li><li><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">An up-and-comer who is likely to be promoted</li></ul><h3 id="ebc757cc-2806-4e3d-870e-2ebf9c9344a8" data-toc-id="ebc757cc-2806-4e3d-870e-2ebf9c9344a8" style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">Future Project Leaders</h3><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">This training is good as an introduction to future project leaders. They will need more advanced training, though, before they take on a leadership role on an A3 Project. <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">Project Leaders should complete the "A3 Thinking for Leaders" course prior to leading an A3 project.<h3 id="05f427e9-bb26-4420-adf1-b7b7aee09d4e" data-toc-id="05f427e9-bb26-4420-adf1-b7b7aee09d4e" style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.2;">Company Leaders</h3><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">Company leaders should all be familiar with A3 Thinking, even if they are not going to be in a project in the immediate future

This course is an overview of the A3 Thinking process, and is intended for project team members.

A3 Thinking Fundamentals

Jeffrey Hajek

Level

Duration

What you will learn

Gain an understanding of what A3 Thinking is

Prepare to support or participate in A3 Project Teams

Certificate with successful completion (coming soon)

Course content

Course Description

FAQ

15-Day Satisfaction Guarantee