The A3 Workbook : Unlock Your Problem-Solving Mind, (With CD-ROM)

Encouraging efficiency, clarity, and disciplined thinking, A3 Problem Solving identifies a problem, describes the objective, and summarizes fact finding and action steps, all on a single A3-sized piece of paper. This approach provides all employees at all levels with a method to quickly identify a problem, analyze it to root cause, select appropriate countermeasures, and communicate necessary actions to decision makers.

The A3 Workbook : Unlock Your Problem-Solving Mind is designed to teach A3 Problem Solving to workers at every level of an organization. Uniquely qualified to author this workbook, Daniel Matthews is an expert trainer with 30 years of training experience including Lean implementation and Training within Industry (TWI). Fourteen of those years he spent with the Toyota Company, which created and made use of the A3 as a core component of continuous quality improvement.

This workbook provides a practical tool for solving specific problems or for making a specific proposal, while also encouraging the development of a corporate culture that empowers all employees to support continuous improvement. The workbook follows the progression of a basic A3 Problem Solving format, offering instructions every step of the way. To reinforce learning, it includes -

• Case studies that readers can use to complete A3s
• Tips on how to improve the readability of A3s
• Examples of Problem Solving A3s, and a Proposal A3
• Exercises to reinforce what?s learned
• Worksheet templates that can be reproduced for future problem solving

An effective problem-solving process is a critical part of implementing efficient business practices and a problem-solving culture is a fundamental component of empowering employees to support business improvements. Both of these components, taken together, can help any organization make continuous improvements on the long journey to creating a more productive and profitable business.

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors

Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2 : Overview
Chapter 3 : Problem Situation
Chapter 4 : Target
Chapter 5 : Theme
Chapter 6 : Loud-&-Clear Speaker
Chapter 7 : Cause Analysis
Chapter 8 : Countermeasures
Chapter 9 : Implementation
Chapter 10 : Follow-up
Chapter 11 : Putting It All Together
Chapter 12 : Improve Your A3%u2019s Effectiveness

Appendices
Appendix A : Production Standards Exercise Answers
Appendix B : Office Standards Exercise Answers
Appendix C : Production Problem Statement Exercise Answers
Appendix D : Office Problem Statement Exercise Answers
Appendix E : Target Statement Exercise Answers
Appendix F : Theme Statement Exercise Answers
Appendix G : Loud-&-Clear Answer
Appendix H : Production 5-Why Exercise Answers
Appendix I : Office 5-Why Exercise Answers
Appendix J : Line Graph Exercise Answer
Appendix K : Data Table Exercise Answer
Appendix L : Pareto Chart Exercise Answer
Appendix M : Pie Chart Exercise Answer
Appendix N : Pictogram Exercise Answer
Appendix O : Dave%u2019s Fabrication Blank A3
Appendix P : Dave%u2019s Fabrication A3 Answer
Appendix Q : Titan Blank A3
Appendix R : Titan A3 Answer
Appendix S : 5S Problem Report A3
Appendix T : Food Service Proposal A3
Appendix U : Maintenance Training Proposal A3
Appendix V : Blank Problem-Solving A3 Format
Index