Template: Problem Solving Using the Toyota A3 Method

Forum member Steve has shared a cool Numbers spreadsheet template on the forums, that allows a user to use the A3 problem solving methodology to work through business process problems.

Steve describes the template:

This is another tool that I have found very useful in small (30 people) and large (40,000 people) companies. Again, it is based on Lean/6Sigma techniques.

The idea is to solve problems as a team by looking at the symptoms, understanding the business context, and identifying the root causes. You can grow or shrink the sheet to fit the paper. The original technique uses ISO A3 because it is a good size to use in a workshop, then later place on a team notice board.

The simple example in the spreadsheet is based on a real situation I encountered at the start of 2007.

My objective this time was to explore layouts, shapes, and alignment. Please forgive my choice of colours - I’m no graphic artist.

I hope you find the A3 technique useful.

The A3 system was originally created by the Toyota Motor Corporation and was named for the paper size on which it was printed: A3 (11” x 17”).

Toyota used the A3 methodology to help develop its famed Toyota Production System (TPS).

Steve includes both a blank template, and a fully completed example. The basic steps of the A3 method are (with Steve’s descriptions in parenthesis):

1. Theme or Background (What should be happening?)
2. Current Condition (What is happening? and Context)
3. Cause Analysis (Symptoms and Causes)
4. Target Condition (Draw the solution)
5. Implementation Plan (Actions: Who, What, When, Where)
6. Follow Up (How will you know when you have fixed the root cause?)

Thank you very much for this Steve.

You can download this sheet in the forums.

Also, please direct all questions and comments to the forum post.

Tags: , a3, apple, iwork, numbers, template, toyota

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