A3 Thinking was developed as part of the Toyota Production System. The A3 is both a tool/report and a structured way to problem solve, engage employees and influence positive change.
Toyota Leaders wanted all data and facts about a problem on one sheet of paper and the typical 8.5 x 11 inch paper was too small to contain all of the information. The solution? Use 11 x 17 inch paper! The designation for 11 x 17 paper is "A3". Hence, the origin of the A3 term.
But the A3 is much more than a report. The A3 provides the structure to approach problem solving, ensuring line-of-sight from a well-defined problem to root cause to countermeasure(s) and the measurable impact of those changes. When used effectively, the A3 provides:
Practical leadership experience on problem solving and execution
Clear ownership of the problem
A means to narrow the problem scope to what matters, based on data
A mechanism to foster team collaboration
Communication to engage stakeholders BEFORE change occurs
A succinct case for change to influence decision makers
Download actual A3 problem solving projects, across a wide variety of functions and problem types. These examples will save you time and frustration in your problem solving.