A3 Lean: An Introduction

The process was originally developed by Toyota, a company known for its effective production process. The term “A3” traces its origins back to the A3-sized paper employees and managers would use in Toyota to create plans, outline ideas, and discuss goals while going through the entire A3 process.

This approach aims to foster collaboration, learning, and growth within employees in the workplace while also making it easier to tackle any problems they may encounter along the way. Generally, workers use the A3 thinking process to do the following:

• Solve problems they encounter at work
• Generate a project status report
• Propose policy changes for the betterment of the team

Using the A3 methodology results in a one-page report that is much easier to dissect and discuss. This allows workers to communicate with each other more effectively and promotes teamwork within the workplace.

Benefits of Using A3

There are multiple benefits to using the A3 line of thinking. To start, its simplicity is unmatched, even when used to tackle complex issues in the workplace. With the A3 lean thinking process, it’s easier to align different teams and their goals to work towards a common solution.

More often than not, meetings start and end with multiple teams rushing to implement a solution. While this allows for fast action, it doesn’t let the team get on the same page and find solutions that are affordable, effective, and efficient.

Here are some more details on the benefits of using the A3 thinking process.

Simplifies Thinking Process

As mentioned earlier, the key benefit of the A3 lean methodology is simplicity. When running a business, it’s important to keep everybody on the same page and align everyone towards the same goal. However, it is much easier said than done.

When working with different minds, it can be hard to see eye-to-eye, especially when dealing with complex issues and solutions. However, the A3 lean methodology is a single report on a single piece of paper. It takes away all the unnecessary bells and whistles that may distract members of the team instead of empowering them to find the right solution.

Promotes a Healthy Work Culture

The lean thinking process as a whole offers a lot of benefits to working culture. Keeping lean manufacturing in mind when working throughout the day is a great method to reduce waste and increase productivity. And implementing the A3 methodology is a great way to incorporate lean thinking and cultures.

For example, using an A3 lean template opens the door to using other lean tools in generating reports. Additionally, the A3 lean way of thinking is set up in a way that promotes collaboration and teamwork, which is a great way to increase workplace efficiency.

Going back to our previous point, the A3 lean way of thinking allows everyone to align toward the same goal. This reduces miscommunication in the workplace and also allows multiple minds to work on a singular goal. When there are more people involved in the process and collaborating effectively, teams can find more in-depth solutions to serious problems in the process.

Reduces Workplace Anxiety

Another relatively unknown benefit to using the A3 lean methodology is that it can reduce workplace anxiety. As abstract as it sounds, workplace anxiety is something that affects many employees.

A recent Gallup report showed that over 43% of workers are experiencing increased stress in the workplace. Stressed and anxious energy in the workplace can greatly hinder productivity, which is why managers need to take steps to make tasks more digestible to team members.

At first glance, it may seem like the A3 methodology can increase anxiety. After all, creating an A3 report and staring at a blank piece of paper can be intimidating. Additionally, collaborating with other team members can also be tough if someone is already dealing with anxiety.

However, since the A3 lean thinking process involves breaking things down step-by-step, it actually makes it much easier for other people to follow.

Understanding the A3 Lean Process

Creating an A3 report is much easier with a template. There are various A3 lean report templates available online, giving managers a launching point for creating their own templates.

To start the process, employees need to identify the actual problem. From there, it’s important to take a step back to analyze the entire situation and its full context. This is much easier to do if managers and team members quantify issues into numbers that paint a more detailed picture.

After that, the team can begin brainstorming solutions and collaborating to find the right fix to the problem. Once the team lands on a solution, they can determine their target state and start developing their implementation plan and a follow-up plan based on the team’s predicted outcomes.

This is where the template comes in handy, as it allows the team to put everything in a simple and definitive report. When the report is done, the team can start getting everyone else on board, implementing the plan, and assessing its effectiveness.

Example

Below is an example of an A3 report with all the steps necessary to complete the process. Take note of the short but concise descriptions that give readers a general idea of the concept without taking up too much space.

Remember, A3 reports are designed to be simple. So, the more concise the message, the better. This means you won’t bombard the team with information that may cause some trouble in the long run.

Using A3 in Lean Manufacturing

While A3 is a simple and effective process in the workplace, it isn’t a cure-all solution. The A3 lean thinking process is best viewed as a methodology for solving problems, not actual solutions. So, on top of creating and implementing A3 reports in the workplace, it’s important to build the right culture in the workplace that supports the A3 Lean methodology.