domingo, 23 de noviembre de 2014

A3 Problem solving technique

A3 Problem Solving

Larry Rubrich A3 refers to a European paper size that is roughly equivalent to an American 11-inch by 17-inch tabloid-sized paper. The A3 format is used by Toyota as the template for three different types of reports:
  • Proposals
  • Status
  • Problem solving
There is no “magic” in the steps through which the structured A3 Problem Solving template takes a team. These steps are basically:
  1. Identify the problem or need
  2. Understand the current situation/state
  3. Develop the goal statement – develop the target state
  4. Perform root cause analysis
  5. Brainstorm/determine countermeasures
  6. Create a countermeasures implementation plan
  7. Check results – confirm the effect
  8. Update standard work
These steps follow the Deming Plant-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, with steps 1 through 5 being the ”Plan”, Step 6 being the “Do”, Step 7 being the “Check” and Step 8 being the “Act”.
On the A3 template, the steps are typically laid out like this:
A3 Problem Solving Template
Surprisingly, the steps and the format look very much like templates created by U.S. companies in the 1980s and 1990s.
Ford Motor Company created an 8.5-inch by 11-inch 8D Problem Solving template:

Johnson Controls Inc. created a Problem Solving Document (PSD) that uses both sides of a form that folds to an 8.5-inch by 11-inch size, but it is larger than tabloid size unfolded.
If U.S. companies had the templates and knowledge of the problem-solving tools, why aren’t U.S. companies better problem-solvers?
The answer is that when most organizations start their lean implementation, they jump to using the lean tools. However, there are four components of a lean implementation: lean planning, lean concepts, Lean tools and lean culture. All four of these components must be implemented in parallel. The lean tools are ineffective without the support of a developing lean culture.
The Four Components of Lean
This supporting lean culture is highlighted by how Toyota views problems:
  • Problems are seen as opportunities to improve their processes and, ultimately, their products.
  • The people assigned to solve the problem view the assignment as an opportunity to improve their problem-solving skills. They understand that they learn more and become a better problem-solver each time they perform the process.
In Toyota, no problem is a problem!
Compare this to how a typical U.S. company associate views problem-solving. We view it as a burden or maybe even a punishment. We get through it so we can check it off our to-do list.
A3 is a structured and very useful problem-solving template. To be successful, this template must be supported by a lean culture that changes how we view problems. Otherwise, A3 Problem Solving will just join the list of “programs of the month”.


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