The A3 Workbook: Unlock Your Problem-Solving Mind

The A3 Workbook can be used by companies to develop the problem-solving skills of their employees -leading not only to improved profit, quality, productivity, safety, and delivery, but also to a culture that understands the value of developing people at every level. With the workbook readers can actually practice applying the skills described in each section. Especially for managers who are realizing that they must develop their entire workforce in order to help their organization achieve its goals and objectives, The A3 Workbook provides anyone at any level within an organization with the tools they need to be effective problem solvers.
―Sirreadalot.org, November 2010

A3 Problem Solving is a problem-solving method that identifies a problem, describes the objective, and summarizes fact-finding and action steps all on one A3-sized piece of paper. This Book/CD-ROM package teaches A3 Problem Solving to workers at any level in an organization. The workbook follows the progression of a basic A3 Problem Solving format, with step-by-step instructions, case study exercises, and reproducible worksheet templates. About 45 pages of appendices provide answers for exercises, plus blank templates. The book can be used by companies and organizations to help develop the problem-solving skills of their employees, as part of a company culture that understands the value of developing people at every level.
―In Research Book News, booknews.com, February 2011

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.