Understanding A3 Thinking: A Critical Component of Toyota's PDCA Management System

"Great intro" according to Phil Calçado. Pretty good introduction. Very actionable advice and tips. Nevertheless, I would only recommend it if you have read The Toyota Way, Learning to See and/or similar books on Lean beforehand. Something else to know is that this book, like the others mentioned, foc. Very good addition to your lean library M Pro:+ Very, very good summary of PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)+ Good use of references using solid, reliable sources+ Explains misconceptions of western interpreation of the word, "standard"+ Solid summary chapter at the end+ A3 building exercises for the reader is . Good A3 Reference Book William C. Zeeb Outstanding reference work of the logic and mechanics of creating A3's. Covered are 3 variants: 1) Problem Solving A3's, 2) Proposal A3's, and 3) Status A3's.The authors present a refreshingly pragmatic approach to helping improvement teams and leaders to drive

Toyota views A3 Reports as just one piece in their PDCA management approach. Second, the authors show that the process leading to the development and management of A3 reports is at least as important as the reports themselves, because of the deep learning and professional development that occurs in the process. The power of the A3 report, however, derives not from the report itself, but rather from the development of the culture and mindset required for the implementation of the A3 system. And finally, the authors provide a number of examples as well as some very practical advice on how to write and review A3 reports.. In Understanding A3 Thinking, the authors first show that the A3 report is an effective tool when it is implemented in conjunction with a PDCA-based management philosophy. Notably flexible and brief, the A3 report has proven to be a key tool In Toyota’s successful move toward organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and improvement, especially within its engineering and R&D organizations. Winner of a 2009 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Prize