Calidad y Actitud A3 Thinking Welcome to the A3 Thinking Blog. From time to time the authors of A3 Thinking will post articles or updates pertaining to the book A3 Thinking. Drop by and visit when you have free time or send the authors a question. As time allows they’ll take turns answering whatever is submitted. Recently I was asked to give a presentation via Webinar on the topic of A3 Thinking by OPS Group, Inc. a3thinkingwebinar2012 In general I like to think that there are three invisible pillars for A3 reports. A client asked me to give some pointers pertaining to A3 presentations and communication points. A reader named Vimal from a processing company writes in this week with the following question: Organizations encounter a number of problems of extremely different variety, importance and scale on a daily basis. This is a good question that we receive from time to time from readers and practitioners of A3 reports especially the problem solving variety. Here is a reader question for Professor Sobek: Hello Dr.
Lean Healthcare Exchange The A3 Process What is it? Toyota Motor Corporation is famed for its ability to relentlessly improve operational performance. Central to this ability is the training of engineers, supervisors and managers in a structured problem-solving approach that uses a tool called the A3 Problem-Solving Report. We have adapted the approach by articulating ten steps to proceed from problem identification to resolution in a fashion that fosters learning, collaboration, and personal development. The problem-solver records the results of investigation and planning in a concise, two-page document (the A3 Report, also adapted from Toyota) that facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration. The term "A3" derives from the paper size used for the report, which is the metric equivalent to 11" x 17" (or B-sized) paper. Why use it? Most problems that arise in organizations are addressed in superficial ways, what some call "first-order problem-solving." Your comments and feedback and any questions are most welcome.
Healthcare Costs How to enhance the Visualization of your A3 with Tools When developing/creating an A3 report (11 x 17 size of paper) its often useful to embed different types of "A3 tools" to assist the reader in quickly visualizing the problem your trying to solve. Many people are "visual" learners and with the rapid pace of the work day its efficient to quickly see the problem, rather than read through a long report to find it out "what I need to know". So which tools are most often used? Bar GraphLine GraphPie ChartsPareto ChartsFishbone(brainstorming & cause/effect)Tree Diagram What do these tools show and when should you use: Line and Bar are a similar tool; it really comes down to preference. Pie Chart is a useful tool in showing contributions of each particular component as it pertains to the whole. Pareto Chart is a useful tool that allows the reader to select the focus item first on the bar graph. Notice the last bar is a little higher than the next to last. Fishbone Diagram is a tool used to categorize/breakdown problems. 1. 2. thetoyotagal
ASQ Knowledge Center The process of change (like charity) begins with the individual. Quality is the degree of excellence at an acceptable price and the control of variability at an acceptable cost. The Process Improvement Handbook by Tristan Boutros and Tim Purdie This book reveals how to design effective process improvement structures, organizations, and cultures to achieve faster responses, better service, and increased agility. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. The only way to get people to adopt constant improvement as a way of life in doing daily business is by empowering them. To desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. In considering quality, it is often necessary to turn your thinking upside down and to realize that quality and profit are not mutually exclusive. The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage. by Greg Hutchins
Quality Matters Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師)