A3 Thinking (Managing to Learn) – 2 Days

DATE

TBC

LOCATION

Customer Site and / or sites around the U.K.

SPEAKERS

TBC

Introduction

“The most basic definition of an A3 is a P-D-C-A storyboard or report, reflecting Toyota’s way of capturing the PDCA process on one sheet of paper. But the broader notion of the A3 as a process – embodying the way of thinking represented in the format – captures the heart of Lean management. In this context, an A3 document structures effective and efficient dialogue that fosters understanding followed by the opportunity for deep agreement. It’s a tool that engenders communication and dialogue in a manner that leads to good decisions, where the proposed countermeasures have a better chance of being effective because they are based on facts and data gathered at the place where the work is performed, from the people who perform it.”

John Shook author of Managing To Learn.

email [email protected] to ask about attending or holding this workshop

DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHOP PDF TO SHARE WITH YOUR TEAM

Objectives

The purpose of this workshop is to explore the lessons and insights of Managing to Learn from four perspectives:

  • First, participants will explore the requirements of sound A3 thinking and management by following the stages of learning illustrated in Managing To Learn (MTL). MTL describes how a young manager learns to handle a significant problem-solving responsibility by creating an A3 that earns him the authority to address the problem in the ways he proposes. This occurs as he is coached on his problem solving and A3 thinking by his boss and mentor. He steadily uses the knowledge he is learning to revise his initial “jump-to-a-solution” A3 into an effective P-D-C-A story. Participants will examine how the A3 changes with each revision, what the young manager has learned about the A3 thinking and the A3 process that he applies in each revision, and what the course of his development indicates about the deep problem-solving focus that characterizes Lean thinking.
  • Second, the participants will have the opportunity to develop their own eyes and ears to recognize effective A3 stories. They will describe the problem-solving thinking that is required in each section of the A3 for the PDCA story it tells to be effective. Participants will read several A3s and discuss how they would coach the authors to improve them. They will then be given final versions of the A3s and asked to determine if they are more effective and why they are more effective than the originals.
  • Third, participants will create the Title, Background, Current Situation, Goal, Analysis and Recommendations sections of an A3 for a problem-solving responsibility in their own work. Participants are invited to bring real A3s they are already working on for this exercise, or they may begin a new one during the class. They will work in small groups to read, discuss and evaluate each another’s A3s. They will coach each other as authors of their respective A3s offering guidance to consider ways their P-D-C-A stories could be improved.
  • Fourth, participants will learn various forms and uses of the A3 format. Examples from Managing To Learn will be highlighted, along with others.

Agenda

  • Understanding PDCA & the A3 process
  • 7 Elements of A3 Thinking
  • The different types of A3s
  • Problem Solving, Proposal, Status A3s
  • How to review A3s
  • Applying A3 Thinking to your own work – including writing, presenting and coaching
  • Implementation questions

Topics that will be examined include

  • Basic types of A3 stories and how the format differs for each
  • PDCA & A3 Thinking
  • 4 Levels of Problem Solving
  • Role the A3 plays in the nemawashi process for gaining alignment with the stakeholders in a problem situation and seeking their agreement to proceed with the countermeasures or improvements being proposed
  • Ways the A3 functions as a change management tool, a general management tool, a human development tool and a knowledge sharing tool

Preparation Day

Two weeks before class starts, the facilitator and key sponsor members from the local team make preparations to ensure a rewarding experience for the students by assessing current problem solving capabilities in the organisation with the management team.

Preparation Work

  • Prepare a list of problems being worked on by the organisation and (where possible) any sample A3s that have been used
  • Walk the work floor to understand the problems identified and prepare ‘draft’ A3s with any analysis that may be required – to help coach the class and increase the facilitator’s knowledge of the environment
  • Review the class participant list and (where applicable) divide the students into teams for exercises
  • Prepare the classroom requirements for the session
  • Brief senior managers about the training, and implement the appropriate advance communications in the host facility

Workshop Benefits

Through instruction, small group discussions and exercises, the workshop participants will:

  • Learn the basic formats of A3s and uses of the A3 as a management process, and,
  • Gain experience in the three basic roles of the A3 process:
    • Writing an A3 (the Author/Owner)
    • Reading A3s (the Responder)
    • Coaching others about their A3s (the Coach)
  • Greater understanding of PDCA and the problem solving process
  • Know when to use A3 Problem Solving or basic 3c problem solving
  • In-depth practice of reading and reviewing A3’s
    • Developing A3 Problem Solving Worksheets
    • Coaching others in developing their problem solving capability

*Please bring along a current business problem and supporting date that you would like to work on.

Related Books 
 

Who Should Attend? 

  • Any employee who would like to really learn about the real essence of Lean.
  • Supervisory, support staff and Lean teams wanting to learn how to use A3 thinking to solve business problems and improve performance.
  • Leaders & Management teams wanting to understand their role in helping in further develop improvement capability whilst sustaining and accelerating continuous improvement throughout their organization.
  • Organisations at any stage in a Lean transformation that are struggling with:
    • Solving business problems (from complex to basis)
    • Engaging all levels of the organization in continuous improvement
    • The effectiveness of their improvement program
    • Sustaining performance

Notes

  • Attendance – 2 Day Course
  • Class size – Maximum 12 people per day
  • Timings – Each day will run from 09:00 – 17:00
  • Cost – £790.00 (Consultant Rate £900.00)* per delegate per day with a 15% discount when 2 or more people from the same organisation attend
  • Materials – A PDF copy of the materials will be available via the Lean Enterprise Academy website. Participants will also receive a copy of Managing to Learn by John Shook
  • Facilities** – Refreshments and lunches will be provided by LEA

* Please note prices exclude VAT at the standard rate of 20%

We can also run these workshops in-house at your convenience, if you would like to explore this option please contact us at [email protected] or call +44 (0)1600 890590

Follow up (optional)

LEA provides an ongoing mentoring service for organisations involved in making Lean transformations. Lean Transformation Master Plans, supporting A3s & VSM’s developed by the organisation can be reviewed at 30/60/90 intervals. This provides the organisation with help and direction in sustaining the learning from the workshop process and helps highlight further learning opportunities that can be pulled, as and when required, by the organisation.

Other workshops available – please visit our events page for more details

The lessons learnt during this workshop fit within each of the five elements of the Lean Transformation Framework