My department was given the mandate that as of yesterday (4/1) there will be "No more internal 8Ds - A3 usage only".

I have a little experience with A3s, but mostly proposal A3s not problem solving. I don't suspect the problem solving process will be different (it may be imporved), however, I am a concerned about the forum to use or reporting process to use.

Does anyone use the A3 system and if so how is the report out forum set up?

BTW & FYI Ford has adopted this system so those of you who do business with them be prepared.

Can you outline the A3 system please, its a new one on me.

I'll attach an example, we just finished this one today. Basically it is from Toyota and a very visual means of representing an idea. If you can't fit it on 1 page then you go back and rethink it. It contains your backup data, 5-whys, etc. There are 3 basic types, problem solving, informational and proposal. Each fits its own function. Hope this helps.

Stew,

A-3 is a new one on me, too. I look forward to learning something. But...did you forget to do the attachment or did you intend to attach something later? :confused:

Sorry guys,
I was late for a meeting and the didn't realize how big the file was. Had to run before I could correct. Let me try again.

Isn't it amazing how much closer we get to the Japanese way of doing this quality thing. And they don't even mandate TS2. Could be fuel for the future.

And before anyone asks. A-3 stands for the paper size! Talk about simplistic!

And before anyone asks. A-3 stands for the paper size!

You know I was trying to figure that out. The only things I could come up with were rather vulgar, so I shant discuss them here! :bonk:

db,
At first I thought it was a Canadian thing, then I thought it was how the begining of the 5 whys would start. Ahhh, Ahhh, Ahhh, :biglaugh:
Then I started thinking about the vulgar stuff especially when I went to print the example and the printer was asking for that size of paper!!! I looked it up and low and behold the printer was right. Now not only does the computer kick my a$$, but I'm 1 down on the printer as well.
:bonk:

As in the words of that great American spokesman Homer Simpson would say. DHOOOOOOO!:ko:

I still don't get it. Maybe I'm being dense. What's so special or unique about the "A-3 system" for problem solving? It can't just be the paper size! :confused: Somebody lead me to the water here please.

A few things are different from what I've been use to:
They are written for specific audiences (To: )
1 person owns it (Author)
It is not a formal Cross Functional Team.
The team is ad hoc, (if needed) and not a requirement.
Visual representation of problem and fix.
It is suppose to tell the whole story about 1 issue.
1 problem, 1 A3.

These are all items that are new to me. I was just looking for input as to a reporting system.

Yup,

There is a Standard covering A3 and other paper sizes.:biglaugh: :ko: :smokin:

All in all the same information in a different format. I still prefer the 8D format but what lola wants lola gets!

This is new concept A3 ..never heard before

M Greenaway said:

Due to recently introduced restrictions I cannot view your attachment and make any comment :(

As you have changed places of employment, my dossier on you needs amending. Otherwise, you would have your copy of A3 to comment on, Stiff! Mike, maybe if I try real hard with my crystal balls, you can see it, too! :vfunny: :ko: :smokin:

My home e-mail is

Martin.Greenaway@tesco.net

No spam or hate mail please.

PS Is it true that the Japs are on A2 now ? :biglaugh:

Quality-1,

It has been around for years but it is just the same as 8D, maybe just a little revised.

As is said, "if not invented here"...........

My home e-mail is

Martin.Greenaway@tesco.net

No spam or hate mail please.

PS Is it true that the Japs are on A2 now ? :biglaugh:
You might want to take your e-mail address out of the post and in your user options make it 'visible'. That way no e-mail 'bots' can get it by scanning messages and people can still e-mail you through the forum software form by clicking the e-mail link on each of your posts.

Just wanted to show another example. These are proposal A3's we have done.

It is not the paper size, it is the way you arrange the ideas in that paper size, it could have been, letter report or A1,2 etc, but the bigest size a printer handle is the A3, and tought it is a good size not to big or too small where you could put all the information and get a clear idea of a problem.

It's also not a problem solving approach or method - it's a method for reporting the results in a single page. Honda has used this approach for years for reports to management. It can make report outs in large rooms using a projector quite humorous if you're not sitting in the front!

you will still need to use teh appropriate problem solving method(s) as dictated by the Problem...which may be many pages and files depending on the complexity of the Problem, you just get one A3 sized piece of paper to summarize your work...by the way, companies like GE etc. use a similar report style for management report outs. They are called "4-Ups"

No magic to A3.

I think the A3 report is a great communication tool, and I have started using it widely in my engineering department to report on just about everything. I am curious to find out how other A3 users update the document (if at all). For example, do you create/print different A3 reports each time your team meets for a review (in the same way you would publish meeting minutes each time you meet), or do you keep one A3 document through the duration of the project and update it with new information as the project evolves? Does anyone know how the document is used at Toyota (where the format was originated)? I can see pros and cons for each method . . . by logging different versions of the same A3 you keep a history of the revisions in the projects and the thought process behind them; however, this method could lead to overload of documents to keep track of. On the other hand, by revising the same document, the A3 report could evolve into something completely different at the end of the project compared to what it looked like in the beginning. I am looking forward to view all of your comments!
Al

Greetings people ! Newbie here. Need to know more about this A3 thing. Randy, you mentioned you are most familiar with using the A3 for proposals. Would you have an example you could post as you did with the problem oriented one? That one really opened my eyes and in my business without question our engineering department really needs to become more involved with production. Thanks for any help. Vern.

Thanks, Randy. I found your A-3 report very useful.

Regards,

Ramesh

This is alson known as a PPS = Practical problem solving as Toyota came to our company to train us in this this is the 1st time i have head it refered to as A3