Any work environment has the potential to yield process issues and bottle necks that will compound and reduce productivity. To address process issues, Toyota has developed the 3A report, a simple and elegant storyboard that depicts the following seven actions in sequential order: process environment, current issues, desired outcomes, analysis, actions, plan, and benchmarks for determining success.
My interpretation of the 3A report is that they are tailored to addressing process issues in a simple sale pitch fashion. The fashion at which that information is conveyed will be unique to the target audience. A 3A report attempting to resolve an engineering or technical issue to an engineer or manager will less simplistic by assuming a particular experience level and thus convey a greater details in the problem description and solutions. An Assembly or laborer would require simplistic details and information to be effective, hopefully the problem that is expected to be resolved by them is equally simplistic.
Regardless of the target audience, a quick presentation is ideal because time is a premium at work and if that attention of the reader is not attained within the first 5 seconds, likely they would discard the message and nothing would be accomplished. 3A reports implement story board illustrations and process frustrations, these key features draw a reader to key points and flow sequentially to that conclusions where the readers responsibilities will stem from. The critical thinking and contemplation is relatively minimal since the writer has already fed the analysis through the story.
Lastly, the desired action and analysis MUST be accurate and correct in addressing the particular problem. Otherwise, fault finding and reduced credibility in 3A report will hinder effectiveness future reports produced.
I do not have too much to add you were pretty thorough, but as someone who does a lot of reporting for senior management I can definitely appreciate the A3 report's readability and succinctness, which you highlighted.
ReplyDeleteGood summary Luke. Any other thoughts on the A3 Report other than their effectiveness as quick, storyboard-type solutions to presenting issues?
ReplyDeleteFor a manager to produce a 3A report, a great deal of reflection is required in identifying the root cause before a solution can be suggested. The added benefit of these reports is they may lead to introspection on the part of the managers/writer on where they fit into the process successes. However, producing an effective 3A report is contingent on the document being followed up by process champions and no-counter interests on the part of managers, else the 3A's is doomed!
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