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A3 Thinking Fundamentals

Lesson 2 from Our A3 Thinking Fundamentals Online Training

Training System Modules

A3 Thinking Fundamentals
(Training Module)

$9.99 for 30 Days Access
  • Gain an understanding of what A3 Thinking is
  • Prepare to support or participate in A3 Project Teams
  • Certificate with successful completion (coming soon)
Get Access to This Training

  • Level: Advanced

    Sophisticated tool to solve complicated problems

  • Phase: 6

    Keeping Momentum
    Continue working when even with a strong structure

  • Type: VTS Module

    Part of our extensive lineup of training modules.

  • Format: Online Course

    Various lesson types to engage students.

  • Target Audience: Team Members

    People participating in A3 Projects or working for A3 oriented leaders.

  • Certification Type:
    Passed Quiz

    Must pass quiz to be issued certificate (coming soon)

  • Access: 30 Days

    Online access when purchased individually. Longer access with subs.
About this Training

Fundamentals of A3 Thinking

What is A3 Thinking?
Target Audience
Certificate Program
Key Info About the VTS
Related Content

What is A3 Thinking?

A3 Thinking is a process of team-based problem solving, generally geared towards a challenging problem that has eluded a solution by the team running the process. 
In effect, A3 Thinking, and the associated A3 report are pulled out when lesser tools fail.

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A3 Thinking combines many of the hallmarks of good Lean management with a variety of tools. It uses the PDCA cycle as its foundation, but with a far more analytical approach than typically used with Plan Do Check Act. The analysis of these problems relies on many of problem-solving tools associated with Lean (5 Whys, cause and effect diagram, Pareto charts, run charts), and the solutions for these problems often make use of improvement tools from the Lean toolkit (kanban, Standard Work, 5S).

The A3 Report is the primary method used to document and communicate progress with this problem-solving effort. It is so named because of the A3 size piece of paper that it was originally created on. In the US, it is generally done on 11 x 17 paper, which is close to A3.

Although our module is a “fundamentals” level module, it is still a sophisticated tool. You should have a solid foundation in continuous improvement tools before attempting it. And keep in mind that the typical use of the A3 report is for problem solving. With experience, you will be able to expand on how you use it by creating proposal or status A3 reports.

Who Should Take This Course?

Frontline Team Members (Select)

This training is not for all of your team members. It should be offered to team members who are...

  • Participating in A3 Project Teams
  • Working for an enthusiastic A3 oriented leader
  • An up-and-comer who is likely to be promoted

Future Project Leaders

This training is good as an introduction to future project leaders. They will need more advanced training, though, before they take on a leadership role on an A3 Project.

Project Leaders should complete the "A3 Thinking for Leaders" course prior to leading an A3 project.

Company Leaders

Company leaders should all be familiar with A3 Thinking, even if they are not going to be in a project in the immediate future.

Key Information About the Velaction Training System

Our Velaction Training System (VTS) content has evolved from our earlier Lean Training System. The same basic premise holds, though. We want to make great training that you can use any way that you need it to.

  • Let us train your team
  • Use our online presentations to train your team
  • Download our content and modify it to train your team

The goal is, as it has always been, to give you extreme flexibility in creating the training experience you want to develop the team you need.

Training Modules

At the core of our Velaction Training System are training modules. The videos are primarily made from our PowerPoint presentation. You might also find a variety of other learning options including online eBooks, downloadable content, exercises, audio programs, quizzes, and more. 

Trainer's Guides

Trainer's guides are the tools used for leaders to teach the materials to their teams. If you want to use the online presentations, this is a stand-alone product. If you want to use downloadable content, you will need to augment this content.

Access to trainer's guides is most commonly obtained via our CI Toolkit for Leaders.

Download Packs

Downloads, because they are shareable within the company, need only be purchased by a single person. This is normally done by purchasing individual items at our store, or by getting the CI Program Leader Toolkit add-on. 

What is the CI Central Certificate Program?

Our certificate are used to support your company's internal training program. They verify that team members have successfully completed the course.

This allows you to create your own custom curriculum. You can control exactly what you want your teams to learn, and can augment it with any training of your own. Sign up team members with our group program (coming soon), bulk enrollments, or have them sign up on their own.

Then, when they complete the courses you assign, they submit their certificates and you give them the credit they have earned. It makes sure that you are not wasting your team's time having them complete courses they don't need, and lets you have complete autonomy in how you want to develop their skills.

The A3 Thinking Fundamentals Certificate is coming soon.

Related Content

  • A3 Thinking for Leaders: This is a growing primer on using the A3 Thinking process.
  • Fundamentals Of A3 Thinking (Training System Module): Part of our training system, this module is designed to be a detailed introduction to the A3 Thinking process.
  • A3 Thinking Fundamentals (Trainer Download Pack): Our training system modules are designed so you can teach the materials yourself if you want to run your own program.
  • A3 Thinking Quick Reference Cards: In the often chaotic world of production, there can be a load of down time. QRCs let you capitalize on that time with 'hip pocket training' or can serve as a quick refresher as needed.

Course Content

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Velaction Training System

A3 Thinking Fundamentals Training Module

Our A3 Thinking Fundamentals Training Module is part of our Velaction Training System.

PowerPoint and other materials available separately.
  • Level: Advanced
  • Phase: 6
  • Type: VTS Learner Module
  • Access: 1 Month or in Sub

Get this content (and more) via 3-day free trial of our CI Leader Membership.

Write your awesome label here.

What is A3 Thinking?

A3 Thinking is a process of team-based problem solving, generally geared towards a challenging problem that has eluded a solution by the team running the process. 

In effect, A3 Thinking, and the associated A3 report are pulled out when lesser tools fail.
A3 Thinking combines many of the hallmarks of good Lean management with a variety of tools. It uses the PDCA cycle as its foundation, but with a far more analytical approach than typically used with Plan Do Check Act. The analysis of these problems relies on many of problem-solving tools associated with Lean (5 Whys, cause and effect diagram, Pareto charts, run charts), and the solutions for these problems often make use of improvement tools from the Lean toolkit (kanban, Standard Work, 5S).

The A3 Report is the primary method used to document and communicate progress with this problem-solving effort. It is so named because of the A3 size piece of paper that it was originally created on. In the US, it is generally done on 11 x 17 paper, which is close to A3.

Although our module is a “fundamentals” level module, it is still a sophisticated tool. You should have a solid foundation in continuous improvement tools before attempting it. And keep in mind that the typical use of the A3 report is for problem solving. With experience, you will be able to expand on how you use it by creating proposal or status A3 reports.

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