How to write a good A3
- Background and current condition with facts and data. A Pareto chart or a capability study belongs here.
- Goal: measurable, with a date.
- Root cause: use a fishbone diagram and 5 Why, then verify the cause.
- Countermeasures: one or more for each root cause, with owner and due date.
- Follow-up and results: show before and after with the same measure as in the current condition.
Frequently asked questions
›What is an A3 report?
An A3 report tells the story of a problem and its solution on a single A3 sheet: background, current condition, goal, root cause analysis, countermeasures, plan and follow-up. It comes from the Toyota Production System and is widely used in lean organisations.
›What is the difference between A3 and 8D?
8D is a customer complaint response with formal containment and closure steps. A3 is a general problem solving and improvement format, often used for internal problems and continuous improvement. Both follow the plan-do-check-act cycle.
›Can I keep several A3 reports?
Yes. All reports are listed on the left with their status and due date, and stored only in your browser. The PDF can be shared with the team or printed for the board.