Excel template
A3 Problem Solving Toolkit
The whole improvement project on one A3 page: problem solving, action plan, KPIs, risks and weekly status
A3 report template for Excel that builds itself: fill in Problem Solving (5W2H, IS / IS NOT, Pareto, Ishikawa, 5 Why), the Action Plan, KPIs and the Weekly Status, and the one-page A3 Report, dashboard and closing report update. 10 tabs, 150 actions, 40 risks, 52 weeks. Example and blank file, no macros.
- One-page A3 report that fills itself from the other tabs (11x17 / A3 landscape)
- 5W2H, IS / IS NOT, auto-sorted Pareto, Ishikawa 6M with cause status, three 5-Why chains
- Action plan: 150 rows with PDCA phase, % done, auto Gantt, overdue flags and days late
- Risk register: 40 risks, initial vs residual heat map, top 5 on the A3
- 4 KPIs with 52 weeks of actuals and a weekly RAG status for 6 dimensions
- Dashboard and closing report with ROI, payback and sign-off
Secure checkout by Polar. Digital download: at checkout you agree to immediate delivery and waive the 14-day withdrawal right, so downloads are not refunded. Support: info@qmbench.com.
Free alternativeTry the free online tool firstThe free A3 Report on QM Bench runs in your browser with a PDF report. The template is for a file you keep, edit and fill with your own data.Open the free toolWhat is inside
- 1
Start Here
Quick guide, 6 steps and the colour legend.
- 2
Setup
Project data, dates, team (feeds every Owner dropdown), timeline scale and lists.
- 3
A3 Report
Background, AS-IS with Pareto, TO-BE and KPIs, root causes, scope, team, milestone Gantt, top 5 risks with heat map, budget, KPI trend, RAG status, decisions and approval on one page.
- 4
Problem Solving
5W2H problem statement, IS / IS NOT, auto-sorted Pareto, Ishikawa 6M with Suspected / Under Review / Verified / Ruled Out, three 5-Why chains and root cause verification.
- 5
Action Plan
150 countermeasures with PDCA phase, owner, priority, dates, % done, days late, OVERDUE flag and Gantt bars.
- 6
Risk Register
40 risks with likelihood x impact scoring, rating, mitigation and residual risk, plus both heat maps.
- 7
KPI Tracker
4 KPIs with baseline and target, 52 weeks of actuals and trend charts; works for lower-is-better and higher-is-better.
- 8
Weekly Status
Weekly RAG for overall, schedule, cost, scope, resources and quality, plus commentary; the latest row feeds the A3.
- 9
Dashboard
8 live KPI tiles and charts: selected KPI, burn-up, actions by status, workload by owner, open risks.
- 10
Closing Report
Results vs targets, achieved results, open items handover, sustain checklist, lessons learned, ROI, payback and sign-off.
Try the template in your browser
A simplified copy of the A3 action plan and KPI tracking: overall progress, overdue actions in red and how far the KPI has moved from baseline to target.
DemoIllustrative preview with example data, not the template itself. The Excel file has more rows, tabs, charts and checks.
| Action | Owner | % done | Due | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Done | ||||
| Open | ||||
| Open | ||||
| Open |
| KPI | |
| Baseline | |
| Target | |
| Actual |
The toolkit has the full A3 page (background, current state, goal, root cause, countermeasures, follow-up), a project charter, risk list, weekly status and KPI charts.
The A3 builds itself
Root causes, top risks, KPI trend, milestones and the latest status are pulled into the one-page A3 report automatically, so the review page is always current.
Problem solving with evidence
Type the defect counts and the Pareto sorts itself. Mark each fishbone cause Suspected, Under Review, Verified or Ruled Out and carry three 5-Why chains to a root cause you can act on.
Actions and risks under control
Every action gets a PDCA phase, % done, days late and a Gantt bar; overdue actions turn red. Risks are scored before and after mitigation and the top 5 appear on the A3.
Honest scope
An Excel workbook, not a copy of any customer-specific form. No macros. In Google Sheets data entry works, but some charts and formatting may differ. The Blank file uses TODAY() as status date; type a fixed date to freeze a report.
Who it is for
- Quality engineers and quality managers
- Continuous improvement, Lean and Six Sigma practitioners
- Manufacturing and process engineers running kaizen or scrap reduction projects
- Teams that need structured problem solving per IATF 16949 clause 10.2.3 or ISO 9001 clause 10.2
Not included
- A copy of any customer-specific form
- Macros, VBA or add-ins
- Identical charts in Google Sheets (data entry works, some charts differ)
Details
- Format
- Microsoft Excel .xlsx, 2 files, 10 tabs
- Works in
- Excel 2010 or newer, Microsoft 365, Excel for Mac, LibreOffice Calc
- Macros
- None
- Rows
- 150 actions, 40 risks, 4 KPIs x 52 weeks, 52 status weeks
- One page on A3 or 11x17 landscape
- Standard
- IATF 16949:2016 10.2.3, ISO 9001:2015 10.2
- Delivery
- Instant download after payment
Frequently asked questions
›Where do I buy it?
Here on QM Bench with the Buy button: secure card checkout by Polar with a receipt, and the two Excel files arrive by e-mail right after payment.
›Is there a free alternative?
Yes. The free A3 report tool on QM Bench builds an A3 in your browser with a PDF. The Excel toolkit adds the action plan, risk register, KPI tracking, weekly status, dashboard and closing report in a file you keep.
›Can I get a refund?
No. It is a digital download: at checkout you agree to immediate delivery and waive the 14-day right of withdrawal, and the file stays with you. If something does not work as described, write to info@qmbench.com and you will get help or a corrected file.
Get the A3 Problem Solving Toolkit
Instant download by e-mail after payment. Paste your measurements and read the verdict.
Buy now · €9.99Or try the free online tool first →