Integration of A3 into the DMAIC framework

photo credit: Craig Axxie

Although it’s easy to focus on other things at certain times of the year, for example, it appears that even Santa uses Six Sigma to help him meet his toy related delivery objectives, despite what the naysayers may have you believe. So last week, my mind wandered to the use of A3. A3 - what the heck is that?

Well, it not a trunk road in Southern England, connecting London to Portsmouth neither is it a motorway in Switzerland. It is in fact a problem solving report developed as part of the Toyota Production System which is written/sketched on an A3 piece of paper (A3 being a paper size defined by ISO 216).

Is it feasible to integrate the DMAIC framework with the A3 problem solving methodology. In essence A3 uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act approach as follows

1. Theme & Background, including problem statement
2. Current Condition (process map)
3. Root Cause Analysis
4. Target Condition
5. Implementation Plan
6. Follow-up Plan
7. Results Report

However, overlaying the DMAIC framework gives us:

DEFINE:

1. Theme & Background, including problem statement

MEASURE:

1. Current Condition (process map)

ANALYZE:

1. Root Cause Analysis

IMPROVE:

1. Target Condition
2. Implementation Plan

CONTROL:

1. Follow-up Plan
2. Results Report

I believe that this gives you a much more powerful approach than merely A3 alone. You can now use the DMAIC tools in the correct context and most appropriate stage. It also allows you to overcome some of the limitations which have been leveled at the DMAIC approach.More information on A3 can be found here and here.

What do you think? Can the approaches be integrated or are they dealing with different types of improvement: continual and breakthrough? Post a comment below.

Related Reading:

I Never Knew That About London

Moleskine Folio Plain Notebook A3 (Moleskine Srl)

Moleskine Folio Sketch Book A3 (Moleskine Srl)

Six Sigma for Green Belts and Champions: Foundations, DMAIC, Tools, Cases, and Certification (Hardcover)

1000 Things to Do in London (Time Out 1000 Things to Do in London)

 Enjoy this post? Be sure to subscribe!