ABSTRACT
The A3 report is a powerful tool. It establishes a concrete structure to implement PDCA management. It helps draw the report author(s) to a deeper understanding of the problem or opportunity, and it gives insight into how to address that problem. It facilitates cohesion and alignment within the organization as to the best course of action. But as with any tool, one must know how to use an A3 report. As mentioned in the introduction, the tool itself is less important than the thinking promoted by using it. Therefore, without the broader picture in mind, even strict adherence to the guidelines for A3 report writing presented in later chapters would miss the point, resulting in adherents who value form over substance.
