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Anatomy of an A3 Report ˜ÊœÕÀʏˆÃÌʜvÊ>V̈ۈ̈iÃ]Ê>ÊviÜʈÌi“ÃÊ>ÀiÊ>Ü>ÞÃÊÜ>ÃÌi\ÊÃÌ>ÌÕÃʓiï˜}Ã]ÊÈ}˜‡œvvÃ]ÊÃÕ««ˆiÀʘi}œÌˆ>̈œ˜Ã]ÊÃ>iÃʓ>ÌiÀˆ>Ã°Ê/…iÊ>VÌʜvÊ

Focusing Knowledge for Better Decision-making Elements of an«Ài«>Àˆ˜}Ê̅iÊLÕȘiÃÃÊV>Ãiʅ>ÃÊܓiÊii“i˜ÌÃÊ̅>ÌÊVÀi>ÌiÊÛ>ÕiÊ­VÕÃ̜“iÀÊÀiÃi>ÀV…®Ê>˜`ʜ̅iÀÃÊ̅>ÌÊ`œ˜½ÌÊ­«Ài«>Àˆ˜}Ê>ÊØ>ââÞÊ«Ài‡
A3 Proposal
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Proposals analyze a problem, then present a recommended course of action. The overall objective of the proposal is to make our
̈œ˜]Ê`iÈ}˜]Ê̜œˆ˜}ʇÊ>``ÊÛ>ÕiÊ̜Ê̅iÊiÝÌi˜ÌÊ̅>ÌÊ̅iÞÊiˆÌ…iÀÊ}i˜iÀ>ÌiʜÀÊṎˆâiʜÕÀÊLiÃÌÊ>Û>ˆ>Liʎ˜œÜi`}iÊ>LœÕÌÊ̅iÊVÕÃ̜“iÀ
KEY TAKEAWAYS thinking about the problem and its solution more visible, so that we can have effective discussion and a robust, timely decision that
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sticks. Proposals include these elements:

• A3 reports present the essential information about one focused subject on a single large sheet œÊœ˜iÊV>ˆ“ÃÊ̅>ÌÊ>ÊÜ>ÃÌiÊV>˜ÊœÀÊŜՏ`ÊLiÊiˆ“ˆ˜>Ìi`°Ê Ûi˜Ê"…˜œÊÀiVœ}˜ˆâi`Ê̅>ÌÊܓiÊÜ>ÃÌiʈÃʘiViÃÃ>ÀÞÊÜ>ÃÌi°Ê½“ʘœÌÊÃÕ}‡
❏ Background, Current State or Situation Analysis: a description of the current conditions. Wherever possible, include
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of paper, using visual models to deepen shared understanding.
a œÜiÛiÀ]Ê>ʏi>˜ÊœÀ}>˜ˆâ>̈œ˜Ê>VŽ˜œÜi`}iÃÊ̅>ÌÊ̅iÊVÕÃ̜“iÀÊ`œiؽÌÊV>ÀiÊ>LœÕÌÊ̅iÊÃ>iÃÊvœÀiV>ÃÌʜÀʅœÜʓ>˜ÞÊÈ}˜>ÌÕÀiÃʈÌÊ̜œŽ
picture of the problem - a photograph or a schematic drawing.
• Three types of A3 reports share some standard elements but allow for flexibility. ̜Ê}iÌÊ̅iÊv՘`ˆ˜}ÊvœÀÊ>Ê«ˆœÌÊÀii>Ãi°Ê
ʏi>˜ÊœÀ}>˜ˆâ>̈œ˜ÊÃÌÀi>“ˆ˜iÃÊ̅œÃiÊ«ÀœViÃÃiÃÊ>ÃʓÕV…Ê>ÃÊ«œÃÈLi°
❏ Root Cause Analysis: what are the root causes that have led to the current situation?
• The A3 format is highly versatile so long as documents follow the principles of focus, brevity
and visual models. ❏ Data organized into a graph or chart of some kind. This may be part of the Current State or a separate section de-
pending upon whatever works best for the audience.
❏
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Alternatives: what are the possibilities that we considered? We include a summary of the alternatives we considered,
What is an A3 report? including ones we have discarded, to enrich our discussion about the recommendation.
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A3 reports get their name from the paper size used to print them. In their purest form, they are reports written on a single sheet of
A3 (or 11” x 17”) paper. This is a paper size that works well for presenting the essential elements of a single idea, with enough in- ❏ Recommendations: what would we do and why?
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formation to make a decision about it. Letter size is too small - one can’t get enough on it and maintain readability. Larger sizes ❏ FutureŽ˜œÜi`}iʈÃÊi>ÃÞÊ̜ÊV>«ÌÕÀi]Êi>ÃÞÊ̜Êw˜`Ê>˜`Ê>Ü>ÞÃÊÕÃi`Ê̜ʓ>ŽiÊ`iVˆÃˆœ˜Ã°
State picture: what will things look like after we’re done?
contain too much information, and the large format paper can become unwieldy. An 11 x 17 document is just right - it has enough ❏ Implementation plan with action items, dates, owners, cost, issues and metrics.
/…iÊÜ>ÃÌiʜvÊiÝViÃÃÊÀiµÕˆÀi“i˜ÌÃ\Êi>˜Ê«Àœ`ÕVÌÊ`iÛiœ«“i˜ÌÊÌi>“ÃÊÀiVœ}˜ˆâiÊ̅>ÌÊiÛiÀÞÊiÝÌÀ>Êvi>ÌÕÀiʓÕÃÌÊLiÊ`iÈ}˜i`]Ê
room for a concise chunk of knowledge, and it fits within the average person’s field of vision. The readers may focus on one part at a
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This may seem
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like a lot of information for a single sheet of paper. In practice, the proposal contains just a summary of the data, root
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time, but they can always see the whole. Some teams use on-line versions of A3 reports. While they may appear quite different,
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they contain the same elements and emphasis on visual knowledge. causes, alternatives
2<6*,=6,)><?@A)B!*2C=AD@ and implementation plan. It may serve as the executive summary for a more comprehensive proposal with more
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label for your report. quickly scan the document to get a picture of the team’s
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Some basic elements appear on every report: Theme: How does battery life affect robot performance for timed missions?
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Battery Performance for Timed Missions
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❏ Project goals and objectives
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❏ Title Background:
The ORTOP LEGO Robotics Tournament is a robot design competition for children ages 9 - 14. The
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Trade Off
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❏ Author’s name and contact information what do you fied set of missions. The robots must navigate across a playing field about the size of a pool table,
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‘These common elements help the reader identify at The robots use an RCX controller that contains the programming unit and the batteries. The RCX
standard LEGO Robot over battery life.
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The first curve comes from the datasheet for an Energizer AA battery, showing the voltage drop over the life of
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obtained. Ways to use A3 reports
a glance whether or not the report is of interest to Root Cause Analysis:
what's causing the
has the ability to operate the robot!s motors at a specified power level for specified periods of time.
Some children use this feature to navigate, telling the robots to move forward for ten seconds, then
turn for two seconds, then move forward for five seconds, etc. However, this is not a reliable way to
batteries in a LEGO RCX unit.
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set of batteries in an electronic game. The second shows the predicted drop in motor speed over the life of the
•Describe a problem
them, and find out where to go for more informa- problem? This one is a navigate because the motor!s speed can vary from round to round.
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will test our predictions as follows:
•Present a new product concept P/'.*J*":*J

̽ÃʘœÌÊ>Ü>ÞÃÊi>ÃÞÊ̜ʎ˜œÜÊ܅i̅iÀʜÀʘœÌÊ>Ê}ˆÛi˜Ê>V̈ۈÌÞʈÃÊÛ>ÕiÊVÀi>̈˜}]ʘiViÃÃ>ÀÞÊÜ>ÃÌiʜÀÊ՘˜iViÃÃ>ÀÞÊÜ>ÃÌi°Ê7iÊV>˜˜œÌÊÀiÞÊ
--Program a robot to navigate forward for 30 seconds under full power. Repeat until the batteries are dead.
Causal Diagram, a format •Propose a technical solution
tion. Visual models and pictures are, as they say, Õ«œ˜Ê`iÃVÀˆ«Ìˆœ˜ÃʜvÊÜ>ÃÌiÊ̅>ÌÊÜiÊw˜`ʈ˜Êi>˜Ê>˜Õv>VÌÕÀˆ˜}Ê}Ո`iLœœŽÃ°
Root Cause Analysis Consistent Object
+ --Measure the distance the robot travels in each trial.
invented by Dr. Allen Placement

worth a thousand words each. Ward for engineers.

By using the same robot and brand of batteries, we will keep weight, motor speed and construction techniques
Countermeasures: •Capture knowledge from past programs
Consistent Playing constant.
Other types of Root Consistent Starting
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Field + ,iܜÀŽÊˆÃÊ>Ê}œœ`ÊiÝ>“«i°Ê˜Ê“>˜Õv>VÌÕÀˆ˜}]ÊÀiܜÀŽÊˆÃÊ>“œÃÌÊ>Ü>ÞÃÊ>˜Êˆ˜`ˆV>̜ÀʜvÊ՘˜iViÃÃ>ÀÞÊÜ>ÃÌi°Ê ÕÌÊ̅iÊ«Àˆ˜Vˆ«iʜvÊVœ˜Ìˆ˜Õ‡
how can we live •Describe a product family’s architecture
Point
within our design
Cause Analysis also Reliable Navigation œÕÃʈ“«ÀœÛi“i˜ÌÊ>ÃÃՓiÃÊ̅>ÌÊ>Êi>˜Ê>˜Õv>VÌÕÀˆ˜}Ê}ÀœÕ«Ê܈ÊVœ˜ÃÌ>˜ÌÞÊÀiܜÀŽÊ̅iˆÀÊ«ÀœViÃÃiÃÊ>˜`Ê̜œˆ˜}Ê̜Êiˆ“ˆ˜>ÌiÊÜ>ÃÌiÊ>˜`Ê
•Explain an organization’s mission
Elements of a Knowledge Sharing work. Battery Life
+
Robot Movement Countermeasures:
space or alter it?
ˆ“«ÀœÛiÊyœÜ°Ê/…iÊ«Àœ`ÕVÌÊ`iÈ}˜Ê…>ÃʓÕV…Ê“œÀiʈ˜ÊVœ““œ˜Ê܈̅Ê̅iʓ>˜Õv>VÌÕÀˆ˜}Ê«ÀœViÃÃÊ̅>˜ÊˆÌÊ`œiÃÊ܈̅Ê̅iÊ«Àœ`ÕVÌʈÌÃiv°
•Charter a project team
Consistency

Report
The picture at left shows the elements of an A3
report for sharing knowledge - in this case, how
battery life affects a robot’s ability to navigate using
timed movements.
+
+ Speed
Here are some strategies for adapting to the change in power over the life of the batteries:
•Present market research and customer data

ÊviÜʅœÕÀÃʜvÊÀiܜÀŽÊ̜ʈ˜VœÀ«œÀ>ÌiʘiÜʎ˜œÜi`}iʈ˜ÌœÊ>Ê`iÈ}˜ÊV>˜ÊVÀi>ÌiÊÛ>Õi°Ê-œ“iÊÀiܜÀŽ]ÊÃÕV…Ê>ÃÊVœÀÀiV̈˜}ÊV>VՏ>̈œ˜ÊiÀ‡
--Begin each competition round with a fresh set of batteries (one can use rechargeable batteries to minimize
Consistency the environmental impact of this choice).
Motor
Consistency
References: what •Communicate experimental results
ÀœÀÃ]ʈÃÊÜ>ÃÌivՏ°Ê-œ“ï“iÃÊÀiܜÀŽÊV>˜Ê…>ÛiÊÀˆ««iÊivviVÌÃÊ̅>ÌÊV>˜ViÊœÕÌÊ̅iÊ«œÌi˜Ìˆ>ÊÛ>Õi°Êi>˜Ê«Àœ`ÕVÌÊ`iÛiœ«“i˜ÌÊÌi>“ÃÊV>˜ÊÃi
--Use a rotation sensor to count wheel rotations to measure distance.
--Use a light sensor to detect marks on the playing field to assist with navigation.
data sources did
•Analyze trade-off decisions
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you use?
References
Star Batteries FAQ: http://www.starbatteries.com/batteryfaqs.html
•Document a standard procedure or test
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Energizer AA Battery Technical Datasheet: http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/e91.pdf
© 2005 Whittier Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Theme: How does battery life affect robot performance for timed missions? Battery Performance for Timed Missions
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The ORTOP LEGO Robotics Tournament is a robot design competition for children ages 9 - 14. The I;/ Curves
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officials take many steps to ensure consistency of object placement within the playing field between
competition rounds.
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Predicted drop in distance travelled per unit time by a
standard LEGO Robot over battery life.
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The robots use an RCX controller that contains the programming unit and the batteries. The RCX The first curve comes from the datasheet for an Energizer AA battery, showing the voltage drop over the life of
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set of batteries in an electronic game. The second shows the predicted drop in motor speed over the life of the
has the ability to operate the robot!s motors at a specified power level for specified periods of time.
Some children use this feature to navigate, telling the robots to move forward for ten seconds, then batteries in a LEGO RCX unit.
turn for two seconds, then move forward for five seconds, etc. However, this is not a reliable way to
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will test our predictions as follows: P/'.*J*":*J
navigate because the motor!s speed can vary from round to round.
--Program a robot to navigate forward for 30 seconds under full power. Repeat until the batteries are dead.
Root Cause Analysis Consistent Object
+ --Measure the distance the robot travels in each trial.
Placement
By using the same robot and brand of batteries, we will keep weight, motor speed and construction techniques
Consistent Playing constant.
+
Consistent Starting Field +
Point
Reliable Navigation
Battery Life Robot Movement Countermeasures:
+
Consistency
+ Here are some strategies for adapting to the change in power over the life of the batteries:

+ Speed --Begin each competition round with a fresh set of batteries (one can use rechargeable batteries to minimize
Consistency the environmental impact of this choice).
Motor --Use a rotation sensor to count wheel rotations to measure distance.
Consistency --Use a light sensor to detect marks on the playing field to assist with navigation.

References
Star Batteries FAQ: http://www.starbatteries.com/batteryfaqs.html

© 2005 Whittier Consulting Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Energizer AA Battery Technical Datasheet: http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/e91.pdf

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