SEMP | SESG August 22, 2014

1. SEMP | SESGAugust 22, 2014

2. SESG | Project scope Volvo AeroFactory Organization Principle Productioncell ”Ideal Factory” project Process / method Function Team Procedure C-SUP SE student A3 Technical Social Means Time: Jan-May 2011

3. SESG | Why A3? • SEMP - Method of choice • LEAN is hot! A3 as a mean to more LEAN thinking and doing • A3 a mean to attack and improve the “as-is” condition (communication and documentation) at VAN • VAN ”as-is”: • ”Hands-on” and verbally culture  less formalized documentation  loss in important feedback and waste of time discussing same issues many times • Meetings as means to execute teamwork  need to be effective and efficient • Information often scattered in several files, and in different formats  much time is spent finding information • The overview/context is often unclear, forgotten, or ignored • A3 thinking is a part of Volvo Production System (VPS)

4. Title Meta data System concerns A3 purpose Description of as-is situation Definitions and abbreviations General system description Some key requirements Model descriptions A3 hierarchy Introduction and background Model descriptions References

5. Title Meta data A3 purpose Description of as-is situation System challanges Definitions and abbreviations General system description Some key requirements Introduction and background Model descriptions A3 hierarchy Model descriptions References

6. Title Meta data Top-level functional Physical model Functional model System example interface Functional model System elements

7. Meta data Title A3 purpose As-is description Introduction and background Example implementation Physical data-flow model Need statement Description of concept Challenges Top-level use cases Physical model

8. SESG | Top-level findings Good way to support communication Systematic and structured way to document To much information at once Resistance to change current documentation procedures

9. SESG | Findings – Success factors Format and tools • No need for new SW, use PP/Visio • Piece ofpaper and pencil to getgoing • Not to be complete or formal

10. SESG | Findings – Blockers and limitations Format and tools • Continuingthe world ofPP-engineering • No dynamic link between A3’s if not specificmade in the PP itself, compared to eg. SysML • Resistance to change to A3 from thelovely A4

11. SESG | Findings – Success factors Visualization (A3 content) • Overview (combination ofmodels and text) • Turning tacitknowledgeintoexplicitknowledge • Createawareness and status picture fast • Trigger questions and concerns, and changes in models/views and text • Great way to spreadinformation • ”Poster effect”

12. SESG | Findings – Blockers and limitations Visualization (A3 content) • Toomuchinformation at once • Totally newwayofstructuringinformation, meaningmanyviews at once • May seemfuzzy at once, withnoclearreadingpath • No clear link betweentext A3 and model A3

13. SESG | Findings – Success factors Dynamic/focus • Inclusive by relating to theparticipants • Captureneed for changes in text/models in real-time • Great way to createattention and furtherget feedback by removingthepeople from thebig screen to the A3 onthetable • ”Force” people to prepare for meetings

14. SESG | Other findings Other findings • Modelsare ”always” thecenterofattention during sessions • Text supports theauthorwhen guiding theparticipantsthroughthe A3 • Text is oftenreadwhen A3 is given in advance • Textimportantif A3 is stored as system documentation • Somemodelsdon’tconnectwell to particular stakeholders (abstractmodels) • Force author to thinkoflevelof detail and levelofabstract

15. SESG | Recommendations • Lecture exposed/involved stakeholders on ”A3 101” • Make the A3(s) our A3’s, not mine A3 • Try to give or make A3 available before a session • Remember to guide the participants through the A3 • Included a defined area in the A3 where notes, questions, tasks, etc can be placed • Combine elements from Borches cookbook and the traditional Toyota problem solving A3 (especially visualizing the as-is and to-be) • Try to use A3 on smart board, reducing the need to print • Person responsible for A3 making must be given time to work with the A3 • Combine text and models into one A3 when dealing with smaller issues and topics • Borches cookbook as a guide to help think A3 • Experiment with A3 and PP as a mean to support specific views • Be aware to stop A3 developing when ”good enough” • Do not focus to much on specific models/views • Tools used to create is not the most important in A3 thinking