Continuous
Improvement tools
are
available
for
download
to
assist
you
with
projects
within
your
department.
These tools
can
be
used
for
brainstorming
sessions
and
are
best
used
within
a
group.
We
will
add
tools
to
this
page
as
we
move
forward
with
Continuous
Improvement
initiatives
and
knowledge-sharing
across
campus.
A3
An
A3
is an
action
plan
on
a
single
piece
of
paper
(typically
11x17,
thus
the
name).
It
is
used
for
keeping
track
of
metrics,
goals,
action
items,
their
associated
deadlines,
and
the
individual
who
is
accountable
for
each
item.
Essentially,
an
A3 serves
as
a
visual
report
that
includes
status
for
each
action
item
as
well
as
the
overall
project/process.
Instructions:
Use
the
Rapid
Idea
Implementation
Card
in
conjunction
with
the
Fishbone Diagram to
identify the
root
cause
of
a
problem. This
will
allow you
to
create
a
framework
to
build
an
improvement
plan.
Instructions:
The
head
of
the
fish
is
the
problem
that
needs
to
be
solved,
and
the
skeleton
denotes
the
different
causes
that
contribute
to
the
problem.
Begin with
phrasing the
problem
in
the
form
of
a
question
and
rate potential
causes
according
to
their
level
of
importance
and
hierarchy.
As
a
group,
brainstorm
factors
that
contribute
to
each
cause
and
break
things
down
by
asking
'why'
until
you
no
longer
can.
A
Personal
Kanban
Board
is about
visualization:
understanding
what
is
going
on,
sharing
this
understanding,
and
learning
from
doing.
This
process
allows
us
to
be
flexible
and
more
creative,
and
to
examine
what
we’ve
done
and
look
for
patterns
that
emerge.