What is A3 problem solving software?

Software that replaces the paper or spreadsheet A3 with a shared digital one. The A3 keeps its boxes (background, current condition, goal, root cause, countermeasures, plan and follow-up), but countermeasures become actions with owners and due dates, reviewers are alerted when it is their turn, and finished A3s can be searched and reused instead of sitting in a drawer.

What is the best A3 problem solving software?

It depends on where the A3 sits in your program. For A3s run as tracked projects next to DMAIC, PDCA and your own methods, look at LeanSuite or KaiNexus, or Minitab Engage if your belts already use Minitab. For A3s on visual boards, look at iObeya. For A3s tied to Hoshin Kanri, look at i-nexus. LeanSuite is our product.

Do we need A3 software, or is a template enough?

A template is enough for one team writing a few A3s a year. LeanSuite publishes a free A3 template in PDF and Excel on its templates page, with a worked example. Software starts to pay off when several teams write A3s at once, when managers need to review and approve them, when countermeasures slip because nobody tracks them, or when you want to find what another plant already learned. General whiteboard tools also have A3 templates; check whether they can track countermeasures and results before you rely on one.

Can A3 software also run 8D, DMAIC or PDCA?

Most tools on this list can. LeanSuite has A3, DMAIC, PDCA, PDSA and just-do-it ready to use and lets you define your own, such as 8D, each with its own phases and workflow. KaiNexus names A3, PDSA and DMAIC, iObeya has A3, 8D and PDCA templates, and Minitab Engage has DMAIC, DFSS, PDCA and kaizen roadmaps.

Which A3 tools publish their pricing?

iObeya publishes Team+ at €3,780 per room per year. i-nexus publishes prices only for Strategy Cards; its Workbench is quoted. KaiNexus and Minitab Engage do not publish prices. LeanSuite quotes per facility with unlimited users and publishes its pilot price: 90 days for $3,000 per facility.

Why is LeanSuite first on a list that LeanSuite publishes?

Because it is our page and we would rather say so than hide it in the middle. Read it with that in mind. The other products follow in alphabetical order, each is described only from its own public pages, each entry says who it fits best, and we will correct anything a vendor or reader shows us is wrong.

How did you compare these tools?

We read each vendor's own public pages in October 2026 and used only what they publish. Where we could not find something, the table says not published, which does not mean the product lacks it. LeanSuite is our product. If something has changed, email info@theleansuite.com and we will update the page.

Buyer's guide

Best A3 problem solving software

Short answer: Start with where your A3s live today. If they are part of a wider improvement program, look at LeanSuite or KaiNexus, which run the A3 as a tracked project next to other methods, or Minitab Engage if your belts write A3s inside Lean Six Sigma projects. If they hang on a wall, iObeya puts them on digital boards, and i-nexus ties A3s to Hoshin Kanri. LeanSuite also runs DMAIC, PDCA, PDSA and your own methods, such as 8D, for any type of project. If you write a few A3s a year, a free template is enough.

Who wrote this: LeanSuite publishes this guide, and LeanSuite is one of the five products on it. It is listed first because it is our product; the others follow in alphabetical order, which is not a ranking. Every other product is described only from its own public pages, and each entry says where that product fits better than ours.

Last reviewed October 2026. Based on each vendor's public information; tell us if something has changed at info@theleansuite.com.

At a glance

LeanSuite's whole platform next to each product, capability by capability. A question mark means the vendor does not publish it or we could not verify it, not that the product lacks it; the detailed table below has the specifics.

Yes, on the vendor's own site
Partial, limited or a paid add-on
No, outside the product's published scope
Not published, or we couldn't verify it

Swipe sideways to see every product.

At a glance: Best A3 Problem Solving Software
Capability	LeanSuite	i-nexus	iObeya	KaiNexus	Minitab Engage
Continuous improvement
Any method: DMAIC, PDCA, A3, 8D or your own	Yes: Incl. your own	Yes: A3 and your templates	Yes: A3, PDCA, 8D, configurable	Yes: Incl. custom processes	Yes: Incl. your own roadmaps
Engineering and CapEx projects with stage-gates	Yes:Four stage-gates	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Non-manufacturing teams and projects	Yes: Any project type	Not published	Yes: Finance, HR	Yes: Healthcare, finance	Not published
Ideas and suggestions with configurable approvals	Yes:Approvals per idea type	Yes: Your approval workflows	Partial: Kaizen on boards	Yes	Yes: Weighted idea scoring
Savings verified before they count	Yes:Finance signs off	Partial: Financial tracking	Not published	Partial: ROI add-on	Partial: ROI dashboards
Share what worked across sites (yokoten)	Yes:Best Practice Management	Not published	Not published	Yes: Knowledge base	Not published
AI
AI root cause analysis	Yes:RCA Agent	Not published	Not published	Yes: KaiNexus Intelligence	Not published
AI time and motion study from video	Partial:Vision AI, priced separately	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Video to SOP	Yes:SOP from one video	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
AI one-point lessons (OPLs)	Yes:OPL from before-and-after photos	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
AI drafts checklists and forms	Yes:Lean Creator AI drafts	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
AI sorts and triages ideas	Yes:Lean AI	Not published	Not published	Partial: Summaries	Not published
Frontline operations
Daily issue management with tier escalation	Yes:F-Tags, escalation	Not published	Partial: Issue cards on boards	Partial: Improvement items	Not published
Tiered meetings and huddle boards	Yes:Lean Studio	Not published	Yes	Yes	Not published
Audits and checklists (5S, LPA, CILR), scheduled	Yes:Daily Standard Work scheduling	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Breakdown reporting and maintenance work orders	Yes:EWO; works alongside a CMMS	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Skills and training
Live skills matrix	Yes:Competency Management	Not published	Not published	Partial: Certification tracking	Not published
Job cover matrix: who can cover each job	Yes:Job Cover Matrix	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Training (LMS): courses, quizzes, learning plans	Yes:Trainings (LMS)	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
SOP and OPL sign-off per person	Yes:Signed on a tablet	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Data and platform
KPI dashboards	Yes:KPI Dashboards	Yes: Scorecards	Yes	Yes	Yes
SSO and a security certification	Yes:SOC 2 Type 1; Entra ID, Okta	Yes: ISO 27001; Enterprise	Yes: ISO 27001	Yes: SOC 2 Type 2	Not published
Operator sign-in with an employee ID, no email	Yes:Employee ID	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published
Free plan or published prices	Yes:Free plan for ideas	Yes: Strategy Cards free to 5	Yes: Per room	No: Quote only	Not published
Mobile app (iOS and Android)	Yes:iOS and Android	Not published	Yes	Yes	Not published

Based on each vendor's public website, reviewed October 2026; tell us if something has changed at info@theleansuite.com.

How we chose these tools

A3 problem solving software takes the one-page A3 (background, current condition, goal, root cause, countermeasures, plan and follow-up) off paper, so it can be shared, reviewed, tracked to closure and found again later. Each product on this list meets all of these:

A3 is a named feature
The vendor's own pages or help center name an A3 form, template or module. A blog post about A3 thinking is not enough.
More than a blank form
Countermeasures become actions with owners, or the A3 sits in a project with a workflow, so it can be followed to the end.
Built for improvement work
Continuous improvement, lean or operations teams are a main market. General whiteboards with an A3 template are covered in the FAQ.
Still sold in 2026
A live product page with a way to buy, trial or book a demo. Where we found no dated 2026 release, our sources log says so.
Public information
Enough on the vendor's own pages to describe what its A3 does. Where pricing or security is not published, the table says so.

Five A3 problem solving tools: LeanSuite first, then alphabetical

1. LeanSuite
Lean manufacturing software where A3 is one of the ready-made methods in Kaizen & Projects, next to DMAIC, PDCA, PDSA and just-do-it, and you can define your own, such as 8D or a company method, with its own phases. Each project type gets its own workflow: for every step you set who can move the A3 on, what must be filled in first and who is alerted next. Each phase holds sections from a library (5 Whys, 5W1H, 4M1D, fishbone, 5G, MTTR or failure curve, or your own built in Lean Creator), and the RCA Agent drafts a 5 Whys, 4M1D and fishbone from the problem, your attached manuals and SOPs, and your plant's past problems. Countermeasures become actions with owners and due dates on a Gantt timeline, presentation mode turns the A3 into slides with your logo for the review, and it exports as a PDF. Savings are tracked against plant targets, and a DMAIC project can't close until Finance verifies its savings. An approved idea or a failed audit question can become a new project in the same platform. One flat price per facility with unlimited users; a 90-day pilot costs $3,000 per facility.
Best for: Plants that want A3s run as tracked projects with a workflow, AI help on root causes and verified savings, alongside every other method they use.
LeanSuite Kaizen & Projects
2. i-nexus
Strategy execution software that calls itself an AI-powered strategy operating system. Its Workbench tracks A3 root cause analysis and countermeasures and links improvement projects to strategic priorities with the X-matrix and Hoshin Kanri, with KPIs on scorecards and bowling charts. It is hosted on AWS and holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification; the Enterprise plan is deployed with single sign-on. Strategy Cards, its strategy-creation tool, is free for up to 5 users and $28 per user per month on Standard; Workbench pricing is quoted.
Best for: Organizations where A3s are part of Hoshin Kanri strategy deployment, run from an OpEx office.
i-nexus website
3. iObeya
A digital Obeya and visual management platform that calls itself an Enterprise OpEx Platform. Its templates digitize A3s, 8Ds and Hoshin alongside tier boards, and PDCA cycles, A3s and escalations run in the same visual system as the KPIs teams review. It runs as SaaS, in a private cloud or on-premises, states ISO/IEC 27001 certification and supports SAML single sign-on. Team+ is published at €3,780 per room per year; Enterprise is quoted.
Best for: Teams that like the A3 on the wall and want the same thing on digital boards and in Obeya rooms.
LeanSuite vs iObeya iObeya website
4. KaiNexus
Continuous improvement software founded in 2009, with a page dedicated to A3 software. You configure the A3 template and workflow to match your process, build a team around each A3 and get notified as it moves; leaders can drill into any A3 and see the impact of A3s across the organization, and anyone can find a past A3 with a keyword search. A3s sit next to ideas, PDSA and DMAIC projects, daily management and strategy deployment, and KaiNexus Intelligence summarizes records and coaches root cause analysis. It is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and supports SAML 2.0 single sign-on, with iOS and Android apps. Pricing is quoted.
Best for: Organizations in healthcare, finance or manufacturing that want every A3 searchable and its impact rolled up company-wide.
LeanSuite vs KaiNexus KaiNexus website
5. Minitab Engage
Continuous improvement and idea management software from Minitab, the statistics software company. Its A3 form, built from subforms such as a header, the current state and the root cause analysis, tells the story of a problem inside an Engage project, with value stream maps, Pareto charts and other charts added to it. Projects follow DMAIC, DFSS, PDCA or kaizen event roadmaps, or your own, with fishbone diagrams, Five Whys, SIPOC and FMEA inside each project, and output from Minitab Statistical Software can be sent straight into a project. Pricing is through sales, not published. Minitab lists ISO 27001:2022 in its trust center.
Best for: Lean Six Sigma programs that write A3s inside their projects and analyze data in Minitab.
Minitab Engage website

The five tools side by side

From each vendor's public pages and help centers. "Not published" means we could not find it publicly, not that the product lacks it.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

The five tools side by side
Capability	LeanSuite	i-nexus	iObeya	KaiNexus	Minitab Engage
A3 problem solving
Main focus	Lean management modules for plants	Strategy execution and Hoshin Kanri	Digital Obeya and visual management	Continuous improvement across industries	Lean Six Sigma projects and ideas
The A3 itself	Ready-made A3 method you can adjust	A3 root cause analysis and countermeasures	A3 templates on digital boards	Configurable A3 template and workflow	A3 form built from subforms
Other methods	DMAIC, PDCA, PDSA, just-do-it, or your own such as 8D	Your own templates	8D and PDCA templates	PDSA, DMAIC; events and projects	DMAIC, DFSS, PDCA, kaizen, or your own
Root cause analysis	5 Whys, 4M1D and fishbone sections; RCA Agent drafts them	A3 root cause analysis	Not published	KaiNexus Intelligence coaches root cause analysis	Fishbone, Five Whys, FMEA
Countermeasures and follow-up	Actions with owners on a Gantt; late phases alert the owner	Countermeasures tracked	PDCA and escalations on the board	A team per A3; notifications	Tasks and metrics in the A3
Sharing and review	Presentation mode slides; PDF export	Not published	Digital boards next to tier boards	Keyword search; impact rolled up	Printable subforms
Results	Savings against targets; Finance verifies DMAIC savings	Scorecards and KPI bowling charts	Live KPIs on boards	Impact of A3s across the organization	Financial summaries and ROI dashboards
Buying
Pricing	Per facility, quote; 90-day pilot $3,000	Strategy Cards free up to 5 users, $28 per user a month; Workbench quoted	Published: Team+ €3,780 per room per year	Not published	Not published
Security	SOC 2 Type 1 report; secure cloud hosting	ISO/IEC 27001:2022; AWS	ISO/IEC 27001; on-premises option	SOC 2 Type 2	ISO 27001:2022 (company trust center)
Apps	Web, iOS and Android	Works across devices	Web, iOS and Android	Web, iOS and Android	Not published

Where LeanSuite is different

This part is about our own product, so read it as LeanSuite's pitch; the entries above describe every other tool from its own pages. Each point links to the LeanSuite page that shows it.

Any method, including your own
Run DMAIC, PDCA, A3, 8D or your company's own method in the same system. The built-in A3, DMAIC and PDCA templates can be adjusted to fit your process, and each project type gets its own workflow.
Continuous improvement software
It suggests the method for the loss
When you create a project, LeanSuite suggests a method for the type of loss you are tackling, from a simple PDCA cycle to a formal A3 or a full DMAIC project.
Methodology suggestions
Improvement next to the daily work
Issues, audits, tiered meetings, skills and training sit in the same platform. A failed audit question can become a new kaizen, and when you launch a kaizen or engineering project you see who has the skills it needs.
How the modules connect
Savings that Finance has signed off
A DMAIC project can't close until Finance verifies its savings. Savings are calculated from your own labor, downtime and scrap rates, and a stage-gate can require review above a savings amount you set.
CI portfolio and ROI
A 90-day pilot at a published price
$3,000 per facility for 90 days, with the first module live in under a week. Pricing is per facility with unlimited users.
The pilot

Which one fits

A3s run as tracked projects with a workflow, AI help on root causes and verified savings, next to other methodsLeanSuite
Your A3s hang on the wall in tier and Obeya roomsiObeya
Every A3 in the company searchable, with its impact rolled upKaiNexus
A3s are part of Hoshin Kanri strategy deploymenti-nexus
Belts write A3s inside Lean Six Sigma projects and analyze data in MinitabMinitab Engage
One team writes a few A3s a yearA free A3 template in Excel or PowerPoint

Run your A3s as tracked projects

Try LeanSuite in your browser with sample data, or run it on your own lines for 90 days with the setup done by our team. If you are not ready for software, start with the free A3 template.

See it in action Start a 90-day pilot

What customers say

“Great user-friendly software! It's covering everything that WCM or similar Lean Programs are asking to do, in a very effective way.”
Elena M.Global Head of Marelli Manufacturing System Automotive, Marelli
“The Project Tracking System generates significant savings while ensuring seamless delivery... The Global Kaizen Power Pitch completely transformed our ability to share best practices.”
Ramsey AljahmiSr. Director of NAR Operations Excellence, Whirlpool Corporation
Read the case study

Next step, if you want one

What the 45-minute demo shows

For A3 problem solving, the demo builds one A3 and shows the other methods that run next to it.

Bring one process you want to fix, and how you run it today. We show the same job in LeanSuite and answer your questions.

Book a 45-minute demo Try the interactive demo first

In the demo

A kaizen event, an A3 and an engineering or CapEx project in the same system, each through its own workflow, run as DMAIC, PDCA, 8D or your own method.
The RCA Agent drafting a 5 Whys and fishbone from your problem, your manuals and past issues, with the kept countermeasures landing as owned actions.
Savings worked out from your own labor, downtime and scrap rates, and a DMAIC project that can't close until Finance verifies them.

Want to run LeanSuite on your own lines instead? The 90-day pilot is $3,000 per facility, set up by our team, with the first module live in under a week.

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