PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act), also known as the Deming Cycle, is an iterative four-step problem-solving process used in quality control that is at the core of the Toyota Motor Corporation's success. Also part of its corporate culture is the 3A report, a one- page report on the PDCA process. Sobek (industrial and management engineering, Montana State U.) and Smalley (president of a consulting firm who was involved in the startup of Toyota facilities outside Japan) trace Toyota's adoption of this process in detail. The appendix provides an example of a problem-solving A3 report as a solution to an exercise found in one of the chapters. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)