Templates & guides
Free library of Lean Six Sigma templates, calculators and guides downloadable without sign-up.
- DMAIC
- 5S
- Root cause analysis
- Process mapping
- Pricing
- Free
- Deployment
- Cloud
Lean templates: A3, value stream map, 5S and kaizen formsTemplates to start practicing lean today.
Lean templates are forms and worksheets that walk you through a lean or Lean Six Sigma method one section at a time. This page lists template libraries and training sites, and the sections below match common lean manufacturing templates to the method each one supports.
Your path through this page
Showing 3 of 3 tools
1 2 Excel template library
Library of 150+ lean and Six Sigma Excel templates including VSM, FMEA, control charts and standard work.
- VSM
- FMEA
- SPC
- Standard Work
- DMAIC
- +1 more
- Pricing
- Price on request
- Deployment
- Excel add-in
3 Lean transformation templates
Set of mostly Excel templates for lean transformation, including 5S checklists, value stream mapping, kanban cards, standard work and takt calculators, in Lite and Pro versions.
- 5S
- VSM
- Kanban
- Standard Work
- Takt time
- +1 more
- Pricing
- Published pricing
- Deployment
- Desktop
The basics
About lean templates
Lean templates are ready-made forms for lean methods: A3 reports, value stream maps, 5S checklists, kanban cards, standard work sheets and more. Most come as spreadsheets or printable files.
A good template guides thinking. An A3 template, for example, walks the author through background, current condition, root cause, countermeasures and follow-up.
Pick the template for the problem in front of you. The lean tools library explains which method fits which problem.
Getting the most from it
Templates are the paper-first option. They suit a team learning a method, or a site with a few improvement projects at a time.
Move to software when many people need the same form at once, when you must track actions across sites, or when version control matters.
A path to follow
- 1Name the problem
- 2Choose the matching template
- 3Fill it in at the gemba
- 4Review it with a coach
- 5Agree a standard format
- 6Move to software at scale
How the listed options are priced
- Free: 1
- Price on request: 1
- Published pricing: 1
Lean manufacturing templates by method
An A3 template guides a problem from background to follow-up on one sheet. A value stream map template sets out the process boxes, data boxes and timeline; the value stream mapping symbols guide explains the icons.
A 5S checklist scores each area against its standard, and the 5S audit checklist guide shows what to include. Other common forms are standard work sheets, gemba walk checklists, kaizen event charters and kanban board templates.
Lean Six Sigma templates for DMAIC
Lean Six Sigma templates follow the DMAIC phases. Typical forms are a project charter and SIPOC for define, a data collection plan for measure, a fishbone diagram and five whys for analyze, an FMEA for improve and a control plan for control.
Statistical work, such as control charts and capability studies, usually needs more than a template. The process capability calculator and SPC software cover that side.
Lean templates in Excel, PowerPoint or print
Excel templates suit forms with data and calculations, such as time studies, line balancing and 5S scores. PowerPoint or other slide templates suit A3s and value stream maps that people present and discuss.
Printed templates suit work at the gemba, where people fill in a form by hand while they watch the process. Many teams use a printed version on the floor and a digital copy for the record.
Buying guide
How to choose Lean Templates
Who it's for: Teams learning a lean method, coaches who want consistent forms and sites that run a few improvement projects at a time.
What to look for
Templates that guide thinking
Prompts and sections that walk the user through the method, such as background, current condition and root cause on an A3.
Coverage of the methods you use
A3, value stream mapping, 5S, kanban, standard work and problem-solving forms, matched to your current projects.
Editable formats
Files you can adapt to your own terms, logo and layout, in a format your team already uses.
Clear reuse terms
A license that lets you copy and share the templates inside your organization.
Common mistakes
- Using templates as forms to fill in, rather than as aids to thinking at the gemba.
- Buying a large library before the team has used one template well.
- Keeping many versions of the same form, so nobody knows which one is current.
Before you choose
Questions to ask before you choose
- 1Which methods do the templates cover, and is there an example for each?
- 2Can we edit and brand the templates?
- 3What do the license terms allow inside our organization?
- 4Are updates included, and in which file formats?
FAQ
Lean Templates: common questions
Are free templates good enough?
Often yes. A template's value is in how well it guides thinking. Try free ones before paying for a library.
Which template should a team start with?
Start with the method for your current problem. An A3 suits a problem that needs root cause analysis, and a value stream map suits long lead times.
When should we move from templates to software?
When many people need the same form at once, when actions must be tracked across sites, or when version control becomes a problem.
Where can I get a free A3 template?
Several template libraries and lean training providers offer free A3 templates. The structure matters more than the design, so any clear version will do.
Can I run lean in Excel?
Many teams start that way, with spreadsheets for A3s, value stream data and audits. Software helps when many people and sites need the same data.
What is a kaizen event template?
A charter that sets the scope, team, targets and dates of a kaizen event, often with a daily plan and a report-out page.
What goes on a 5S checklist?
A few questions for each of the five S's, a score for each, space for photos and an action list with owners.
What is a SIPOC template used for?
It defines the scope of a process by listing its suppliers, inputs, process steps, outputs and customers, usually at the start of a project.
Sources
Written by the lean-stack editors following our methodology. Updated October 3, 2026.
Related categories
Lean BooksBooks on lean thinking, lean manufacturing and lean startup.Lean Six Sigma Certification & TrainingLean Six Sigma certification from white belt to master black belt, plus lean, kanban and agile training.Value Stream Mapping SoftwareVSM, process maps and simulation.Root Cause Analysis SoftwareA3, 5 Whys, fishbone and 8D problem solving.5S Audit Software5S scoring, layered process audits and gemba walks.Kaizen SoftwareKaizen tools for idea capture, events and PDCA tracking.
For vendors
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