PDCA CYCLE (PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACTION CYCLE)

A) PLAN

1. Establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with the expected output (the target or goals).

2. By establishing output expectations, the completeness and accuracy of the specification is also a part of the targeted improvement.


B) DO

1. Implement the plan, execute the process, and implement.

2. Collect data for charting and analysis in the following "CHECK" and "ACTION" steps.


C) CHECK

1. Study the actual results (measured and collected in "DO" above) and compare against the expected results (targets or goals from the "PLAN") to ascertain any differences.

2. Look for deviation in implementation from the plan and also look for the appropriateness and completeness of the plan to enable the execution, i.e., "Do".

3. Charting data can make this much easier to see trends over several PDCA cycles and in order to convert the collected data into information.

4. Information is what you need for the next step "ACTION".


D) ACTION

1. If the CHECK shows that the PLAN that was implemented in DO is an improvement to the prior standard (baseline), then that becomes the new standard (baseline) for how the organization should ACTION going forward.

2. If the CHECK shows that the PLAN that was implemented in DO is not an improvement, then the existing standard (baseline) will remain in place.

3. In either case, if the CHECK showed something different than expected (whether better or worse), then there is some more learning to be done and that will suggest potential future PDCA cycles.

4. Note that some who teach PDCA assert that the ACTION involves making adjustments or corrective actions but generally it would be counter to PDCA thinking to propose and decide upon alternative changes without using a proper PLAN phase, or to make them the new standard (baseline) without going through DO and CHECK steps.

E. WHEN TO USE PDCA CYCLE?

1. As a model for continuous improvement.

2. When starting a new improvement project.

3. When developing a new or improved design of a process, product or service.

4. When defining a repetitive work process.

5. When planning data collection and analysis in order to verify and prioritize problems or root causes.

6. When implementing any change.