PDCA stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, a cyclic process used for continuous improvement in business processes. It’s also known as the Deming Cycle or Shewhart Cycle. Here’s a brief overview of each step:
- Plan: Identify a goal or a problem and develop a strategy or plan to address it. This involves analyzing the current situation, setting objectives, and determining the necessary resources and actions.
- Do: Implement the plan on a small scale to test its effectiveness. This is the action phase where the planned activities are carried out.
- Check: Monitor and evaluate the results of the implemented plan. Compare the outcomes with the expected goals to see if the plan is working as intended.
- Act: Based on the analysis from the “Check” phase, make adjustments to the plan if necessary. If the plan was successful, it can be standardized and implemented on a larger scale. If not, the cycle starts again with a new or revised plan.
PDCA is widely used in quality management, process improvement, and project management, helping teams and organizations to achieve continuous improvement.
