Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle is an iterative four-step management method used for the control and continuous improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Deming circle/cycle/wheel, Shewhart cycle or control circle/cycle. In short, the PDCA Cycle is a checklist of the four stages which you must go through to get from ‘’problem-faced' to “problem solved'.
Central to the PDCA cycle is the simple idea that we learn by doing. In the context of tackling a particular problem, the PDCA cycle relates to the idea that the act of building a solution to a problem leads to a better understanding of that problem, which can in turn lead to building a new and better solution, and so on. You can use plan, do, study, act (PDCA) cycles to test an idea by temporarily trialling a change and assessing its impact.
Steps 1 - Plan: Identifying and analysing the problem.
First, identify exactly what your problem is. You may find it useful to use tools like Cause and Effect Diagrams and the 5 Whys approach to help you really get to the root of it. Once you've done this, it may be appropriate for you to map the processes at the root of the problem. Next, draw together any other information you need that will help you start sketching out solutions.
Step 2 - Do: Developing and testing a potential solution:
· Generate possible solutions.
· Select the best of these solutions.
· Implement a pilot project on a small scale basis, with a small group, or in a limited geographical area, or using some other trial design appropriate to the nature of your problem, product or initiative.
Step 3 - Check: Measuring how effective the test solution was and analysing whether it could be improved in any way.
In this phase, you measure how effective the pilot solution has been and gather together any learnings from it that could make it even better. Depending on the success of the pilot, the number of areas for improvement you have identified and the scope of the whole initiative, you may decide to repeat the "Do" and "Check" phases, incorporating your additional improvements. Once you are finally satisfied that the costs would outweigh the benefits of repeating the Do-Check sub-cycle any more, you can move on to the final phase.
Generally, in the Check stage, the solution is observed in operation. The idea is to answer the following sorts of questions.
· Does the solution work in the way it was expected to? How well does it stand up against the evaluation criteria set up in the Plan stage?
· Has producing a solution changed our perception of the problem? Which parts of the problem do we understand well, and which parts not so well?
· How could we change the solution to make it better? What changes would reflect our new perception of the problem? Which parts of the solution work well and which work poorly?
Step 4 - Act: Implementing the improved solution fully.
How to test if the solution is working in practice:
· Plan multiple cycles to test ideas.
· Test on a really small scale and increase the numbers as you refine the ideas.
· Test the proposed change with people who believe in the improvement. Don't try to convert people into accepting the change at this stage.
· Only implement the idea when you're confident you have considered and tested all the possible ways of achieving the change.
Remember the idea is that the PDCA cycles provide a framework for developing, testing and implementing changes leading to improvement. The model is based in scientific method and moderates the impulse to take immediate action with the wisdom of careful study.
Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle is a useful tool that can help your team solve problems much more efficiently. PDCA has some significant advantages:
· It stimulates continuous improvement of people and processes.
· It lets you & your co-students test possible solutions on a small scale and in controlled environment.
· It prevents recurring mistakes.
· It involves less time, money and risk.
· The process is a powerful tool for learning; from both ideas that work and those that don't.
· It is safer and less disruptive for all stakeholders.
· Because people have been involved in testing and developing the ideas, there is often less resistance.
When to use this technique:
· As a model for continuous improvement;
· When starting a new improvement project;
· When developing a new or improved design of a process, product or service;
· When defining a repetitive work process;
· When planning data collection and analysis in order to verify and prioritize problems or root causes;
· When implementing any change
Actions that you should avoid when applying the PDCA approach:
· Constrained resources
· Improper training can cause PDCA to begin and end at “Do”.
· Put over-emphasis on planning
· Put under-emphasis on checking
Avoid the common disconnects as seen by one professional in industry, such as over/under-planning and not validating the hypothesis, even on successful results.
Software Development as an example of the PDCA cycle in action
One addtional case study: Application of the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle to Quality Management of Online Teaching for Nursing Students in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Self-Controlled Trial (article)
One addtional case study: Application of the PDCA Cycle and Six Thinking Hats to Improving the Teaching Quality of Specialized Courses (article)
https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/msmi-15/25836070