General Instruction for PDCA

1. PLAN DO CHECK ACT (PDCA)
“The Scientific Method to Improvement”
Introduction and Overview

2. Learning Objectives
• Name 3 people who played a role in the origin of PDCA
• Describe 2 requirements of the PDCA Method to problem solving
• Describe each step of the acronym PDCA
• Name a Leader in Quality who supported and promoted PDCA scientific process
• Describe Where and When you should apply PDCA Method
• Describe How to apply PDCA Method to daily problems

3. Origin of Plan Do Check Act (PDCA)
also known as the Shewhart Cycle.
Sir Francis Bacon 1620
 Created the Baconian Method, the “Scientific Method”
 Scientific Method = "hypothesis/theory" - "experiment" - "evaluation" or plan, do, & check
 He created the foundation for PDCA
Walter Shewhart 1924
 Was an American physicist, engineer, and statistician.
 Sometimes known as the Father of Statistical Quality control.
 Created PDCA cycle while working at Western Electric / Bell Laboratories
Edwards Deming 1924
 Deming was Walter Shewhart’s boss at Western Electric / Bell Laboratories
 Made PDCA popular through his work as a Leader in Quality
 Deming preferred Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) while teaching quality in Japan in the 1950’s

4. What is the Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) Method?
PDCA:
 is a Scientific Method to solving problems
 requires facts, measurement, objective analysis and
critical thinking surrounding the problem
 requires data and numerical evidence of the problem
 is designed to be applied over and over again, not
just one time
– referred to as “Closed Loop Thinking”
 naturally increases knowledge of the individual(s)
evaluating the causes of a problem

5. Standards, Process Improvement and the PDCA Method
The Current Constant
Standard serves Consistent
as &
“The Chock” Continuous
to PREVENT Change for
BACKSLIDING” the Better
A If we DON’T continuously improve we
PROCESS will experience a NATURALLY occurring
Re-action!
“CHAOS” WILL TAKE OVER > STANDARDS WILL BACKSLIDE

6. What are the steps of PDCA?

7. Plan
“When faced with a problem, we naturally begin to ask questions”
• What is the problem?
• Why is the problem occurring?
• How does the problem start?
• What are the causes of the problem?
• Can we measure the problem?
Plan =
Identify, Define, Measure, create a baseline, set a goal/target
Create a “test/trial” and corrective actions to improve the
problem using a Scientific Method to obtain a different result

8. Do
“Let’s go test our corrective action to the problem”
• Run a Trial and measure the results
• Test what we believe is the best / workable approach
• Use the data and facts from Plan step as Baseline
Do =
Implement the Plan
Perform the Test/Trial you created
Monitor the change during implementation

9. Check
“Were the results what we expected?”
• Measure to Validate and Verify what changed
• Compare results of test to baseline data
• If a change occurred, ask Why did it change?
• Did the problem: get better, get worse, or stay the same?
Check =
Reflect and compare baseline data to new data obtained from test
Determine if an improvement occurred

10. Act
“Implement the New and Improved Standard”
• Stabilize new Standard
• Train others to new method
• Update process improvement metrics where and when required
• Share new standard
• Re-Apply the PDCA Method over again.
Act =
If No improvement occurred Go Back to Plan
If a change for the better occurred then Stabilize
and Standardize the new method, teach others of
new method and start the PDCA cycle again.

11. PDCA Summary

12. Learning Objectives
• Name 3 people who played a role in the origin of PDCA
• Describe 2 requirements of the PDCA Method to problem solving
• Describe each step of the acronym PDCA
• Name a Leader in Quality who supported and promoted PDCA scientific process
• Describe Where and When you should apply PDCA Method
• Describe How to apply PDCA Method to daily problems

13. Exhibit A: Plan Do Check Act / Standardize Do Check Act

14. Exhibit B: Repeating PDCA