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Deming's PDSA cycle or PDCA cycle is a continuous quality improvement model consisting of a
logical sequence of four repetitive steps for continuous improvement and
learning: Plan, Do, Study (Check) and Act.
The PDCA cycle is
also known as the Deming Cycle, or as the Deming Wheel or as the Continuous Improvement
Spiral.
It originated in the 1920s with the eminent statistics expert Mr.
Walter A. Shewhart, who introduced the concept of PLAN, DO
and SEE. The late Total Quality Management (TQM) guru and renowned
statistician W. Edwards Deming modified the Shewart cycle as: PLAN, DO,
STUDY, and ACT.
Along with the other well-known American quality guru-J.M. Juran, Deming
went to Japan as part of the occupation forces of the allies after World
War II. Deming taught a lot of Quality Improvement methods to the
Japanese, including the usage of statistics and the PLAN, DO, STUDY, ACT
cycle.
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Benefits:
- Daily routine management-for the individual and/or the team
- Problem-solving process
- Project management
- Continuous development
- Vendor development
- Human resources development
- New product development
- Process trials
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The PDSA phases:
- PLAN: plan ahead
for change. Analyze and predict the results.
- DO: execute the
plan, taking small steps in controlled circumstances.
- STUDY: CHECK,
study the results.
- ACT: take action
to standardize or improve the process.
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In her
book "The
Deming Management Method" Mary Watson tells about the life of the
business guru the late W. Edwards
Deming. The industrial miracle in Japan
was a prime example of what can happen when a nation commits itself to
quality and long-range vision instead of the latest illness: "Turning a
Fast Buck-itis." In less then 50 years, Japan went from making rubber
dog-shit, to turning out some of the highest quality precision work in the
world. When Dr. Deming first began speaking in America, America was still
riding along on the post-war victory wave. No one would listen to him. The
Japanese welcomed him, and even today, traces of his quality-control
methods are still seen in the industrial workplace.
The PDSA cycle is related to Kaizen thinking
and Just-in-time manufacturing.
Compare also:
Six
Sigma | Value
Chain | Value
Stream Mapping | OODA
Loop
More management models
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Summaries of 2,000 management methods