Understanding the Deming Cycle: Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) Overview

Is your business aiming to enhance your processes, improve quality, and foster a culture of continuous improvement? These are all benefits of the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle, also known as the Deming Cycle. It was first created by W. Edwards Deming in Japan in the 1950’s and is still very prevalent today. The PDCA cycle, like a circle, has no end and should be continuously repeated by your business for the best results.

PDCA - Figure 1 PDCA Cycle - What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle? | ASQ

In this overview of the Deming Cycle, we will discuss the 4 steps in the process, when to use the PDCA Cycle and some big benefits it can have for your business should you implement it. Below is a basic overview of each phase in the cycle:

Plan

The first phase in the cycle is “Plan”. Identifying the problem or goal that needs to be assessed. It includes a Root Cause Analysis, Data Collection, Defining your objectives and then lastly Developing a Plan for it.

Do

The “do” phase is taking what you developed in the previous phase and implementing the plan. With Data Collection and Training being heavily involved in this process. Carrying out the planned actions and solutions involves Execution.

Check

The “Check” phase is crucial for evaluating the success of the plan. You can do this by firstly Analyzing data and see if the plan is working properly. Identifying Gaps while Monitoring and Measuring by comparing results against the expected outcomes.

Act

Lastly the Final phase “Act”. This phase focuses on adjustments based on what you have learned from the previous phase “Check”. Standardizing if the plan was successful is important so that it is consistently implemented for the future. Adjusting the plan if it did not work out as expected and continual improvement of the plan to repeat the cycle.

When to use the PDCA Cycle

According to: PDCA Cycle - What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle? | ASQ

Use the PDCA cycle when:

Starting a new improvement project
Developing a new or improved design of a process, product, or service
Defining a repetitive work process
Planning data collection and analysis in order to verify and prioritize problems or root causes
Implementing any change
Working toward continuous improvement

What big benefits can PDCA Cycle have for your business?

The PDCA Cycle can provide many benefits for businesses striving for continuous improvement of your business management system. One of those benefits is Employee Involvement. The PDCA Cycle encourages involvement from employees at all levels of the business. It motivates employees to contribute to improvements actively while fostering ownership and accountability. Also, helping develop problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of the business and their role within it.

Cost Efficiency is also another benefit from the PDCA Cycle. Eliminating inefficiencies will lead to significant cost savings and streamlined processes will optimize resource use and reduce waste. It also helps with preventive measures such as be proactive by addressing potential issues can prevent costly problems further down the line, saving your business not just your time but lots of money.

One of the most important benefits for any company is Customer Satisfaction. By addressing issues and constantly improving your processes, your business will deliver higher quality products which then leads to increasing customer loyalty and overall satisfaction. Receiving crucial customer feedback will also be critical as you will ensure customer needs are fulfilled and met successfully.

PDCA Overview Conclusion

Lastly, in conclusion one of the main benefits is Continuous Improvement. The PDCA Cycle is all about continuous improvement by reviewing, refining and enhancing all operations and staying consistently competitive. It is about being adaptive to the market as customer needs and the business’s long-term success.