PDCA – Plan, Do, Check, Act
Also presented as Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) or the Shewhart Cycle
Purpose:
PDCA provides a simple problem solving or project cycle. It is also referred to as the
Shewhart Cycle for Dr. Walter Shewhart of Bell Laboratories, who developed it in the
1920’s. It is usually visualized in a circular model consistent with the concept of
continuous improvement. It is intended to help focus on the way work gets done, not just
the results. There is always something in an institution that can be improved.
Steps:
The model frequently is presented with a total of 7-12 steps, different steps aligned with
different categories. The model below uses a 7-step format:
Plan
Define the current problem, process, issue
Analyze the current status
Analyze the causes for the current outcomes or status
Do
Develop the implementation theory
Check Carry out the theory and monitor or study the results
Build improvements into the system
Act Re-cycle
the process
The PDCA cycle also helps to understand when one might wish to employee different
quality tools. The visual below is used with permission of Jerry Svendor of Westshore
Community College, Michigan.
C:\Temp\cqi\pdca.doc
Next
Define
ImproveSystem
ment
StandAssess
ardize ACT
Current
STUDY
Study
Status
Results DO
Analyze
Try Out
Causes
Theory