Now that you have defined the problem and found the root cause, and defined three possible countermeasures we can pick one and begin testing it

- Problem: We waste several petri dishes from every sleeve we open
- Root cause: The sleeves are not protected on the shelf.

We have three potential countermeasures In this step we weigh the pros and cons that we determined in the last step and decide on one to try. This determination is based on which will be the most practical for the company to undertake.

In the Do step we determine the tasks that we will actually do to test this countermeasure. We want to test it out on a small scale without fully implementing it. Remember the improvement has to be based on a measurable outcome so this is where we test to determine if our suggested solution will have a measurable impact.

Continuing the scenario above,

After weighing the pros and cons we determine to try option 1 because we believe it will be the most practical while providing the most benefit.

Countermeasure to test: Rearranging the stock shelf to allow the sleeves to be stored in the box they ship in because it has built in cardboard dividers

Improvement Metric: Number of broken plates in a sleeve

Criteria to determine effectiveness: reduction in the number of broken plates in a sleeve

We will test this by cutting off the top of the box and laying it on its side to provide access and protection. We will put the box in a temporary location during our test. We don't want to waste time and effort rearranging the the shelf yet, until we determine with our testing that the protection is adequate.

Learning Objectives:

- 3.3 - Analyze your recommended improvement using the PDCA cycle