The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle, also called the Deming Cycle, is a four-step approach to problem-solving that allows you to test various solutions to a problem in order to identify the most effective solution prior to implementation. You can think of the PDCA cycle in a similar way as the scientific method. This cycle is a standardized approach to improvement. It can be refined and repeated time and time again for continuous improvement. In STUDENTfacturED, we use the PDCA cycle to analyze suggestions that technicians have made on Kaizen cards.

The PDCA cycle is one of the simplest and the easiest approaches for continuous improvement. PDCA is a cycle, and continuous improvement is at work each time the cycle is activated and returns to its beginning. The basis of this tool is the repetition. It is applied successively to the processes that we seek to improve continuously.

Planning, standardization, and documentation are essential practices as well as accurate measurements. The basis of the PDCA cycle requires measurable improvement. Just like the scientific method, we have to be able to measure the change. Just as the scientific method, PDCA requires you to pick a quantitative value that you will look at as a measure of improvement.

Benefits of Using PDCA

- Provides a standardized method to achieving continuous improvement
- Prevents wasted time implementing ineffective or inferior solutions
- Fosters teamwork through brainstorming and problem-solving
- Inexpensive – Overcome obstacles internally

In STUDENTfacturED technicians will fill out a specific PDCA Form as they apply this process. As a technician fills out this form, it will help them identify the metric that they will use to measure against to determine the effectiveness of the change. Remember it needs to be something measurable such as time, cost, yield, number of customer complaints, number of defects, etc.

- Log in to SharePoint and download and print the following document
  - “PDCA Cycle - Improvement record Form”

Over the next several pages we will be going over the PDCA cycle by discussing each step. You can follow along on the form.

Learning Objectives:

- 3.3 - Analyze your recommended improvement using the PDCA cycle