What is the PDCA Cycle? | Plan Do Check Act | PDCA cycle benefits

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WHAT IS THE PDCA CYCLE AND HOW IS IT RELEVANT TO ISO CERTIFICATION AND ISO STANDARDS?

A statistician, Dr. Walter A. Shewhart used his skills, statistics to explain the process variability. It was him who first developed this concept of PDSA cycle (Plan – DO – Study – Act). Dr. W. Edward Deming who publicized the Usefulness of his mentor's work including the Shewhart Cycle.

Deming was trained as a mathematician, and he applied his mathematical concepts and tools (Statistical Process Control) to reduce variable and prevent defects. He and then went onto become one of the leaders in Quality.

Deming improvised on Shewhart's cycle and re-introduced Deming Wheel (PDCA) in later stage of 20 ^th  Century in 1993 and called it as PDSA Cycle.

He emphasized on a fact that 'Check' phase in PDCA cycle is focussed on evaluating the change in terms of its results whether the plan was a success or a failure and find needed corrective actions to succeed in case of failure.

His objective to replace 'Check' step with 'Study' phase was to stress on analysis of the steps taken and results obtained, then to evaluate them and come up with the possible revised solutions to attain desired results.

This approach is a repetitive or iterative process for planning and executing 'change activities' for continuous evaluation and improvement.

The steps involved in Deming PDCA or PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) Cycle as shown are as follows:

1. Plan a change (P).
2. Do it (D). Carry out the change, suggested on a small scale or as prototype.
3. Check it (C). Observe the effects of the change. Study it (S).
4. Act on what was learnt (A).
5. Repeat the same process from Step 1 with new insights and continuously evaluate and improve.

PDCA is not a concept that it looks easy to understand but, if interested in ISO Management Systems standard then it is evident that a PDCA cycle is a solid foundation and greatly beneficial. Better understanding of PDCA cycle makes it easier for implementing and getting ISO Certification of any standards.

HOW IS PDCA CYCLE RELEVANT IN ISO?

ISO Standards that are developed off late are based on a high-level structure that has 10 clauses which all ISO management system standards are required to follow that framed around the PDCA cycle. This is so needed that all standards developed will have the same look and feel and will enable easy integration with various ISO standards.

As a structured ISO standard, the requirements defined in the form of clauses are as per PDCA concepts and for an ISO system to work effectively, focus has to be given on each PDCA element equally and not just focus on few areas like Plan, Do) and neglect the other two elements of PDCA (Check, Act).

In ISO 9001 standard, the concept of Process Approach is detailed on how important it is to implement an International Management System Standard that is compliant with requirements. The methodology known as “Plan-Do-Check-Act” is being used and applied to all processes across the standard requirements. This then gives the relation of the overview of how the standard requirements get aligned within a PDCA cycle.

The goal of any international management system standard developed by ISO is to work towards the improvement of a company. Any organization that thrive grow in the industry would want to improve their processes internally to be able to compete in the market. With the help of PDCA cycle, any organization will be to focus on the processes and objectives of the ISO Standard and its overall expected improvement, which further leads to savings in time and money that can be used to improve further and deliver quality products and services. The focus on quality on the processes followed to deliver the end results would largely differentiate between the organizations that outperform their counterparts. To understand better about the scope quality and its influence across the organization, please do refer this blog on total quality management.

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