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The PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle is a four-step approach which is used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. By consistently testing out possible solutions, comparing the results and implementing those that are successful, there is the potential for steady improvement in all areas. Therefore, the PDCA cycle fits exactly to the elements and requirements of the quality management system.

Planning

The PDCA cycle starts with planning, in which your problems or opportunities are identified and understood. Collect as much relevant data as possible and find the cause of the problem. The data can be collected from your recalls, quality issues, safety problems or any other register in which data is accumulated. After the data is gathered, it is important to make a plan according to the mission, vision and values of the company. This allows the company to stay close to what is important for it. Set goals and determine the best way to meet them.

Execution

In the ‘do’ phase, all planned activities of the process take place. Use the approved plan from the previous phase as a starting point. Set a clear goal that you want to achieve and measure the results along the way. Involve the employees while executing the plan – this helps with gaining trust and allows them to contribute to improving the company. It is crucial that data is collected to see what happens over a period of time.

Check

Once the data of the execution phase is collected, it is essential to make it understandable. When the data is known, it is important to benchmark this data against the data that was identified in the planning phase. The initial data was collected to spot certain areas to improve. Now check the new data against your initial goals while at the same time benchmarking it against the old data. According to the results, you can then go to the next step – act.

Act

On the basis of the analysis and results from the previous phases, decisions can be made on whether previous measures and plans need to be adjusted. If necessary, adjust the plan and start again with planning phase. When the results show no consequences, it is important to make the decision to stop the project. This will prevent the company from spending resources on projects which have a low likelihood of adding value.

How PDCA Is Covered in Qooling

Qooling allows for easy gathering of information throughout the company. This data can be used to identify improvement projects and plan ahead for them. During the execution phase you can assign tasks to employees and again allow them to share information fairly easily. The information can then be used to check the results and benchmark against the situation which occurred months ago. This way the results can be found by the a few simple clicks.

Conclusion

The PDCA-cycle is a great way to improve the operations, but similar to most management practices it is important to gather the data to check the progress. Gathering this information isn’t always easy or straightforward, so it is important to use the proper solutions to get accurate results.

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