A short set of essays on using PDCA to improve.

1. P.D.C.A.
a cycle to better

2. Created by Tom Curtis 2011
Blog: www.onimproving.blogspot.com
Presentations: www.slideshare.net/onimproving
Email: ideamerchants@gmail.com
Twitter: @onimproving

3. Use PDCA in your work and play,
and you will craft a better way.

4. Introduction
PDCA stands for Plan Do Check Act. It is an
improvement cycle that was first taught by
William Shewhart and Edward Deming over
50 years ago. There is nothing tricky about it,
one sets a plan, tests it, reviews it, and adjusts
it. What follows is a discussion of each of the
phases in the cycle. Give them a read and
then try it yourself. It works and yields real
results with consistent use. Let’s get using.
--Tom Curtis 2011

5. P is for Plan
To plan is to decide what we are going to do.
We know how to do this, but sometimes we
make it harder than it needs to be. How
detailed or formal our plan needs to be
depends on what we are planning. For most
activities we need a simple plan that we can
modify, and to get going. Most of our
refining will come in the other three phases
and then we can cycle back to our planning.
Remember: P is for Plan.

6. D is for DO
To do is to try or test. We do not at this phase
expect perfection, but rather are getting
started. We execute the plan we created. If
we never do we cannot tell if something
works or not, we are left with theory and
hopes. The Do phase is our practice. In this
phase we generate data and results that set us
up for the next phase. We must be willing to
focus on improving our product or ideas.
Remember: D is for Do.

7. C is for Check
To check is to review how our doing
compares to our plan. We may do this
through observation, testing, data review,
metrics, or measures. Many of us launch our
product or idea and think we are done--we
are not. Check is our follow up, our status
review. It may not be as fun as the planning
or doing, but it is crucial if we are to improve.
It sets us up for the fourth phase of the cycle.
Remember: C is for Check.

8. A is for Act
To act is to take action on what we learn in
checking our doing against our plan. This is
where we correct or adjust or decide that we
need to restart the cycle and move into
planning again. What we need to do will
depend on what we found through our
check. We are not looking to wildly adjust
but rather make calculated change based on
our learning. Act is our chance to improve.
Remember: A is for Act.

9. PDCA is For Getting Better
Many of the projects and tasks that we take
one will require more than one PDCA cycle.
This is perfectly normal. We need to keep
cycling until we reach our goal. PDCA is
about getting better each cycle by learning
what works and what does not and making
the improvement. PDCA is work. PDCA will
help us move forward if we will use it.
Use PDCA every day.
Remember: PDCA is for Getting Better.