PDCA CYCLE OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT BASIC INFORMATION AND TUTORIALS

The PDCA or PDSA cycle consists of a four-step model for carrying out change. Just as a circle has no end, the PDCA cycle should be repeated again and again for continuous improvement. PDCA is a basic model that can be compared to the continuous improvement process, which can be applied on a small scale.

When to use
As a model for continuous improvement

• When starting a new improvement project
• When developing a new or improved design of process, product, or service
• When defining a repetitive work process
• When planning data collection and analysis in order to verify and prioritize problems or root causes
• When implementing any change

Procedure
1. Plan. Recognize an opportunity and plan the change.
2. Do. Test the change; carry out a small-scale study.
3. Check. Review the test, analyze the results, and identify learning.
4. Act. Take action based on what you learned in the study step.

If the change did not work, go through the cycle again with a different plan. If you were successful, incorporate the learning from the test into wider changes. Use what you learned to plan new improvements, beginning the cycle again.

PDCA is mainly used for continuous-process improvement. The PDCA cycle, when used as a process improvement tool for design improvement/ design conformance in construction projects to meet owner’s requirements, shall indicate the following actions:

Plan: Establish scope.
Do: Develop design.
Check: Review and compare.
Act: Implement comments, take corrective action, and/or release contract documents to construct/build the project/facility.

Figure below illustrates the PDCA cycle model for conformance of construction projects designed to owner requirements/scope of work.



This cycle is iterative; once it has been completed, it recommences without ceasing. The approach is seen as reemphasizing the responsibility of management to be actively involved in the organization’s quality program. The PDCA cycle is also known as the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycle.