PDCA
Overview of PDCA
PDCA is a cyclical process consisting of four stages: Plan, Do, Check, and Act.
It is ideal for improving operational efficiency and quality, and is particularly effective when enhancing existing processes.
How to perform a PDCA
PDCA – Step 1: Define the Four Stages
Plan | Clearly define the goals you want to achieve or the problems you want to solve. Examples: Increase sales of a new product by 20%, improve customer satisfaction by 10 points. |
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Do | Take actions based on the plan. Examples: Conduct a test sale of the new product, implement a new process. |
Check | Evaluate progress and results against the goals using collected data. Examples: Assess if sales targets were met, if customer satisfaction improved, or if new issues emerged. |
Action | Based on the evaluation, develop improvements for the next cycle. Examples: Streamline processes, adjust pricing, introduce new marketing techniques. |
PDCA – Step 2: Execute the PDCA Cycle
Using the improved plan developed in the Act stage, repeat the PDCA cycle to foster continuous improvement.