Make Continuous Improvement One Of Your Goals - As Soon As You Possibly Can

PDCA - where does it come from?

Deming Cycle, PDCA

The Deming Cycle, or PDCA Cycle is a continuous quality improvement model consisting of four repetitive phases and seven steps for continuous improvement and learning: Plan, Do, Check and Act. The PDCA cycle is also known as the Deming Cycle, the Deming wheel of continuous improvement. Its origin can be traced back to the eminent statistics expert Mr. Walter A. Shewart - in the 1920s he introduced the concept of PLAN, DO and SEE. The late Total Quality Management (TQM) guru and renowned statistician Dr. W. Edwards Deming modified the SHEWART cycle as: PLAN, DO, CHECK, and ACT.

Like many others, my introduction to PDCA and continuous improvement was in identifying manufacturing process faults. However, later as a director of Information Technology, I was able to apply the same learning, use the same PDCA cycle to improve both the technical and administration processes. This resulted in saving time and reducing costs.

I have seen PDCA used very effectively in project management, construction, internet business development, as well as managing a number of personal projects.

Identifying continuous improvement projects with our team(s) is a great way of getting team members involved as well as capitalizing on their skills and knowledge

WHAT IS QUALITY?
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives." William A. Foster

I would not be totally honest with you if I did not admit that I have struggled at times - deadlines, wanting to push ahead.

Its one of the classic Catch 22s I am far too busy fixing problems to spend the time on continuous improvement techniques.

Of course, there will always be that urgent personal or urgent business dilemma that needs 100% of our time and energy to resolve. It's called 'life'.

The key point is once we get into the habit of PDCA, once we apply the discipline to maximize the benefits that this continuous improvement methodolgy has to offer us, we will be able to

Focus directly on the issue, problem, or opportunity

Determine an appropriate action plan

Measure the plans effectiveness

Take the appropriate corrective action(s)

Achieve the desired and planned results

Then, we have more time and more energy to work on those unexpected issues when they do crop up

What Is An Improvement Cycle?

"Everything we do is a process, every process has a customer"

The Improvement Cycle is a highly disciplined and rigorous approach to problem solving using the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) methodology developed by Dr. W. Edwards Deming.

The Improvement Cycle consists of seven steps, 3 in the Plan phase, 1 in the Do phase, 1 in the Check phase, and 2 in the Act phase.

The PDCA cycle needs to be used in a continuous manner, select your theme or project, assess the current situation, plan and implement your solutions, check the effects of your changes, standardise on your new improved process, and plan for future improvements the cycle continues.

change and improvement are two different things, focus on improvement, change will follow naturally

Take Action - it may be possible that you have been dissatisfied with previous improvement attempts. The whole point of reading this is to then use the PDCA cycle itself to realise the full potential of the desired improvement.

Unstructured goals without deadlines and disciplned planning are nothing more than wishlists. To achieve success, you must set highly specific goals with target completion dates, and start by developing the plan of PDCA to meet those goals and then put the plan into action.

Keep Learning - For me, the whole point of PDCA, is to continue to learn where and what to improve, understand whats working, and by following the cycle, have both the qualitative and quantative data to allow us to grow and move forward.

No matter what our chosen profession is, no matter what offline or online businesses we run, we all need to stay current, perhaps learn new techniques, perhaps learn how to master new tools. No matter what we do, we can use the PDCA cycle as the foundation for our continuous improvement.

Footnote 1

I realise, from my own experience, that understanding the "Improvement Cycle" in detail and then being able to apply it can take some time and practice. So, rather than try and explain the 4 phases and the whole 7 steps now, I will follow this article with 4 more which describes each phase and its associated steps in greater detail.

Footnote 2

I have a range of problem solving and decision making tools and techniques, many of which are graphical. I'll highlight the most appropriate ones in each of the follow on articles.
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