In short: PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) is a four-step cycle for managing and improving processes: plan the change, do it on a small scale, check the results against the plan, and act to standardize or adjust.
What happens in each step?
- Plan: define the problem, objectives and actions
- Do: implement on a small scale
- Check: measure and compare results with expectations
- Act: standardize what works or start a new cycle
Where does PDCA appear in ISO standards?
The high-level structure of ISO management system standards follows PDCA: planning (clause 6), support and operation (7–8), performance evaluation (9) and improvement (10).
What is a practical example?
A team reduces late deliveries by planning a new dispatch check, trialling it for two weeks, measuring on-time delivery, and then rolling it out to all shifts.
Key takeaways
- PDCA drives continual improvement.
- Test changes small before scaling.
- ISO management systems are structured on PDCA.
Frequently asked questions
Who created PDCA?
PDCA is associated with Walter Shewhart and W. Edwards Deming.
What is PDSA?
Plan-Do-Study-Act, a variant emphasizing learning in the “study” step.
How long should a PDCA cycle take?
As long as needed to see reliable results — from days to months.