The PDCA Cycle or Deming 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. It both emphasises and demonstrates that improvement programs must start with careful planning, must result in effective action, and must move on again to careful planning in a continuous cycle. 

 

The PDCA Cycle diagram can be used in team meetings to take stock of what stage improvement initiatives are at, and to choose the appropriate tools to see each stage through to successful completion. Continuous improvement using the PDCA cycle reinforces the necessity to look beyond the superficial when attempting to discover real causes of operational problems so that they can be permanently eliminated. The goal is to identify the root cause of a problem so effective and permanent countermeasures/corrective continuous improvement action can be identified and implemented.

 

This course will show the use of the PDCA Cycle to coordinate continuous improvement and root cause analysis efforts.

Personnel involved with process improvement, team members or individuals supporting continuous improvement programmes from both the manufacturing and service (including banking and finance, logistics, healthcare, government and public service) sectors.

 

Programme Objectives

Participants will learn about: