Plan–Do–Check–Act

The Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) Cycle was originally developed by scientist Walter A. Shewhart and is sometimes referred to as ‘the Shewhart Cycle’. He theorised that this iterative model could assist with the identification and implementation of improvements in relation to production processes. The PDCA Cycle is iterative and so after the Act stage, planning should occur for the following iteration of continuous improvement. Thus the model has been linked to the principle of total quality management and also helps to underpin the concepts of lean. The PDCA Cycle can be used in a variety of situations: Continuous improvement programmes, Defining and implementing strategy, Problem solving, Project management, New product development, Business process reengineering, and Lean production/lean supply. Some academics argue that the model is overly simplistic and outdated. They suggest that the organisations of the 1950s do not adequately reflect the needs of today’s global organisations operating in a highly complex and technologically advanced environment.