How can you improve your problem-solving skills with PDCA cycle?

1 What is the PDCA cycle?

The PDCA cycle stands for Plan, Do, Check, and Act. It is a four-step process that helps you identify, analyze, implement, and evaluate solutions to any problem. The cycle is repeated until the desired outcome is reached or the problem is solved. The PDCA cycle was developed by Walter Shewhart, a pioneer of quality control, and popularized by W. Edwards Deming, a renowned management consultant and statistician.

2 How does the PDCA cycle work?

The PDCA cycle consists of four phases that guide you through the problem-solving process. The plan phase involves defining the problem, setting objectives, gathering data, and devising a plan of action. You should also establish the criteria and methods for measuring the results and the impact of your solution. The do phase involves executing the plan and carrying out the actions that you have decided. You should also document the process, the results, and any issues or deviations that occur along the way. The check phase includes comparing the actual results with the expected results and analyzing the data. You should also identify the root causes of any problems, gaps, or errors that you have encountered and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your solution. Finally, in the act phase, you implement changes, improvements, or corrections that you have derived from the check phase. You should also standardize best practices, communicate outcomes, and celebrate achievements.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?