| A Quality Control (QC) Process Chart is a tool that | | | | new alternative is better. |
| helps you document Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) | | | | Use of standard practices will: |
| activities for the process. The Plan-Do-Check-Act | | | | - Reduce variation among individuals or groups and |
| (PDCA) cycle is a well-known model for CPI. It | | | | make process output more predictable |
| teaches organizations to plan an action, do it, check to | | | | - Provide "know-why" for operators and managers |
| see how it conforms to the plan and act on what has | | | | now on the job |
| been learned. | | | | - Provide a basis for training new people |
| The PDCA cycle is made up of four steps for | | | | - Provide a trail for tracing problems |
| improvement or change: | | | | - Provide a means to capture and retain knowledge |
| Plan: Recognize an opportunity, and plan the change. | | | | - Give direction in the case of unusual conditions |
| Do: Test the change. | | | | History of PDCA: |
| Check: Review the test, analyze the results and | | | | The PDCA cycle is also known by two other names, |
| identify key learning points. | | | | the Shewhart cycle and the Deming cycle. |
| Act: Take action based on what you learned in the | | | | Walter A. Shewhart first discussed the concept of |
| check step. | | | | PDCA in his 1939 book, Statistical Method From the |
| If the change was successful, incorporate the learning | | | | Viewpoint of Quality Control. Shewhart said the cycle |
| from the test into wider changes. | | | | draws its structure from the notion that constant |
| If not, go through the cycle again with a different plan | | | | evaluation of management practices, as well as the |
| The goal is standardization: | | | | willingness of management to adopt and disregard |
| - Standardization enables high quality production of | | | | unsupported ideas, is key to the evolution of a |
| goods and services on a reliable, predictable, and | | | | successful enterprise. |
| sustainable basis. | | | | Deming is credited with encouraging the Japanese in |
| - Standardization is making sure that important | | | | the 1950s to adopt PDCA. The Japanese eagerly |
| elements of a process are performed consistently in | | | | embraced PDCA and other quality concepts, and to |
| the most effective manner. | | | | honor Deming for his instruction, they refer to the |
| - Changes are made only when data shows that a | | | | PDCA cycle as the Deming cycle. |