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Part 1 THE BASICS OF PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

PDCA and DMAIC. One of the most basic things to understand about process performance improvement is the Deming Cycle or Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) This is also referred to as the earlier Shewhart Cycle which is Plan, Do, Study and Act. The plan–do–check–act cycle is a four-step model for carrying out change. Just as a circle has no end, the PDCA cycle should be repeated again and again for the foundation of continuous improvement.
March 26, 2011
2 min read

PDCA and DMAIC. 

One of the most basic things to understand about process performance improvement is the Deming Cycle or Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) This is also referred to as the earlier Shewhart Cycle which is Plan, Do, Study and Act.

The plan–do–check–act cycle is a four-step model for carrying out change. Just as a circle has no end, the PDCA cycle should be repeated again and again for the foundation of continuous improvement.

  • P  Plan:Identify an opportunity and plan for change.
  • D  Do:Implement the change on a small scale.
  • C  Check:Use data to analyze the results of the change and determine whether it made a difference.
  • A  Act:If the change was successful, implement it on a wider scale and continuously assess your results. If the change did not work, begin the cycle again.

Take a look at the below link for more information and an example !

https://asq.org/quality-resources/pdca-cycle

 

While PDCA is the most fundamental aspect of quality and can be used everyday in every process we do, DMAIC (from Six Sigma) can be used as a project management tool to drive improvement teams to root out and eliminate the causes of defects.

Define a problem or improvement opportunity.

Measure process performance.

Analyze the process to determine the root causes of poor performance; determine whether the process can be improved or should be redesigned.

Improve the process by attacking root causes.

Control the improved process to hold the gains

Take a look at the below link for more information and an example !

https://asq.org/quality-resources/dmaic

 

NEXT TIME, Part 2 Quality Tools and Links to FREE Templates

Future blogs

  1. Part 3 Recommended Performance Improvement books
  2. Change Management
  3. Lean & Six Sigma
  4. Improving Customer Satisfaction through Employee Satisfaction

About the Author

Denis Leonard

Denis Leonard has a degree in construction engineering an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in quality management. Denis is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality, a Certified Quality Manager, Auditor and Six Sigma Black Belt. He has been an Examiner for the Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners a Judge on the International Team Excellence Competition and a Lead Judge on the National Housing Quality Award. A former Professor of Quality at the University of Wisconsin, he has experience as a quality manager in the homebuilding industry as well as construction engineer, site manager and in training, auditing and consulting with expertise in strategic and operational quality improvement initiatives. His work has achieved national quality, environmental and safety management awards for clients.

Denis is co-author of 'The Executive Guide to Understanding and Implementing the Baldrige Criteria: Improve Revenue and Create Organizational Excellence'.

http://www.BusinessExcellenceConsulting.net

[email protected]

Full listing of blogs https://www.probuilder.com/author/denis-leonard

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