The most basic Quality Improvement Cycle

PDCA Cycle

Plan
Do Check
Act
Plan
Define Customer requirements for product or service.
1. Marketing Research for new product or service.
2. Inquiries from potential customers.
Define relevant Processes for:
1. Suppliers
2. Production Process
3. Personnel and Equipment needs
4. Facilities
5. Appraisal and Inspection
6. Delivery
7. Customer Feedback, etc.


Do
Implement the processes as defined.
Good ideas can fail.
When a good idea fails, 90% of the time it is due to improper
implementation.
1. Are there adequate resources?
2. Are personnel adequately trained?
3. Is there a commitment from Management?
Implementation is also a Process.
1. Is there an Owner for the Implementation Process?
2. Is there an Action Plan for Implementation?
3. Has the Implementation Plan been documented?
Was there a trial run?
Check
Are there problems with any Suppliers?
Audit relevant Processes to see that they are implemented as designed.
Identify key points in the Processes for monitoring.
Identify the most important meaningful measurements for purposes of
monitoring the processes.
Sample from the process to check for signals of Special Cause variation
or other problems.
New processes must be sampled more frequently since they are not
well understood.
What does Customer feedback say?
Act
Resolve any Supplier problems.
Fix any Process implementation problems.
Remove any Special Cause variation in Processes.
Is Process redesign necessary (does not meet expectations
or new technology becomes available).
What are main issues from Customer feedback?