The PDCA cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Act) is the four-stage management model that delivers continual improvement. It is also known as the Deming cycle.
The four stages
- Plan: Establish objectives, processes and the resources needed
- Do: Implement what was planned
- Check: Monitor and measure results and compare them with objectives
- Act: Close the gaps and improve performance
Relationship with the structure of the standards
The harmonized clause structure of management system standards is built around this cycle. The context, leadership, planning and support clauses correspond to the plan stage; the operation clause to do; the performance evaluation clause to check; and the improvement clause to act.
Internal audit and management review are the main mechanisms of the check stage, and corrective action of the act stage.
Why does it matter?
In practice the link that breaks most often is the last stage. Measurements are taken, reports are prepared, but the results do not turn into action. When the cycle does not close, the system becomes a formality that runs for the sake of the audit.
PDCA is the skeleton of all management system standards; it is one of the first topics covered in every standard training. You can follow how the cycle is reflected in the clause structure in, for example, the quality management system training or the ISO 14001 training. Other topics are on the Academy page.