PDCA cycle, often referred as the Deming
cycle, Shewhart cycle, is an iterative four-step model for carrying out change for
continuous improvement. The four phases in the cycle are Plan, Do, Check, and Act.
The ‘Plan’ phase recognizes and plans needed change. The ‘Do’
phase is about
implementation of the recognized plan. The ‘Check’ phase reviews,
analyzes the outcomes and problems with their root causes and also identifies
areas for improvements. And the ‘Act’ phase is about taking actions based on
what you learned in the previous phase. The cycle repeats as an ongoing process of performance
improvement until desired performance levels are achieved.
