The PDCA Cycle is a process used to continuously improve processes and products. It is a four-step cycle that involves planning, doing, checking, and acting. This guide will provide an overview of the PDCA Cycle, explain the steps in detail, and
PDCA (plan–do–check–act), sometimes called plan–do–check–adjust is an iterative design and management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Shewhart cycle, or the control circle/cycle. Another version of this PDCA cycle is OPDCA. The added O stands for observation or as some versions say: "Observe the current condition." This emphasis on observation and current condition has currency with the literature on lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. The PDCA cycle, with Ishikawa's changes, can be traced back to S. Mizuno of the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1959.