Lean Practitioner Certification Exam Practice Test

21. PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) – This is a model for problem-solving processes and managing business operations developed by Walter A. Shewhart and later made famous in the context of Quality Management by Edwards Deming. It is an iterative four-step process that helps to ensure continuous improvement:

• Plan: Establish the plan and expected results. Set objectives, criteria, and methods. Make decisions regarding the actions to be taken.
• Do: Implement the plan. Put the plan into action; execute what was decided in the planning phase.
• Check: Verify the expected results against the actual outcomes. Collect data, analyze performance, and measure outcomes against benchmarks or targets.
• Act: Use the findings from checking to decide on the next steps. Make adjustments, redesign, rework, or re-plan, as necessary.

The PDCA cycle is a foundation for various Lean and Six Sigma methodologies and serves as a model for continuous improvement processes. It encourages organizations to constantly evaluate and refine their methods in pursuit of quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. By applying the PDCA cycle, organizations can systematically address issues and sustain improvements over time, ensuring that they continuously evolve and adapt to changing circumstances and challenges (Blooms Taxonomy target level: Apply).

When applying PDCA, it is important to ensure that the steps are followed in a logical sequence without skipping any steps. This helps to avoid pitfalls such as acting on plans that may need further refinement or adjusting based on data that has not been properly collected or analyzed (Blooms Taxonomy target level: Apply).

In the context of Lean, PDCA is used to address waste, streamline processes, and improve the overall value stream. It aligns with the principles of Kaizen by promoting continuous, incremental improvements (Blooms Taxonomy target level: Understand).

To effectively implement PDCA in an organization, it is crucial to foster a culture that values transparency, accountability, and collaboration. Team members should be trained on how to use PDCA and should understand its importance in achieving and sustaining high standards of performance (Blooms Taxonomy target level: Apply).

In summary, the PDCA cycle is a powerful tool for problem-solving and process improvement, which aligns with Lean principles and supports the ongoing pursuit of perfection by eliminating waste and continuously improving processes (Blooms Taxonomy target level: Understand).