PLAN: Establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with the expected output (the target or goals). By establishing output expectations, the completeness and accuracy of the specification is also a part of the targeted improvement. When possible start on a small scale to test possible effects.
DO : Implement the plan, execute the process, make the
product. Collect data for charting and analysis in the following
"CHECK" and "ACT" steps.
CHECK : Study the actual results (measured and
collected in "DO" above) and compare against the expected results
(targets or goals from the "PLAN") to ascertain any differences.
Charting data can make this much easier to see trends over several PDCA cycles
and in order to convert the collected data into information. Information is
what you need for the next step "ACT".
ACT :Request corrective actions on
significant differences between actual and planned results. Analyze the
differences to determine their root causes. Determine where to apply changes
that will include improvement of the process or product. When a pass through
these four steps does not result in the need to improve, the scope to which
PDCA is applied may be refined to plan and improve with more detail in the next
iteration of the cycle.