Skip to main content

Problem Solving and the PDCA Cycle



Problem solving is a natural cycle of continuous improvement that seeks to put an organization on a continuous path to higher performance. As each problem is removed the organization runs more efficiently with less waste and more practical outputs. Such improvements can be seen in quality, service delivery, product design and operational function. 

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA Cycle) is an approach developed by the management guru Deming to improve quality. Planning includes analysis of the problem, do is the implementation of the solution, checking on the results,  and act is the implementation and standardization of the solution. The check, act, do, plan wheel is seen as rolling up on quality over time. 

Consider the problem-solving steps in the PDCA Cycle by Summers (2000):

Step 1: Recognizing the problem and establishing Priorities: Outline the problem from many different sources and inputs.

Step 2: Forming quality improvement teams: An interdisciplinary team of individuals that focus on solutions to the problem. 

Step 3: Defining the problem: The team defines the problem and outlines its edges.

Step 4: Developing Performance Measures: Using measures to determine overall improvement such as in pre and post analysis.

Step 5: Analyzing the problem/process: Flow charting the problem to see how it works together. 

Step 6: Determining possible causes: Seeking the root causes of the problem for manipulation and change. This is where all the problems seem to meet up into a single place. 

Step 7: Selecting and implementing the solution: Once the root causes are found it is necessary to implement the proposed solutions that impact those causes. 

Step 8: Evaluating the solution: It is necessary to follow up on the implementation of solutions to determine if they are working. 

Step 9: Ensuring performance: The new methods need to be implemented and workers trained on such how to work with them.

Step 10: Continuous improvement: Once the process runs smoothly new problems and solutions should be proposed that encourage even higher levels of performance.

Fitzsimmons, J. & Fitzsimmons, M. (2011). Service Management: Operations, Strategy, Information Technology (Seventh Edition). NY: McGraw-Hill. 
Summers, D. (2000). Quality (2nd Edition). N.J.: Prentice Hall

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Meaning of A Boundless Moment by Robert Frost

A Boundless Moment by Robert Frost He halted in the wind, and — what was that Far in the maples, pale, but not a ghost? He stood there bringing March against his thought, And yet too ready to believe the most. "Oh, that's the Paradise-in-bloom," I said; And truly it was fair enough for flowers had we but in us to assume in march Such white luxuriance of May for ours. We stood a moment so in a strange world, Myself as one his own pretense deceives; And then I said the truth (and we moved on). A young beech clinging to its last year's leaves. The poem is one of seasons changing and the cycle of life. Each May the bloom comes out and brings life to the death of winter. The poem is about a single moment when the characters see that life has changed. The layers of meaning can be deep but on the surface it appears Robert Frost is discussing nature and its cyclical momentum.   Everything in nature moves through patterns. The poem indicates that

Art Review: The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

The Kiss is Gustav Klimt’s most famous and well known painting. Produced in 1908 in Vienna, Austria and incorporated oil and gold life on the canvas ( 1 ). This was unique for his time and represents both tile works with Asiatic influence. The painting and the romance it brings forward is still wonderment to onlookers. The picture depicts a passionate relationship between a man and woman in a sort of perfect place.  The couple is embracing, bodies entwined, wearing robes of wealth and decadence. It provides linear constructs of the Art Nouveau style and the movement of arts with crafts ( 2 ). The male is square and masculine while the woman painted is in curves to represent femininity. The couple is a pair with the woman and man equal in stature. They are in a field of flowers and appear to rise above it.  To many this painting represents the concept that love has no bounds. Social position or worldly wealth cannot hide what goes on under the fancy clothes and standard m

The Nine Parries of Saber Fencing

The Parry is important for defending against attacks and offers an opportunity to counter attack. Without learning parries it will be difficult to effectively compete in fencing. Your body will be generally open to seasoned fencers. Practicing defending against attacks using multiple parries is important for creating the highest levels of competitive skill. The most common parries used are Parry of Four, Parry of Six, Parry of Seven, and Parry of Eight ( 1 ). They are designed to protect your right side, left side, lower stomach, middle of your stomach. They are parries designed to cover the core areas of your body and help you defend against the majority of fencing attacks.   Prime: Stops a cut to the chest. Seconde: Stops a low cut to the flank Tierce: Stops high cut to the flank Quarte: Stops high cut to the chest. Quinte: Stops cut to head. Sixte : Stops cut to head. Septime: Stops cut to back. Octave: Stops cut to flank. Neuvieme: Protects Back Mic