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Continuous Cycle of Improvement
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To remain competitive, companies need to find a way to continuously improve their performance. Dr Edwards Deming, an American professor and father or the “Total Quality Movement” of the 1960’s, developed a cycle, called the Continuous Improvement Wheel. The principles of this wheel have enabled Toyota in Takaoka to set world class benchmarks in the motor industry. This plant was able to implement over 60 improvement ideas per person per year.
The Deming Cycle or Continuous Improvement Cycle looks as follows:
Click here to view a video that explains the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust/Act Cycle.
Plan
- Describe the results you want
- Clarify the standards (time, cost, quality, etc.)
- List activities to achieve results
- Prioritise activities
- Determine the timing and duration of each
- Prepare a visual network to illustrate the activity sequence
- Draw a bar chart and display
- Allocate people and resources
Do
After planning, the plan must be implemented. Action is the most important.
Check
This step involves evaluation and measurement. The results of the ‘do’ step are checked. Progress is compared to set targets and indicated in a visual manner.
Adjust
This step involves standardisation of further improvements. If the results are as planned and required, the current method is captured in an Operating Procedure to ensure future success. When results are not as planned, the necessary adjustments need to be made and the cycle is repeated.