What does PDCA stand for in quality management?

PDCA stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, a widely recognized and fundamental cycle used in quality management and continuous improvement. This cyclical framework is designed to help organizations achieve better and more consistent outcomes through systematic processes.

The first component, "Plan," involves identifying an opportunity and planning for change. The second step, "Do," implements the plan on a small scale to test its effectiveness. In the "Check" phase, the results of the change are monitored and evaluated against the expected outcomes to see if the objectives were met. Finally, "Act" involves making a decision based on the results from the "Check" phase, either refining the change for broader implementation, or abandoning it if it didn't yield the desired results.

This PDCA cycle promotes a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to regularly revisit and refine processes to enhance quality and efficiency. Understanding and applying the PDCA cycle is essential for anyone involved in quality management, making it a critical part of the CQIA examination.