Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA)
Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) is a model that is used to assist the control and continual improvement of processes and projects. It has been used in construction project management as a means of balancing the systems and behavioural aspects of management and health and safety. Its cyclic approach allows for the constant updating of health and safety measure ultimately leading to a safer working environment.
PDCA was popularised by W. Edwards Deming, a leading figure in modern quality control processes and procedures. Deming intended that PDCA should be used when developing a new or improved process, product or service; when implementing changes; when defining a repetitive work process, and so on.
It is made up of the following stages:
- Plan: Assess a current or new process and how improvements could be made.
- Do: Test small changes as part of a limited study to assess their effectiveness.
- Check: Gather and analyse the test results, compare them with the expected outcomes and identify what has been learnt.
- Act: Take action according to the lesson learned in the ‘Check’ step.
In some iterations of PDCA, the fourth step ‘Act’ is replaced with ‘Adjust’. This is often used when the PDCA process has been run several times and enough information has been accumulated for it to have been adopted as a new ‘standard’. ‘Adjust’ allows for continual monitoring of the process after changes have been made, with small improvements as and when appropriate, creating a cycle of continuous improvement.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Assurance and self-certification.
- CDM Regulations: a quality perspective.
- Contingency theory.
- Continuous improvement process.
- Design freeze: a quality perspective.
- Digital engineering.
- Game theory.
- Lean construction.
- Lean Six Sigma.
- Pareto analysis.
- Project execution plan.
- Project manager.
- Quality control.
- Quality Management System.
- Total quality management in construction.
- Transition time.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”
Comments
This doesn't seem have been developed for practical application in a construction environment.