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
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.
Comments
This doesn't seem have been developed for practical application in a construction environment.