Shewhart Cycle

From GTwM

The Shewhart cycle (also referred to as the Deming Cycle) was named for Walter Shewhart, who discussed the concept in his book Statistical Method from the Viewpoint of Quality Control.

PDCA

1. Plan - isolate of a single issue and put forward a new process which is a potential solution
2. Do - enact new process / solution
3. Check - examine outcome of experiment
4. Act (re-act) - if new process is an improvement implement, if not repeat the above process

This scientific approach is built into the structure of the A3 Report.

The FOCUS - PDCA Methodology

Some people expand PDCA to a nine-step process that incorporates a FOCUS stage before the PDCA cycle. These nine steps are:

1. Find a process that needs improvement.
2. Organize a team that knows the process.
3. Clarify knowledge of the process by flowcharting or data collection.
4. Uncover the underlying causes of variation or poor quality.
5. Start the P-D-C-A cycle by choosing a single modification to the process.
6. Plan a pilot to test the improvement.
7. Do the improvement.
8. Check that the process actually improved.
9. Act to adopt, adjust or abandon the change.

Alternative - The 5 Why's

The 5 Whys is a technique developed by Sakichi Toyoda which later was used within Toyota Motor Corporation during the evolution of their manufacturing methodologies. It is a critical component of problem solving training delivered as part of the induction into the Toyota Production System. It is now also used within Six Sigma.