Deming Cycle (PDSA)

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Short biography of W. Edwards Deming

W. Edwards Deming was an American statistician. He is associated with the rise of Japan as a manufacturing nation, and with the invention of Total Quality Management (TQM). Along with an other American quality guru - J.M. Juran, Deming went to Japan as part of the allied occupation forces after World War II. Deming taught a lot of Quality Improvement methods to the Japanese, including the usage of statistics and the PDSA cycle. In 1960 he was awarded a medal by the Japanese Emperor for his services to that country's industry.

The Deming Cycle (PDSA cycle) (PDCA cycle)

The Deming Cycle, or PDSA cycle, is a model for continuous improvement of quality. It consists of a logical sequence of four repetitive steps for continuous improvement and learning: PLAN, DO, STUDY (CHECK) and ACT. The PDCA cycle is also known as the Deming Cycle, or as the Deming Wheel or as the Continuous Improvement Spiral. It originated in the 1920s with the eminent statistics expert Mr. Walter A. Shewhart, who introduced the concept of Plan, Do and See. Deming modified the cycle of Shewart towards: PLAN, DO, STUDY and ACT.
The Deming Cycle is related to Kaizen thinking and Just-in-time manufacturing.
 

Benefits of the Deming Cycle

• Daily routine management-for the individual and/or the team,
• The problem solving process,
• Project management,
• Continuous development,
• Vendor development,
• Human resources development,
• New product development, and
• Process trials.

The 4 parts of the Deming Cycle explained

• PLAN. Plan ahead for change. Analyze and predict the results.
• DO it. Execute the plan, taking small steps in controlled circumstances.
• STUDY (check). Study the results.
• ACT. Take action to standardize or improve the process.

The Deming Management Method explained by Mary Watson

In her book "The Deming Management Method" Mary Watson tells about the life of the business guru Edwards Deming. The industrial miracle in Japan was a prime example of what can happen when a nation commits itself to quality and long-range vision instead of the latest illness: "Turning a Fast Buck-itis." In less then 50 years, Japan went from making cheap and low added value products, towards manufacturing of the highest quality precision work in the world. When Dr. Deming first began speaking in America, America was still riding along on the post-war victory wave. No one would listen to him. The Japanese welcomed him, and even today, traces of his quality-control methods are still seen in the industrial workplace.

Book: Mary Watson - The Deming Management Method -

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Compare with the Deming Cycle: Hoshin Kanri - Policy Deployment  |  8D Problem Solving  |  Six Sigma  |  Value Chain  |  Value Stream Mapping  |  Quality Function Deployment  |  OODA Loop  |  Fourteen Points of Management  |  Training Within Industry  |  Value Engineering

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