PDCA (plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust) is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continuous improvement of processes and products.[1] It is also known as the Deming circle/cycle/wheel
Understanding quality and seeking to improve it is arguably the core purpose behind undertaking process improvements.
But where did this philosophy of process improvement come from?
One key person is William Edwards Deming – sometimes referred to as Edward W. Deming. He’s principally a statistician, but one could even call him a philosopher of science.
La teoria e la prassi della Qualità (Total Quality Management, TQM) sebbene frutto del lavoro
di più studiosi, hanno la radice più profonda ed il modello più rigoroso nelle idee e nell’attività di
W. E. Deming (1900 – 1993).
This paper provides a history of W. Edwards Deming’s PDSA Cycle for Learning and
Improvement. It starts with a philosophy of science and Galileo in the 1600’s and moves through
Deming’s last version of the PDSA Cycle of 1993. It includes the Shewhart Cycle of 1939, the
Deming Wheel (circle) of 1950, The Japanese PDCA of 1951 and 1985, and the evolution of the
Deming’s PDSA from 1986 through 1993. It concludes with some of Deming’s reactions to the
PDCA.
The PDCA cycle had its origin with Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s lecture in Japan in 1950.
Where did he get these ideas and how have these ideas evolved since those lectures?
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