PDCA in a standards context

My latest post on the Bywater site covers the use of the PDCA model or Deming cycle within ISO 9001.

PDCA is such a simple concept. Why then do so many struggle with using it effectively?

As the linked article shows, the original Plan – Do – Check – Act cycle was developed almost 100 years ago and has origins that go back centuries or even millennia.

Its use in management systems standards (MSS) is more recent and the linkage of the clauses to PDCA helps understand how ISO 9001 and the many other MSS that ISO – International Organization for Standardization produces is intended to work.

The clause alignment isn’t perfect but the logic flow shines through.