Understand the advantages of applying the PDCA method within an automated system.
The cycle PDCA also known as the Shewhart cycle (who developed it) or the Deming cycle (who actually applied it) is a methodology used by organizations seeking to develop processes and strive for continuous improvement. This management method can be used in any type of company and is mainly applied to make management processes and measuring results clearer and more agile.
The PDCA is made up of the following steps: planning (Plan), execution (Do), verification or measurement (Check) and corrective action (Act). These steps make it easier to take decisions and ensure that goals are achieved.
In the planning phase, the facts, company data, processes, control items and objectives are collected. From this step onwards, guidelines can be drawn up to guide the execution of processes efficiently and effectively.
In the execution phase, the processes are put into practice, including training to ensure their improvement. The action plan will guide the activities of each area to ensure that all targets are met.
In the measurement phase, it is checked whether the procedures have been clearly understood and carried out. At this point, the points that still need to be improved or corrected are identified. This check can be done continuously or by monitoring quality and productivity indices.
If in the previous phase the need for correction or some abnormality was diagnosed, it is time to take corrective action, working on the causes that hindered the procedures, avoiding new errors.
It is important to note that PDCA is a cycle and must therefore be applied continuously. Eliminating one phase damages the entire process, bringing losses to the business. That's why Stratec has created software to help manage this process. With the cycle automated, control of the phases and actions becomes clearer and easier to monitor.
According to Guilherme Barbassa, director of Stratec, "the strategic management module software serves to ensure that the stages of the PDCA are complied with. Although the concept is simple, its systematic application is difficult to incorporate into the company, as it requires a change in attitude and a cultural change in the business," he says.
Luiz Henrique, executive director of Atual Consultoria e Gestão Empresarialcomments that one of the advantages of PDCA is a guarantee of faithful adherence to the method. "As there is a whole sequence to be followed in the PDCAThrough the system we have greater adherence, because with the tool no one is skipping steps, they follow the right cycle," he explains.
Barbassa adds that when you implement a management process like this in your company, you have to break down a cultural barrier and create new planning and monitoring habits. "The software comes in as a solution to break down this cultural barrier, lowering the natural resistance to implementing the method. When you show people how to follow the methodology, acceptance becomes easier," he says.
Luiz Henrique draws attention to the fact that in software, communication is distributed to everyone involved in the process. "For example, when someone structures an action plan or sets a goal, often the other people involved don't even know about the change. With structured communication in the software, no one runs that risk because the information reaches everyone involved with that specific goal," he explains.
Another advantage of the software is that people are always reminded of the next step to be taken, avoiding delays and postponement of actions. "The tendency in organizations is always to focus on the most urgent problems. The software then reminds people to close the PDCA and not just solving that immediate problem," Barbassa explains.
Luiz Henrique also points out that for those who are going to carry out the actions, the PDCA The automated system is an easy tool for checking the status of targets, the position of actions to be carried out, deadlines and meeting schedules. "The executor has access to the information he needs to work," he says. For those who are coordinating, the system also makes the job easier as it offers various functions and reports where they can view the status of each goal, the actions, follow-up meetings and consequently, they can take actions or decisions that will guarantee the execution of the method and the achievement of the goals.
