PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) consists of exactly four stages. Based on standard quality management frameworks like those from , any stage outside of these four is part of the cycle. Common Non-PDCA Stages

not

You stop them immediately. Why? Because those are stages of PDCA. You would be mixing methodologies, wasting time, and confusing the team.

  • Evaluate: While evaluation is an essential part of the PDCA cycle, it is not a separate stage. Evaluation is done during the "Check" stage.
  • Implement: Implementation is part of the "Do" stage, not a separate stage.
  • Standardize: Standardization is part of the "Act" stage, not a separate stage.
  • Monitor: Monitoring is an ongoing process that occurs throughout the PDCA cycle, but it is not a separate stage.

The PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle, also known as the Deming cycle, is a widely used framework for continuous improvement and quality control. It was originally developed by Walter Shewhart and later popularized by W. Edwards Deming. The PDCA cycle is a simple yet effective methodology for identifying areas for improvement, testing solutions, and implementing changes in a cyclical and iterative manner.

Plan

: Identify an opportunity, recognize a problem, and plan a change.

Any term that is not one of these four—or a direct synonym (e.g., “Evaluate” for Check)—is likely a distractor.

Understanding the PDCA Cycle: Identifying the Stages and Common Misconceptions