How is PDCA similar to DMAIIC ?
PDCA and DMAIIC procedures are used in business for the control, and ongoing improvement of processes and products. Both procedures use similar approaches as they identify opportunities for improvement, collection and review of process data, initiating changes in the process to seek improved control of conditions and making ongoing corrections in the process to achieve perfection.
The PDCA or Plan Do Check Act was an offshoot penned in the 1950’s by the Japanese at Toyota after PDSC, Plan Do Study Act originally crafted by Dr. Deming in the early 1950’s. The PDCA process appears more of a closed loop system where by backing up one step in the process you utilize information gained to make improvements. In effect this action of utilizing the knowledge gained helps drive the output of the process to perfection in a closed loop cycle manner. The process also appears easier to execute, and administer by individuals without extensive Green Belt or Black Belt training.
The PDCA process later became the predecessor to the DMAIIC process that was popularized by the refinement of Six Sigma in the mid 1980’s by Motorola. The DMAIIC procedure to improving processes and products appears from research appears more detail oriented, driven by data than the PDCA procedure.
Both procedures focus on the same end result, but resources utilized for execution of the DMAIIC process appear to be more comprehensive requiring more time to obtain results similar to those the PDCA process may yield. Might this suggest by using the DMAIIC process the improvements achieved will be more comprehensive ? I question the path in terms of cost, and benefit the DMIIAC process is capable of yielding. In reality the DMAIIC procedure appears a highbred version of the PDCA process.
Although both processes are similar, the PDCA approach appears best suited for