Mastering Step 7 of the PDCA Process — Sustaining the Process and Monitoring Results: Part 2

In the first part of the blog series, we talked about sustaining the process by giving it time to breathe. This time I’ll be sharing with you the second piece of step 7 of the PDCA process: monitoring results. In this phase, we are assessing whether the countermeasures we’ve developed effectively address the problems identified earlier. Think of it as a checkpoint to ensure that the changes made are genuinely impactful and aligned with the actual issues.

This evaluation involves revisiting step two (identifying Problems) and step four (identifying Countermeasures) of the PDCA process. Did the changes we implemented truly target the real problem we aimed to solve? It’s an essential aspect that validates the integrity of our process improvement journey.

Navigating the Post-Go-Live Phase: Observing the Ripples of Change

Imagine you’ve gone live with a revamped operation on September 1, 2023. You’ve introduced 40 changes, impacting 35% of the overall operation. In the aftermath of this transformation, the landscape shifts. You’ve shaken the boat, and now everyone on board is adjusting to the new waves. This phase involves a learning curve, with employees grappling with questions, resistance, and…