We are starting another blog series on the PDCA process. In the last blog, I shared how to execute a go-live successfully. We’re moving on to the Check phase of the PDCA process, step 7: Sustain the process and monitor results. I’m excited for you to reap the benefits of this step.
If you haven’t followed our other blog series about the PDCA process, I highly suggest reading them first. Otherwise, this step would be difficult to understand.
Here are links to the other blogs on the PDCA process steps:
- How to Identify Problems in Process Improvement
- How Problem Prioritization Works and Why It Matters
- How to Identify Countermeasures in Process Improvement
- Developing Countermeasures in Process Improvement
- Training Development for Sustainable Process Improvement
Sustain the Process: Give Processes Time to Breathe
Step 7 of the PDCA process is one of the most important steps that companies often overlook or completely don’t do because we praise action so much. In our culture, which exalts action, the effectiveness of a process takes a backseat. Organizations often make the mistake of prematurely ending new improvements. They immediately retract, thinking the process isn’t working and wasting all the time, effort, and resources.
Processes need time to breathe. It’s like stepping onto a boat—you need time to find your balance amidst the motion. Just as the boat requires steady feet to navigate the waters, processes need time to settle into their new rhythm.
Sustainability involves more than just initial implementation; it’s a continuous process of observation, analysis, and fine-tuning. This is the time we simply sit back, observe, and answer the question: Did the things we wanted to happen happen?
Did the improvements result in the intended timing for onboarding? Is the quality of the staffing reserve strategy enhanced? Did the revamped kickoff achieve its goals? These questions underpin the evaluation of process effectiveness.
Navigating Step 7 for Long-Term Success
As we navigate through step seven of the PDCA process, remember that a well-sustained process is a hallmark of an effective organization. It’s not just about implementing change; it’s also about nurturing and refining it. Your commitment to sustaining your process is an investment in its success.
In the Check phase, there are two things we are looking at. So far, we’ve discussed the first one, which is sustaining the process. Just as a boat needs time to acclimate to the water, processes demand a grace period for optimal adaptation. They need time to stabilize, so don’t make the mistake of canceling processes during this time.
Stay tuned next week for the conclusion of this blog series, where I’ll be sharing with you the second piece of the Check phase: monitoring results. We delve more into the specifics of what you should do at this phase to ensure the success of your process improvement initiative. You won’t want to miss it.
In your service,
Hilary Corna
