The model is a simple, yet powerful way to resolve new and recurring issues in any industry, department, or process. Its repeated approach allows you and your team to test solutions and assess results in a waste-reducing cycle.

It instills a commitment to continuous improvement, however small, and can improve efficiency and productivity in a controlled way, without the risks of making large scale, untested changes to your processes.

Going through the PDCA cycle can be much slower than a straightforward implementation and it might not be the appropriate approach for dealing with an urgent problem or emergency.

It also requires significant “buy-in” from others, and offers fewer opportunities for radical innovation, if that is what your organization needs.