IMPROVE #19: STEP EIGHT - Standardize and Share Success

What a journey! This is the end of the improvement process! STEP EIGHT falls into the ACT or "adjust" phase. This is when we draw conclusions from our data. At this point, we will know if we have finally found the solution to our problem, or not. This is the time to 'Standardize' which means, to establish the new countermeasures as part of the process and keep. This is the time to 'Share Success" also, but beware, if you didn't find the solution, we will have to do this all over again.

STEP EIGHT - Standardize and Share Success

If you’ve encountered success along your problem-solving path, it is time to set the new processes as the new standard within the organization and share them throughout the organization.

This illustration shows a wedge holding the wheel from sliding down. As the PDCA wheel goes up, the wedge is what keeps it from rolling down. Every time we spin the PDCA wheel, we need something to keep all our findings in place. Everything that we learned has to be established.

Now that we are at the end of the 8-step process, it is also a good time to reflect on what you’ve learned and to address any possible unresolved issues or troubles you have along the way. Keep in mind that ignoring unresolved issues will only lead to more problems down the road. So, be ready to spin the PDCA wheel and do it all over again.

Finally, if your organization believes that continuous improvement never stops, it is time to tackle the next problem. Start the problem-solving process over again and continue to work towards perfection. APPLICATION: What if the root cause is "Poor Quality of Raw Materials"?

What would be the new standard that you will make part of the process? Provide two examples of standards.