A critical misapplication of the PDCA model (2002,May.3w)

     The PDCA model constructs ISO9001: 2000. But be careful not to confuse with a management model and a continual improvement model. The PDCA model, which is also famous for Deming cycle in Japan, is a continual improvement model, not a management one.
I find the confusion in ISO9001: 2000 when it describes a management process. For example, NOTE in 4.1 clause says processes needed for the quality management system referred to above should include processes for management activities, provision of resources, production realization and measurement. Management activities should not include production realization. They are complementary to production realization.

I made a simple following chart model using the PDCA model to make clear the difference between management processes and production realization processes (core processes). The PDCA activities are management ones ( which correspond to ISO9001 requirements and the D activities are ones that relate to production realization (which corresponds to product requirements).