FWK

Plan-Do-Check-Act PDCA

ISO Harmonized Structure

The continuous-improvement cycle every modern ISO management system standard is built on. Under the shared Harmonized Structure: Plan covers Clauses 4–6 (context, leadership, planning), Do covers Clauses 7–8 (support, operation), Check covers Clause 9 (performance evaluation), and Act covers Clause 10 (improvement).

For small firms

Recognizing this mapping makes the standard feel far less arbitrary — it's just PDCA with ISO's own naming.

Related terms

AIMS Harmonized Structure The common Clause 4–10 skeleton shared by all modern ISO management standards. AIMS Context of the organization Identifying the issues and interested parties relevant to the AIMS. AIMS Continual improvement Keeping the AIMS getting better over time instead of standing still.
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