Process Decision Program Chart (PDPC)
The Process Decision Program Chart (PDCP) is a good tool to use for
contingency planning. It helps to realize what could go wrong or problems
associated with the implementation of programs and improvements.
When should we use the Process Decision Program Chart?
The PDPC can be used to set up link objectives, map out contingencies,
plan projects or implement improvements. A useful way of planning is
to break down tasks into a hierarchy, using a tree diagram. The PDPC
simply extends this chart a couple of levels to identify risks and countermeasures
for the bottom level tasks, as in Viewgraph
1. Different shaped boxes are used to highlight the risks
and countermeasures (they are often shown as 'clouds' to indicate their
uncertain nature).
Is that all? Well, yes and no. Yes, that is what the diagram is used
to show. No, identifying risks and countermeasures is not all that easy
and seldom done that well. Often, when the plan is complete, you are
raring to go and are not keen on stopping to think about what might
go wrong. That might make you feel a bit uncomfortable, and after all,
what do they pay you for? Managers must manage. If problems occur, you
will handle them as they appear.
But unfortunately, problems almost inevitably do occur, and when they
do they are often in areas that could have been easily identified if
a little precaution had been applied. Using PDPC is going from slow
to fast, using a little rigor to identify possible problems and countermeasures
in each area before diving into action.
How do we develop a Process Decision Program Chart?
- Break down the task into a tree
diagram. The bottom 'leaves' on the tree will now indicate the
actual tasks to be carried out.
- For each bottom-level task 'leaf', brainstorm
or otherwise identify a list of possible problems that could occur.
- Select one or a few of the risks identified in step 2 to put on
the diagram, based on a combination of probability of the risk occurring
and the potential impact, should the risk materialize.
- For each risk selected in step 2, brainstorm or otherwise identify
possible countermeasures that you could take to minimize the effect
of the risk.
- Select a practical subset of countermeasures identified in step
4 to put in the chart.
- Continue building the chart as above finding risks and countermeasures
for each task. If there are a large number of tasks, you can simplify
the task by only doing this for tasks that are considered to be at
risk or where the impact of their failure would be large.
View
example of PDPC used with a cutting machine.
PDPC also works well in a text hierarchy, where you can use any combination
of indentation and numbering to show the depth of each item. The example
below shows risks and countermeasures in italics. X's and O's are also
used to show rejected and selected countermeasures.
| |
2.0 |
Milling of casting master |
| |
2.1 |
Put design detail into computer |
| |
|
2.1.1 |
Miskeyed detail |
|
0
|
|
|
2.1.1.1 |
Use same computer format as design software |
| X |
|
|
2.1.1.2 |
Key twice for verification |
| |
2.2 |
Produce machine control tape |
| |
2.3 |
Mount tape |
| |
2.4 |
Clamp raw casting block into milling machine |
| |
|
2.4.1 |
Wrong material |
| X |
|
|
2.4.1.1 |
Spectral analysis |
| 0 |
|
|
2.4.1.2 |
Visual check in process notes |
| |
|
2.4.2 |
Wrongly-clamped |
Source: http://syque.com/quality_tools/tools/TOOLS12.htm
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