PDS(C)A

["John Bruman" <jbruman@precisiondie.com>]

 I agree somewhat with Steve.
There is  widespread misunderstanding about this process whatever you wish
to call it.
There are some very important but subtle differences that distinguish this
from a simple trial and error approach. On the surface, it appears to be a
prescription for just that. A simple "cut and try" methodology. It never was
intended to be so.
It all starts with forming a hypothesis based on profound knowledge gleaned
from research by subject matter experts and profound thinkers, that if we do
"thus and so" the results will be "this or that".
Then the hypothesis is put into action by exercising it, then studying or
verifying that the process was actually performed according to the
hypothesis.  It is focused on the hypothesized process rather than the
result. WED often said that checking or studying results is tantamount to
driving your car by watching the rear view mirror.
Doing the "Check, Study, or Verify" step focused on the process is just what
separates this from the MBO process Steve mentioned.
Once the hypothesized process (plan) has been studied or verified, continual
improvement causes us to go back and form a new hypothesis which is our "Act
 phase.
I paraphrase the whole thing as: "Hypothesize-Exercise-Analyze-and Optimize"
 It then becomes a continual quest focused on improving the "process" to do
it more efficiently, economically, and effectively rather than "forcing"
results at any cost.
John Bruman
QA Manager