The Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle Flashcards
6 cards from real ISO 14001 Foundation Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 The Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle flashcards as text
Which ISO 14001:2015 clauses correspond to the 'Plan' phase of the PDCA cycle?
Answer: Clauses 4 (Context), 5 (Leadership), and 6 (Planning)
The 'Plan' phase of PDCA in ISO 14001:2015 corresponds to Clauses 4 (Understanding the Organization), 5 (Leadership), and 6 (Planning), which establish the foundation and direction for the EMS.
In the PDCA cycle as applied to ISO 14001:2015, what is the primary purpose of the 'Check' phase?
Answer: To monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate performance against plans and objectives
The 'Check' phase involves monitoring, measuring, analyzing, and evaluating the EMS to verify that planned activities are being implemented effectively and that objectives are being achieved.
How does the PDCA cycle support continual improvement in an ISO 14001:2015 EMS?
Answer: By creating a feedback loop where performance data from Check and Act phases informs better planning in the next cycle
PDCA creates a feedback loop: performance data from Check informs corrective actions in Act, which then improve planning in the next Plan phase, creating a continuous upward spiral of improvement.
Which of the following activities belongs to the 'Do' phase of the PDCA cycle in ISO 14001:2015?
Answer: Implementing operational controls and competency training programs
The 'Do' phase covers implementation: putting operational controls in place, ensuring people have the necessary competencies and resources, and executing the plans established in the Plan phase.
What is the significance of the 'Act' phase in the ISO 14001:2015 PDCA cycle?
Answer: It drives improvement by addressing nonconformities, implementing corrective actions, and pursuing continual improvement opportunities
The 'Act' phase closes the loop by translating lessons learned from checking into concrete improvements, ensuring the EMS evolves and environmental performance advances.
How does PDCA apply at both the EMS level and the individual process level under ISO 14001:2015?
Answer: PDCA can be applied at both the overall EMS level and within individual processes, ensuring improvement at every operational level
PDCA is a fractal approach — it applies to the overall EMS (plan the system, implement it, check performance, improve) and to individual processes (plan the process, operate it, check its outcomes, improve it).