Short answer

For PDCA, choose one problem and measure, such as trips where delivery product temperature exceeded the acceptance limit / all trips with a reading. Track the baseline and post-change result on the same route, load and recording method. If other conditions changed too, do not attribute the result to the intervention alone.

PDCA helps set up a small, measurable trial before investing in equipment to address a problem. Define the issue, affected route or shift, data source and measurement period at the outset.

Choose one measure

For example, to reduce door-open time, record total open seconds per delivery using the same method. For temperature, define the product, measurement point and acceptance limit first. Do not directly compare rates across periods if their denominators changed.

Trial the change on a limited flow first. When comparing with the prior period, also note changes in load, ambient conditions, number of stops and staff; one route trial does not automatically isolate other factors. If the result is unclear, use a longer or more comparable period.

Record the decision: what changed, which measure was used, the baseline and result, and who owns the next step. If repeated records confirm it worked, add it to the work instruction. If not, keep the observation and design another trial; do not announce a percentage saving or safety effect without measuring it.

PDCA in the cold chain: how to measure a small change

Short answer

Choose one measure

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