Process decision program chart

Process Decision Program Chart (PDPC)

The PDPC is a technique designed to help prepare contingency plans. The emphasis of the PDPC is to identify the consequential impact of failure on activity plans, and create appropriate contingency plans to limit risks. Process diagrams and planning tree diagrams are extended by a couple of levels when the PDPC is applied to the bottom level tasks on those diagrams.

How it works: From the bottom level of some activity box, the PDPC diagram adds levels for:

 1. identifying what can go wrong (failure mode or risks)
 2. consequences of that failure  (effect or consequence)
 3. possible countermeasures      (risk mitigation action plan)

Similarity The PDPC is similar to the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) in that both identify risks, consequences of failure, and contingency actions. The FMEA adds prioritized risk levels through rating relative risk for each potential failure point.

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  Example Process Decision Program Chart

References: The Memory Jogger II, Goal QPC, First Edition, Goal QPC Press, 1994, pages 160-162. The Quality Toolbox, Nancy R. Tague, Second Edition, ASQ Quality Press, 2004, pages 428-430. Goal QPC, David (1994). The Memory Jogger II…. Goal QPC Press. pp. 160–162. ISBN 1-879364-44-1.