A heavy equipment manufacturer is following the Deming cycle for its quality management. At which stage of the cycle does the manufacturer need to check the output versus the specifications?

In the Act phase, the manufacturer makes decisions based on what was learned during the Study phase. This involves implementing improvements or adjustments as necessary but does not encompass the evaluation of output against specifications, which is the primary focus of the Study phase.

The Plan phase is centered on identifying objectives and determining the necessary actions to achieve them. While specifications may be established during this stage, it does not involve checking the actual output for compliance with those specifications, which occurs later in the Study phase.

During the Do phase, the manufacturer implements the plans and executes the processes. While this stage is crucial for action-taking, it does not include the evaluation of outputs against specifications, which is a critical function of the subsequent Study phase where results are reviewed and assessed.