PDCA – ACT
Actions taken — without undue delay — to close the gap, identified during measurement and analysis, between the annual plans and the data records produced during execution. Of course there is an element of act in the management reviews because after you review the required inputs you are supposed to assign action items to individuals to take the necessary corrective actions (and maybe preventive actions).
ISO 9001 has a few clear action steps like isolating nonconforming product, taking corrective action, and maybe preventive action too.
Nonconforming Product (8.3)
Corrective Action (8.5.2)
Preventive Action (8.5.3)? (I know some of you want this here)
ISO 9001 PDCA cycle is not a singular thing. It is actually a series of imbedded PDCA cycles. Clause 7 is not just about doing. Product realization is itself an ISO 9001 PDCA cycle that starts with planning requirements and realization needs. Next comes development (doing), development reviews (checking), and finally development revisions (actions). This same PDCA cycle is occurring within training, documentation, purchasing, auditing, corrective action, etc. The whole concept of continuous improvement relies on PDCA.