Corrective action: what it is and what it means

A corrective action acts on the cause of a nonconformance that has already occurred, while a correction acts on the nonconforming item — the part, the document or the order that is wrong. It is opened when at least one of three signals is present: the recurrence of the same deviation, a measurable cumulative cost, a downstream risk that would fall on the customer. It always carries an owner, a date and an indicator to reread: it does not eliminate the problem, it reduces the probability that it happens again and must be verified after some time. The acronym CAPA joins corrective action and preventive action, which acts on the cause of a nonconformance that has not happened yet.

Distinctive: acts on the cause of a nonconformance that has already occurred
Distinctive: reduces the probability that it happens again
Essential: the recurrence of the same deviation
Essential: a measurable cumulative cost
Essential: downstream risk
Constant: an owner, a date and an indicator
Constant: must be verified after some time

Glossary

Corrective action

An action that removes the cause of a nonconformance that has occurred, distinct from the correction that acts on the item: it is opened on recurrence, cost or downstream risk and carries an owner, a date and an indicator.