Corrective action

How it is used

A key term in ISO 9001 and customer quality systems. Teams take, implement and verify corrective actions, often in an 8D or CAPA (corrective and preventive action) report. A containment action, such as sorting stock, is the quick first step; corrective action follows the root cause analysis.

Example sentences

1. As a corrective action, we added a torque check to the control plan and retrained the operators.

2. The customer will close the complaint only after we prove the corrective action is effective.

Common collocations

• take corrective action
• corrective action plan
• verify corrective action
• corrective and preventive action

Related terms

• root cause analysisA structured way of finding the deepest reason for a problem, so that it can be fixed for good instead of only treating the symptoms. Often shortened to RCA.
• nonconformanceA failure to meet a specified requirement in a product, a process or a management system, for example a part outside tolerance or a skipped procedure step.
• auditA planned, independent check of whether a process, product or management system follows the required standards, procedures and rules.
• 5 WhysA simple root cause technique in which you keep asking 'why?' about a problem, about five times, until you reach a cause you can actually fix.
• poka-yokeA simple device or design feature that prevents a mistake or makes it obvious at once, such as a part that can only fit one way. Japanese for 'mistake-proofing'.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• corrective action · Food Science & Technology

More terms: Quality Control and Assurance

• defect
• scrap
• rework
• quality control
• inspection
• statistical process control
• control chart
• first pass yield
• FMEA