What Is CAPA? Corrective & Preventive Action
CAPA (corrective and preventive action) is the process to fix the root cause of a deviation and stop it recurring. Learn the steps and a shop-floor case.
Definition
CAPA, or corrective and preventive action, is the quality process that investigates the root cause of a deviation, corrects it and prevents recurrence. It is required in GMP and ISO-based systems. Actarion speeds up CAPA by pushing updated work instructions to every station and showing step-level deviation data.
Why does it matter on the shop floor?
- The same deviation returns because the fix never reached the floor.
- Root-cause analysis lacks data about how the task was done.
What is CAPA?
CAPA is a structured process for corrective actions (fix an existing problem) and preventive actions (avoid a potential problem).
A CAPA usually runs from detection via root-cause analysis to action and effectiveness check. A common action is changing an SOP or work instruction, and retraining staff.
Key elements
- 1Describe the deviation and investigate the root cause.
- 2Define and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- 3Verify effectiveness.
Example from the shop floor
Labels are applied crooked on one line. Root cause: unclear alignment step. The work instruction gets a photo and a check, and the deviation stops.
How does Actarion help?
- Actarion shows where steps deviate and rolls out revised instructions to all stations in one change.
- Digital, step-by-step work instructions generated from your SOPs with AI.
- AR guidance on tablets and AR glasses, with an audit trail per execution.
Frequently asked questions
Corrective fixes a problem that happened; preventive stops one that could happen.
Quality usually owns the process; operations owns many of the actions.
Measure whether the deviation recurs over a defined period.
