Corrective and preventive actions are important parts of a quality management system (QMS) , but sometimes it can be difficult to tell these two processes apart.

A corrective action deals with a nonconformity that has occurred, and a preventive action addresses the potential for a nonconformity to occur. Section 8.5.2 of the ISO 9000 standard says corrective action eliminates the cause of nonconformities to prevent recurrence, and section 8.5.3 says preventive action determines and eliminates the causes of potential nonconformities to prevent occurrence.  In a nutshell, one deals with what has happened and the other attempts to stop something from happening.

Many auditors recommend using separate procedures and forms to document each type of action. The standard doesn’t say this must be done, but there is a heavy implication that it should be done.

One way to understand these processes is to break down what is required for each one:

Corrective Action Process

• Locate and document the root cause of the nonconformity.
• Audit the system to ensure no other nonconformity could occur. (impact analysis)
• Analyze the effect the nonconformity may have had on a product or service before it was discovered.
• Which may require taking action by either recalling the product, notifying the customer, downgrading or scrapping product.
• Establish thorough follow-up to ensure the correction is effective and recurrence has been prevented.

Preventive Action Process

• Take proactive steps to detect a potential nonconformity before it can occur.
• Use system analysis to create built-in safeguards and process changes to prevent nonconformance.
• Example, use of a failure mode and risk analysis to identify potential deficiencies and create priorities for improvement.

Both corrective and preventive actions require effective communications. In addition, both require clear documentation of actions taken and lessons learned. Documenting, controlling and communicating corrective and preventive actions ensure appropriate action is taken within a reasonable timeframe and the resulting changes are effective.

​For more information on how Accupoint Software can help your organization manage the corrective and preventative action process, please contact us today.

The benefits of a corrective action program are immeasurable, and in the oil and gas industry, these programs are an integral part of any quality management system. An effective corrective action system works to identify the root cause of an issue, generates action plans to reduce  or eliminate the chance of recurrence, and provides for evaluation of solution effectiveness. 

That being said, some companies struggle with implementing an effective corrective action management program. Below are some of the key elements of a successful corrective action program.
 
1. Have the right people leading your corrective action program.
Put together a team to evaluate potential members for the program. Make sure that the people chosen understand the  issue in question.  Team members must have first-hand knowledge of the process being assessed.

2. Evaluation of Issue
The corrective action team should collect data on similar issues that have occurred in the past.    Subsequently this information needs to be analyzed and evaluated to determine applicable root causes.

3. Develop Corrective Action Plan
The corrective action plan should identify the root cause of the issue, containment actions as well as specific action taken long term to reduce or eliminate the chance for a recurrence.  Finally, ensure that the corrective and preventive action plan is properly communicated with applicable personnel within the organization.

4. Create Compliance
Once the corrective action has been implemented, utilize the evaluation results to drive  your  corrective action impact.  The impact analysis will create benchmarks and pinpoint opportunities for process improvements.

Effectively managing your corrective action program is critical to your success.  To find out how Accupoint can help improve the effectiveness of your corrective action program, please contact us today.

For any business, the more efficient your business processes are, the lower your business costs will be. Identifying the appropriate corrective actions not only eliminates poor practices, it also ensures that your business is in compliance with applicable API standards.

There are many reasons why corrective actions become necessary. Those reasons can include process issues, customer complaints, or improper training among other things. Effective corrective actions should be informed by data that is gathered throughout the productions cycle. The most effective way to gather this data is through the utilization of software. Through automation, it will be easier to see process dependencies that may not be apparent if each stage and its supporting processes were looked at individually. This approach eliminates the likelihood that a corrective action in the production process has a negative impact on processes that follow it, like packaging and shipping.

Choosing comprehensive quality management software that includes data collection for corrective actions will help ensure that your micro decisions are made with considerations for the macro business environment. The software should also allow you to quickly gather information to assess the impact of corrective actions to make ongoing changes rapidly if needed. And, the software should have functionality to generate real-time reports to support recommended corrective actions to win company buy-in.

Accupoint Software empowers companies to make optimal decisions to improve productivity and drive more efficient operational procedures. For more information on how Accupoint can help you manage your corrective and preventative action programs, visit www.accupointsoftware.com or call us at 800.563.6250.