The CAPA tools is a fundamental tool which provides step by step process to complete
1. Action to eliminate the Root cause and
2. Documentation of Corrective Action / Preventive Action.
CAPA- Corrective Action Preventive Action is an important part of Quality management system.
Whenever we receive any complaint / nonconformity/ problem, we are doing containment action which is called first aid to resolve the issue first.
Containment Action:-
Any solutions / actions taken to resolve the problem on temperory basis, called containment action.(it is also known as enterim corrective action/ short term corrective action / correction.) Containment actions never can be the final
solution.
After the containment action taken,
A team is formed to analize the problem/ issue / nonconformity.
the team analize the problem and come out with the Root cause using Quality tools.
the Action to eliminate the root causes is called corrective Action.
Addition to the root cause which is identified and eliminated, other potential causes are there which may cause to create the nonconformity / problem. The Action which is taken to eliminate these potential causes is called Preventive action.
Corrective Action : This action is the process of Reacting to Problem / nonconformities / complaints
Preventive Action:- This Action is the process to detect potential problem for nonconformities and eliminate the problem.
We Can say the Action taken :
1. To Prevent Reccurence is called Corrective Action.
2. To prevent Occurence is called Preventive Action.
Taking an example,
When a person facing illness and going to Doctor
What Doctor does ?
Step-1. Do dignosis. Give you Injection / bottle of glucose to make you stable.
step-2 Asking you fundamental query:
* What was taken in food.
Now he will & instruction to take care Do's & Don'ts.