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CAPA: Corrective and Preventive Action That Actually Works

Fixing a problem once is easy. Making sure it never happens again — here or anywhere similar — is what CAPA is for. It's a core requirement in ISO 9001, food safety and pharmaceutical quality systems.

By DOOfy3 min read

What is CAPA?

CAPA stands for Corrective and Preventive Action. Corrective action removes the cause of a problem that has happened. Preventive action removes the cause of a potential problem before it happens.

The CAPA process

  • Identify and record the issue (complaint, audit finding, defect).
  • Contain it — protect the customer immediately.
  • Investigate the root cause (5 Whys, fishbone).
  • Plan corrective and preventive actions with owners and dates.
  • Implement the actions.
  • Verify effectiveness — did the problem stop recurring?
  • Close and share the learning.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Closing CAPAs without checking effectiveness.
  • Treating “retrain staff” as the answer to every root cause.
  • CAPAs that stay open for months.

How DOOfy helps

CAPA effectiveness is proven by data over time. AIMOS One tracks whether the issue recurs after an action is closed, and NIMMI can follow up open actions with their owners until they are done.

See AIMOS One liveBook a demo

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between corrective and preventive action?

Corrective action addresses the cause of an existing problem; preventive action addresses the cause of a potential problem before it occurs.

Is CAPA required by ISO 9001?

ISO 9001:2015 requires corrective action and a risk-based approach, which covers the intent of preventive action.

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