[Company Name]

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Document Title: Corrective and Preventive Action
Document Number:
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COMPANY PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL

[Company Name]
[Company Group, Division, Location]

Corrective and Preventive Action

[Document Number]
Rev x.xx
DD/MM/YY

Table of Contents
Table of Contents....................................................................................................................................................1
1.0 Purpose..............................................................................................................................................................1
2.0 Scope..................................................................................................................................................................1
3.0 Definition Of Terms..........................................................................................................................................2
3.1 Corrective / Preventive Action Notice (CPAN) #..................................................................................2
3.2 Corrective Action....................................................................................................................................2
3.3 Nonconformity........................................................................................................................................2
3.4 Preventive Action ..................................................................................................................................2
3.5 Objective Evidence.................................................................................................................................2
3.6 Root-Cause2
4.0 Responsibilities and Requirements...................................................................................................................2
4.1 Quality Assurance...................................................................................................................................2
4.2 Quality Auditors.....................................................................................................................................2
4.3 Departmental Manager or Designee......................................................................................................2
4.4 [Company Name] Personnel ..................................................................................................................2
5.0 References..........................................................................................................................................................2
6.0 Procedure...........................................................................................................................................................3
6.1 Preventive Action...................................................................................................................................3
6.2 Corrective Action....................................................................................................................................3
6.3 Originating a Request for Corrective / Preventive Action.....................................................................3
6.4 Quality Assurance Review......................................................................................................................3
6.5 Responsible Department Action.............................................................................................................4
6.6 Corrective/Preventive Action Implementation.......................................................................................4
6.7 Corrective / Preventive Action Follow-up Verification.........................................................................4
6.8 Corrective/Preventive Action Awareness...............................................................................................5
7.0 Flow Chart.........................................................................................................................................................6
8.0 Corective/ Preventative Action Notice..............................................................................................................7
1.0

Purpose
To ensure that corrective and preventive action is a vital closed loop system of root cause analysis,
documented action, verification of effectiveness, and prevention of recurrence.

2.0

Scope
This procedure applies to identified product, process, system nonconformities and problematic
performance with respect to internal quality, manufacturing, customer complaints, work safety issues
and discrepancies cited during internal audits and external audits (e.g., FDA, Supplier, ISO) at all
facilities of [Company Name].

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3.0

4.0

5.0

Corrective and Preventive Action

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Definition Of Terms
3.1

Corrective / Preventive Action Notice (CPAN) #

A unique # assigned to a Corrective / Preventive Action Notice for easy identification and
tracking purposes.

3.2

Corrective Action
Action taken to eliminate the root cause(s) and symptom(s) of an existing undesirable deviation
or nonconformity to prevent recurrence.

3.3

Nonconformity
A departure or deviation of a quality characteristic from its intended level or state that occurs
with severity sufficient to cause an associated product, process, system or service not to meet a
specified requirement.

3.4

Preventive Action
Action taken to eliminate potential nonconformance

3.5

Objective Evidence
Verifiable qualitative or quantitative information, observations, records or statements of fact
pertaining to the quality of the product, process or system.

3.6

Root-Cause
A fundamental deficiency that results in a nonconformance which must be corrected to prevent
recurrence of the same or similar nonconformance.

Responsibilities and Requirements

4.1

Quality Assurance

Initiate and/or issue Corrective / Preventive Action Notice(s);

Review documented root cause and Corrective / Preventive Action Plan for approval;

Initiate follow-up verification (audit) of completed Corrective / Preventive Actions for

effectiveness;

File and maintain all Corrective / Preventive Action documentation.

Facilitate the preparation and implementation of Corrective/ Preventive Action Plans

4.2

Quality Auditors
Perform follow-up verification of completed Corrective / Preventive Actions resulting from
internal audits

4.3

Departmental Manager or Designee

Participate in review or respond to Corrective / Preventive Action Notice(s) when requested;

Investigate potential causes of nonconformance(s);

Assist in the development and implementation of a Corrective / Preventive Action Plan.

4.4

[Company Name] Personnel

Responsible for reporting problems and nonconformance to Quality Assurance on the Corrective/
Preventive Action Notice form.

References

Customer Complaint Processing

Customer and Supplier Audits

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Internal Quality Audits

Recall Procedures
Quality Records
MDR/MDVS Reports
Quality System Report to Senior Management

6.0

Corrective and Preventive Action

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Procedure
6.1

Preventive Action
Quality Assurance will determine the appropriate tools to detect, analyze and eliminate potential
causes of nonconformance. Use of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), process mapping,
Cause and Effect Diagrams and/or Statistical Process Control may be applied to monitor the
process. Information and/or data is collected to determine areas needing preventive action.

6.2

Corrective Action
Both external and internal rejections of nonconformities require root-cause analysis and
corrective action. If the problem stems from a processing practice, appropriate departmental
personnel are contacted to initiate an investigation to determine the root-cause of the
nonconformance. After the root-cause of the nonconformance is determined, corrective action is
initiated to implement improved practices.

6.3

Originating a Request for Corrective / Preventive Action

Any [Company Name] employee who identifies a potential or actual problem or nonconformance
may request corrective / preventive action by completing the Originator section of a Corrective /
Preventive Action, and submitting the form to Quality Assurance as soon as possible after
identifying the potential or actual problem or nonconformance. For a Corrective / Preventive
Action resulting from an internal quality audit, SOP-XXXX INTERNAL AUDITS states the
time period and method for submitting the form to Quality Assurance. If the Corrective /
Preventive Action concerns a problem with a defective item, when possible the defective item
shall accompany the Corrective / Preventive Action.
Corrective / Preventive Action may be requested as a result of:

6.4

Internal and external audits;

Recall of product either voluntary or mandatory;
Review of product service records;
Feedback that identifies problematic performance with respect to manufacturability of
product or process operations;
Customer complaints due to dissatisfaction of products or services that may or may not lead
to the return of goods;
Review of NCMRS;
Medical Device Report (MDR) or Medical Devices Vigilance System (MDVS) report;
Product, process, or system nonconformance;
Other.

Quality Assurance Review

Quality Assurance will review the requested Corrective / Preventive Action Notice as soon as
possible after receipt, and approve or disapprove the request. For a Corrective / Preventive Action
Notice resulting from an internal quality audit, INTERNAL AUDITS states the time period and
method for Quality Assurance review. If the request is not approved, the reason is documented on
the Corrective / Preventive Action, the form is signed and dated, the originator is notified, and
the form is filed.

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Corrective and Preventive Action

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If the request is approved, Quality Assurance determines if immediate or special action is

required, and if so, the immediate or special action and when due are documented on the
Corrective / Preventive Action. The Director of QA/RA or Quality Engineer then determines and
records on the form the responsible department and area manager, assigns a Corrective /
Preventive Action number (CPAN#), signs and dates the form, enters the information in the
Corrective / Preventive Action Database, notifies the Originator of request approval and CPAN#,
retains a copy of the form, and sends the original to the responsible department.
6.5

Responsible Department Action

The department manager or designee that receives a Corrective/Preventive Action Notice must
implement immediate or special action (if noted on the Corrective/ Preventive Action Notice
form) in the time period specified by the Director of QA/RA. Upon receiving a
Corrective/Preventive Action, the recipient must perform the following:

Investigate the potential root-causes of the nonconformance;

Analyze suspect processes and/or operations to determine the specific root cause, then
document on CPAN form;
Develop, in conjunction with Quality Assurance, a Corrective/Preventive Action Plan to
eliminate the root cause and prevent its recurrence;
Document on the CPAN form, sign and date the form. The plan must include a projected
date of completion.

For a Corrective / Preventive Action Notice resulting from an internal quality audit, Internal
Audits, states the time period and method for responsible department action.
6.6

Corrective/Preventive Action Implementation

The responsible department manager implements the plan as prescribed by the projected
completion date.

Changes in procedures and/or processes resulting from Corrective/Preventive Actions are

documented and recorded.
Communication and training of the changes, for affected individuals, are performed,
documented and retained as Quality Records.

When implementation is complete, the responsible department manager attaches or references

objective evidence of implementation on the Corrective / Preventive Action Notice form, signs
and dates the form, and sends the form to Quality Assurance.

6.7

Corrective / Preventive Action Follow-up Verification

Once implementation of Corrective / Preventive Actions are complete, Quality Assurance (or
Quality Auditor(s) for Corrective / Preventive Action resulting from an internal audit) performs a
follow up verification to assess and determine its effectiveness. Documented objective evidence of
effectiveness is required for closure and is attached to or referenced on the Corrective /
Preventive Action Notice form. If the Corrective / Preventive Actions are not implemented in a
timely manner, Quality Assurance will review the situation with the department manager and
establish a new priority. If the Corrective / Preventive Actions are not effective, the responsible
department is notified to develop a new action plan.
Once verification of effectiveness is complete, Quality Assurance or the Quality Auditor signs
and dates the Corrective / Preventive Action Notice form, and checks the CPAN Closed
checkbox. Quality Assurance updates the Corrective / Preventive Action Database, notifies the

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originator and the responsible department that verification is complete, and files the completed
Corrective / Preventive Action form.
Timing and scheduling of such verifications are at the discretion of the Director of QA/RA, and
depend on such factors as: criticality of the corrective / preventive action, time required to
generate and gather objective evidence of effectiveness, and available resources. Verification may
take place during an internal audit, or Quality Assurance may perform verification as soon as
practical after the completion date. For a Corrective / Preventive Action resulting from an
internal quality audit, Internal Audits, states the scheduling of follow-up verification.
Records are filed and maintained as Quality Records.
6.8

Corrective/Preventive Action Awareness

The Corrective / Preventive Action Database, maintained by Quality Assurance and available on
the [Company Name] computer network, tracks and indicates the status of Corrective /
Preventive Actions. The status or summary of Corrective / Preventive Actions will be included in
the Quality System Report to Senior Management. Also, when pertinent the Director of QA/RA
will report to Senior Management the status of Corrective / Preventive Actions at corporate staff
meetings. Senior Management will review and initiate appropriate action.

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7.0

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Flow Chart
Originator identifies and describes the problem or
potential problem on Corrective/ Preventive Action
Notice (CPAN) form

QA review: approve
corrective/ preventive
action request?

No

QA documents reason for disapproval, notifies

originator and files request
-End-

Yes

Responsible Department takes

immediate or special action required

No

Review situation with Responsible Department and

establish new priority

Yes
Quality Assurance assigns
CPAN#, forwards CPAN to
responsible department

Is immediate or special
action required?

No
Responsible Department investigates, determines
root-cause of problem, develops action plan with
Quality Assurance to resolve problem

Responsible Department
executes action plan
No
QA review: has
action plan been completed by
projected completion date?
Yes
QA follow-up
verification: was solution
effective?
Yes
QA completes and files
documentation.
-End-

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8.0

Corrective and Preventive Action

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Corective/ Preventative Action Notice

ORIGINATOR DATA

Name:

Date: //

Subject:
Description of Problem/ Condition:

QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW

Disapproved
Reason for Disapproval:

Due Date: //

Approved
Immediate Action Required:

Assigned To:

Location:
MANAGEMENT ACTION

CPAN #:

Analysis of Root Cause:

Due Date: //

Corrective Action Plan (CAP):

Reviewed By:

Date: //
QUALITY ASSURANCE FOLLOW-UP/ VERIFICATION
Provide Documented Evidence of CAP Implementation/ Effectiveness:

Corrective/ Preventative Action Notice Status:

Reviewed By:

[Document Filename]

Closed

Date: //

Signature:

COMPANY PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL

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