What is the difference between corrective action and preventive action?

There are two clauses within the ISO standard that appear to cause many people confusion as to their difference and how to approach each of them;8.5.2-Corrective Actions &8.5.3-Preventive Actions.

Within the standard the wording within each of the clauses is very similar which is probably where most of the confusion stems from.

8.5.2 Corrective Actions:

“The organization shall take action to eliminate the causes of nonconformities in order to prevent recurrence.”

8.5.3 Preventive Actions:

“The organization shall determine action to eliminate the causes of potential nonconformities in order to prevent their occurrence.”

Main Difference

You can clearly see from the excerpts taken from the ISO standard that Corrective Actions are taken as a result of non-conformances whilst Preventive Actions are taken against potential non-conformances to prevent them from ever occurring.

You should not be raising Preventive Actions after a non-conformance has occurred, you should only be raising Corrective Actions.

Corrective Actions

To address the Corrective Action clause you should be identifying the root cause of non-conformances that have already taken place and implementing immediate corrective actions to contain the situation and long term corrective actions to prevent their re-occurrence.

Detailed information on root cause analysis and techniques can be found within other guidance notes available on the IMS website.

 

Preventive Actions

This is usually where people take a step in the wrong direction, it is often seen that organisations are raising preventive actions as a result of a non-conformance and after they have identified corrective actions.  Because they see the word “Preventive” within the clause they believe this means to prevent the non-conformance from re-occurring.

Types of Preventive Actions can include processes such as performing risk assessments against product, processes and health and safety activities.  You are aiming to prevent a non-conformance from ever occurring by taking preventative measures.

Most organisations take Preventive Actions without knowing they are.  Within the construction industry you will commonly see kick off and progress meetings throughout projects, these are preventive actions as the members present at the meeting will be discussing potential problems which may hold back the progress of the project.

Observations raising during internal audits could be classed as Preventive Actions as they can suggest improvements within the system to prevent non-conformances from occurring in the future.

Customer feedback is another method that can be used as Preventive Action evidence as customer suggestions may prevent any issues from being raised in future with regards to the service or product you provide.

 

 

The corrective action mean to repair the machine after her inplaned stop. The preventive action mean to plain the action of machine before there broken

Great answers. My input is along the same lines as all the professionals who contributed thus far. When I think of "lithe term "corrective" what comes to mind is done form of damage already has taken place. So whatever actions to follow would be merely eliminating present issues by fixing the damage, plus, using the learning to place preventive measures against recurrence of the same type violation (damage); where as when I think of the term "preventive", the concepts that come to mind are: pro-active, risk management, leading indicators, and building a quality attitude in the work doers. Deming had always promoted quality as attitude. Inspections -for example- can step up to higher level of excellence if they focus on potential issues to begin to highlight what could go wrong, then advise interventions to "prevent" the wrong from taking place.

Thanks

I support the answer given by colleague Anwar

Corrective action is after the happening of the event and preventive is before the happening of event.

Corrective action is done to ensure that the same error does not happen in future. 

Preventive action is taken in anticipation of mishaps which may occur. 

Dear Sir,

 

 

From the managerial point of view its clearly understood from the terminologies and the ISO standard that both of the actions are falling on the time line vs. the life time or effects might occur due to any evidence or incidence or malfunction might affect any of the business resources. But.. key points must kept in consideration that both of the actions comes as per the organizations such as maintenance strategies OTF is considering the corrective actions but when the aspect is related to safety, security, productivity productivities the a number of plans and procedures are followed in order to eliminate the corrective actions.

Thanks for invitation,

In very precise  words:

Corrective Action: To overcome deviation that already happened between the plan and the results.of execution.. 

preventive Action: To avoid any deviation between the plan and the execution.

Agree with Mr. BEN SELMA WALID

l agree with ahmad fahim & mohammad anwer answers

You can clearly see from the excerpts taken from the ISO 9001 standard that Corrective Actions are taken as a result of non-conformances whilst Preventive Actions are taken against potential non-conformances to prevent them from ever occurring.

You should not be raising Preventive Actions after a non-conformance has occurred, you should only be raising Corrective Actions.

Corrective Actions

 

To address the Corrective Action clause, you should be identifying the root cause of non-conformances that have already taken place and implementing immediate corrective actions to contain the situation and long term corrective actions to prevent their re-occurrence.

 

Detailed information on root cause analysis and techniques can be found within other guidance notes available on the IMS website.

 

 

Preventive Actions

 

 

This is usually where people take a step in the wrong direction, it is often seen that organizations are raising preventive actions as a result of a non-conformance and after they have identified corrective actions.  Because they see the word “Preventive” within the clause they believe this means to prevent the non-conformance from re-occurring.