CAPA stands for Corrective Action and Preventive Action. It is a structured way to respond to a problem: a failed inspection, a customer complaint, an audit finding or a repeated defect. A good CAPA removes the cause, not just the symptom, and records the evidence that the fix worked.
Terms#
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Correction (containment) | Immediate action on the affected product | Sort and repair the failed lot |
| Corrective action | Remove the cause of a problem that has happened | Reset the machine and add a setting check to the procedure |
| Preventive action | Remove the cause of a potential problem before it happens elsewhere | Apply the same check to all similar machines and lines |
The steps#
- Describe the problem: what, where, when, how many, with evidence.
- Contain it: protect the customer. Sort, repair, hold stock, inform the buyer if required.
- Find the root cause: use data, a fishbone diagram and 5 Why.
- Plan corrective action: action, owner, due date.
- Plan preventive action: where else could this happen?
- Implement and record what was done.
- Verify effectiveness: measure after the action. Did the problem stop?
- Close the CAPA only when verification shows it worked.
Filled example#
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Source | Final inspection failed, style 3310 |
| Problem | 11 major defects in 125 samples; 7 were shade differences between front and back panels |
| Containment | 100% shade check of packed goods; mismatched garments replaced from reserve panels |
| Root cause | Panels from two dye lots mixed at cutting; bundles were not marked with lot number |
| Corrective action | Lot number added to bundle tickets; lots cut in separate lays |
| Preventive action | Shade lot marking added to cutting procedure for all orders; spreading checklist updated |
| Owner and date | Cutting manager, by end of week |
| Verification | Next three final inspections: no shade defects |
| Status | Closed after verification |
Making CAPAs effective#
- Keep the form short and focused. A long form filled in to satisfy an auditor does not help.
- Use evidence: photos, data, test results, before and after numbers.
- Assign one owner per action, with a realistic date.
- Review open CAPAs in a regular meeting, not only when an audit is coming.
- Look for repeats: a problem that returns means the root cause was not found or the action was not sustained.
CAPAs from audits#
Buyer compliance and quality system audits also produce CAPAs. The same logic applies: understand the finding, fix the cause, prevent recurrence and show evidence. See buyer compliance audits.
Common mistakes#
- Only correction: repairing garments and closing the CAPA.
- "Retrain operator" as the only action, again and again.
- Closing without verification.
- Too many open CAPAs with no priority.
The CAPA form is a ready-to-use template.
Related guides#
- Root cause analysis: finding the root cause before planning actions.
- Final inspection: a common source of CAPAs.
- DHU: measuring whether the action worked.
- Moisture control management SOP for garments: an example SOP with corrective action steps.
Frequently asked questions#
Does every defect need a CAPA? No. Use CAPAs for significant or repeated problems: failed inspections, customer complaints, audit findings and defects above your trigger level. Daily line defects are handled through inline quality control.
How long should a CAPA stay open? Until verification shows the action worked. Set a realistic verification period, such as the next three inspections or two weeks of production data.