What is the Difference Between Corrective and Preventive Action?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between corrective and preventive action lies in whether a nonconformity has already occurred or is being proactively addressed before it happens. Here are the key distinctions between the two:
- Corrective Action: This type of action is carried out after a nonconformity has already occurred. It aims to eliminate the cause of the nonconformity and prevent its recurrence. For example, if a worker gets injured due to a defective machine, a corrective action could be implementing new safety protocols and fixing the machine.
- Preventive Action: This type of action is planned with the goal of preventing a nonconformity in its entirety. It is proactive and focuses on tackling potential issues before they turn into actual problems. For instance, if a company notices that the corners of a table could potentially hurt someone, it may take preventive action by modifying the design to have rounded corners on future tables.
In summary, corrective actions are reactive, addressing issues that have already arisen, while preventive actions are proactive, addressing potential issues before they occur. Both corrective and preventive actions are essential components of quality management systems, such as those based on ISO 9001:2015, which require organizations to take action to prevent nonconformities and address their causes.
Comparative Table: Corrective vs Preventive Action
Here is a table summarizing the differences between corrective and preventive action:
| Aspect | Corrective Action | Preventive Action |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Reactive measure taken after a problem or non-conformance has occurred | Proactive measure taken to address potential problems before they occur |
| Purpose | To identify the root cause of a problem and implement measures to prevent recurrence | To identify potential issues and take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place |
| Time of Action | Taken after a problem has already occurred | Taken before a problem occurs |
| Focus | On solving problems when they happen | On avoiding problems before they happen |
| Example | A person hurts themselves on a chair's corner, realizes the chair's sharp corners were the cause, and takes steps to have the table's corners rounded off to prevent any further injuries. | A person notices that the corners of a table could cut someone, finds that the cause is the sharp corners, and takes action to round the corners and change the future design to have round corners. |
Both corrective and preventive actions are essential for quality management systems. Corrective action deals with problems that have already occurred, while preventive action helps you avoid these problems in the first place.
- Preventive vs Preventative
- Preventive vs Predictive Maintenance
- Proactive vs Reactive Risk Management
- Prevention vs Cure
- Reactive vs Proactive
- Proactive vs Reactive Strategies
- Proactive vs Reactive Purchasing
- Mitigation vs Contingency
- Reactive vs Proactive Protocols
- Reproof vs Correction
- Action Plan vs Strategy
- Compensatory vs Punitive Damages
- Incident Management vs Problem Management
- Cause vs Effect
- Predictive vs Prescriptive Analytics
- Reinforcement vs Punishment
- Quality Assurance vs Quality Improvement
- Positive Punishment vs Negative Punishment
- Discipline vs Punishment