Describe the difference between preventive actions and corrective actions?

• A. Preventive actions aim to prevent potential nonconformances; corrective actions address actual nonconformances and prevent recurrence.
• B. Preventive actions address actual nonconformances; corrective actions focus on preventing potential defects.
• C. Preventive actions are about documentation only and never address root cause.
• D. Preventive actions are optional and only used after major incidents.

Answer: (D)

Preventive actions are proactive steps taken to stop problems before they happen. They rely on risk assessment, data analysis, and trend monitoring to identify potential weaknesses in processes, materials, or controls and address those weaknesses before a defect occurs.

Corrective actions respond to problems that have already occurred. They investigate the actual nonconformance, determine the root cause, and implement changes to remove that cause so the issue doesn’t happen again. Both are part of a CAPA approach, with preventive actions aiming to reduce future risk and corrective actions targeting recovery and recurrence prevention after a defect is found.