A CAPA workflow is a controlled process for documenting, investigating, approving, implementing, and verifying corrective and preventive actions. In manufacturing and quality systems, it is used to manage quality issues in a structured way and to keep an auditable record of decisions, actions, responsibilities, and closure.
CAPA commonly stands for Corrective and Preventive Action. A CAPA workflow may begin from a nonconformance, audit finding, customer complaint, process deviation, supplier issue, or recurring defect signal. Typical steps include issue intake, containment or correction when needed, root cause analysis, action planning, approval, execution, effectiveness review, and formal closure.
A CAPA workflow should not be confused with a single correction or rework step. A correction addresses an immediate problem, while corrective action addresses the cause of a detected problem. Preventive action is intended to reduce the likelihood of a potential problem. In digital environments, CAPA workflows are often managed in QMS, eQMS, MES, or integrated quality modules, with links to production records, inspection results, training records, and nonconformance records.