Understanding improvement and non-conformance actions

This article is written to meet the following sections of the Standards:

BRCGS Food Safety Issue 8	Actions arising from 1.1 senior management commitment 3.7 Corrective and preventive actions
BRCGS Packaging Issue 6	Actions arising from 1.1 and 1.2 senior management commitment 3.6 Corrective and preventive action
BRCGS Agents & Brokers Issue 3	Actions arising from 1.1 senior management commitment 3.9 Corrective and preventive actions
BRCGS Storage & Distribution Issue 4	Actions arising from 1.1 and 1.2 senior management commitment 3.3 Corrective and preventive action
FSSC22000 Version 5.1	ISO 22000: 10.2 Continual improvement ISO 22000: 10.1 Nonconformity and corrective action
IFS Food Version 7	1.3.1 Customer improvement 1.4.2 Improvement actions 5.11 Corrective actions
SQF Edition 9	2.1.2.1vi Review actions 2.5.3 Corrective and preventative action

Are all actions the same?
Improvement actions and non-conformance actions
- Definitions
Improvement actions
- Remedial action (REM)
- Proactive action (PRO)
Non-conformance actions
- Corrective action (CA)
- Preventive action (PA)
audIT.app
Handling non-conformance actions
Handling improvement actions
Using proactive actions in compliance with the standard
Understanding improvement and non-conformance actions

Are all actions the same?

In the technical world, we’ve always treated all actions in the same way – as non-conformances. Management meeting actions, near miss actions – have always been put into the same system as non-conformances.

When we were developing audIT.app (our game-changing internal audit, GMP inspection and non-conformance action system, specifically designed for the food industry) this became very apparent, so we decided to tackle it. Here’s our findings along with the clarification we gained.

Improvement actions and non-conformance actions

There are two different types of actions:

Improvement actions.
Non-conformance actions.

Definitions
Improvement actions are used to improve something, that’s not currently defective.
Non-conformance actions are used to fix something, that’s currently defective – or non-conforming.

Improvement actions

The two types of improvement actions are:

Remedial action.
Proactive action.

Remedial action (REM)

A remedial action remedies the problem before it causes an issue. For example, where a weight is found to be within the acceptable range and is fixed before it reaches the reject limit.

Proactive action (PRO)

A proactive action is one that improves something that’s currently working, for continuous improvement purposes.

Non-conformance actions

The two types of non-conformance actions are:

Corrective action.
Preventive action.

Corrective action (CA)

A corrective action corrects the immediate deficiency.

Preventive action (PA)

A preventive action prevents the deficiency from happening again in the future.

audIT.app

audIT.app has two distinct processes for handling actions:

Improvement actions – this system allows the recording and completion of proactive actions.
Non-conformance actions – the system ensures that corrective and preventive actions are compliant by following a set process.

Handling non-conformance actions

The standard states that non-conformance actions must follow a set process:

Identification.
Consequence assessment.
Defining the action, responsibility and the due date.
Completing the action with evidence.
Verification.

Handling improvement actions

Because improvement actions don’t correct or prevent a failure to meet the standard (a non-conformance) but are for improvement purposes, they don’t have to follow such a strict process. They must only be recorded and closed out.

Using proactive actions in compliance with the standard

The standard states that proactive action must be applied for continuous improvement purposes:

Where there are changes to information sources.
To drive cultural improvement, as part of the culture action plan.
To drive business objectives, as part of the business action plan.
Where staff improvement requests have been agreed for action.
When identified during continuous improvement reviews.